Scrambler Therapy: An Innovative and Effective Treatment for Chronic Neuropathic Pain

This study examined the results of 173 people treated for chronic neuropathic pain with the use of a new electrical modulation technique called Scrambler Therapy (ST). Follow-up analyses were applied to 91 people who agreed to be re-evaluated 3 to 6 months following the treatment using the Visual Analog Pain Rating Scale (VAS) and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). The VAS and BPI were administered prior to treatment. The VAS was also administered twice per treatment session (prior to initiation of a treatment session and at the completion of the treatment session). The VAS was administered along with the BPI again at a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 6 months following treatment. Statistical analyses were applied to 4 neuropathic diagnostic groups (single site spine pain, neuralgia, complex regional pain syndrome and multi-site pain patients). The results indicate that ST is a viable and effective low-cost treatment that is more efficacious than most, if not all, standard treatment approaches to chronic neuropathic pain. All four diagnostic groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement. Implications for life care planners are discussed.