Has anyone tried Scrambler Therapy for neuropathy or for pain?

Hi @lincolned, Welcome to Connect, an online community where patients and caregivers share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. There really is no cure so to speak for neuropathy but there are a lot of treatments to provide relief from the symptoms. It's good that you are investigating and learning as much as you can about treatment options and what other members have shared with their experiences. There is another discussion you might find helpful -- Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/member-neuoropathy-journey-stories-whats-yours/

If you are looking for more information on neuropathy, here are 2 of my favorite sites for research and learning.
-- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/

I think most of us have wasted money on different treatments that provided little or no relief so it's good to do your research on whatever you are looking at. You might find the following discussion and sites helpful for evaluating different neuropathy treatments being advertised.

Quazar's guidance about avoiding scams and snake oil cures
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-avoid-quacks-and-snake-oil-treatments/

FDA's Health Fraud Page
-- https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourself/HealthFraud/ucm539101.htm

NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) which offers guidance about integrative health and how to evaluate it.
-- https://nccih.nih.gov/health/decisions

Do you mind sharing what you were searching for when you found Connect?

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I went to a clinic that said I would get 50 percent improvement so I signed up for 24 treatments which involves 5 shots in ea foot followed by electric tens for 15 min. By the way they did a biopsy of my left leg before I started and at the end would do another biopsy and compare.
Half way through I complained that it was getting worse. He said "that's the nerves connecting" so I complained the last 12. Now I can't walk a city block without burning and pain.
The final blow was I called to see about the last biopsy and the dr said I didn't need one since the first biopsy showed I had normal connections. The last neurologist I went to said "I really don't think you have neuropathy I think you just have hot feet. I'm now on 600 mg of Gabapentin with no relief. I hope this helps with your decision.
By the way after seeing the medicare bill which was 1000 dollars per session I more understand???

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Hi @lincolned, Welcome to Connect, an online community where patients and caregivers share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. There really is no cure so to speak for neuropathy but there are a lot of treatments to provide relief from the symptoms. It's good that you are investigating and learning as much as you can about treatment options and what other members have shared with their experiences. There is another discussion you might find helpful -- Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/member-neuoropathy-journey-stories-whats-yours/

If you are looking for more information on neuropathy, here are 2 of my favorite sites for research and learning.
-- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/

I think most of us have wasted money on different treatments that provided little or no relief so it's good to do your research on whatever you are looking at. You might find the following discussion and sites helpful for evaluating different neuropathy treatments being advertised.

Quazar's guidance about avoiding scams and snake oil cures
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-avoid-quacks-and-snake-oil-treatments/

FDA's Health Fraud Page
-- https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourself/HealthFraud/ucm539101.htm

NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) which offers guidance about integrative health and how to evaluate it.
-- https://nccih.nih.gov/health/decisions

Do you mind sharing what you were searching for when you found Connect?

Jump to this post

Hi, i am new to this blog and read your enlightening post. I have been dealing with what has been diagnosed as idiopathic sensory nerve neuropathy for about 6 years, which started at the bottom of my feet and has gradually spread up my legs, my arms, back and neck. I found that the 3-4 neurologists that i went to offered nothing in the way of cure, but only tested and prescribed. I stopped seeing them. I had not heard of the two treatments you mentioned, scrambler therapy and sanexas, but i am definitely going to check them out. Thanks! I have gradually increased my gabapentin from 100 mg three times a day to 300 mg three times a day, like your husband, and it does give some relief. I use an over the counter cream, Topricin Fibro Cream, which helps some and is worth a try. I guess that his issue is not the same as mine, but close. Neuropathies seem to come in many different forms. I'll look forward to communicating with you if that's ok.

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Hello @lincolned. That sounds very frightening. I have found the same regarding the neurologists.I had originally read about the scrambler on the Mayo website but then in a discussion I saw someone mention that they were not offering it as a solution just studying it's effects. This can be so discouraging when so many people suffer from this type of pain but very little research has gone into finding solutions. My husband takes 300mg Gaba 3 x day. I do think the doxipene helps but on top of the Gaba it adds to the groggy tired feeling. I will check out the Topricin Fibro cream. Definitely worth a try.

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Hi, It's Lori Renee again. A bit more about Calmare/ Scrambler Therapy. I had 10 treatments, for 45 minutes each treatment. Electrodes were attached to my feet and charged till they reached as far as I could tolerate without feeling pain. I felt vibrations, tiny stings here and there. Nothing painful at all. Each session, electrode placement might be changed a bit. After about the third session, pain decreased considerably and I had relaxed toes for the first time in a year. I could wiggle them, and that was a hoot!!!! The horrid sensations in my toes ended, and that created most of the pain. I still have very stiff ball of feet, but they do not throb anymore. They used to cause excruciating pain. The man who did the treatments had no answers for the symptoms that are left. I still use CBD salve on the balls of my feet, march in place so my feet stop burning. Like I said, Calmare is not perfect, but SO much better. I even got a bouquet of flowers after my treatment was over. I pray that my improvements. last. I may have to have booster treatments, but was told the pain never comes back as severe as it started. I went to Spero Pain Clinic in Riverwoods, Illinois. The owner of the clinic also does the treatments, and has had years of experience administering the treatment. He treats any kind of nerve related pain. God Bless him.

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@jesfactsmon @helennicola I had Calmare (Scrambler) therapy in two groups of ten sessions. It did not spread pain anywhere, but ultimately, it did not help. The first group of 10 treatments seemed to lessen my pain considerably for about 3 weeks, but then the pain ramped up again. The second group of 10 treatments just did not help at all. I do think that most people that get it do have to come back for repeat treatments, all of the time. It is also very important that the person who does it has a lot of experience doing it, as that seems to make a difference from what I was told. I met a few CRPS patients waiting to get the treatment that said they could not function without it. Everyone is different in their results. Lori Renee

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Hello @sidemounts thank you for sharing your experience. That sounds awful. I'm so sorry. My husband has the burning and pain particularly after walking but it seems that keeping moving is so important. Did you have the Sanexas or the Calmare Scrambler?

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Hi @lorirenee1 It's encouraging and exciting to read about someone having good results with something. I would travel to Illinois for my husband to have these treatments. Do you know other people who had success with the Scrambler? My husband's pain is mainly in the balls and toes of his feet although his calves are getting very tight too but fortunately not burning.

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@greenacres When I had Scrambler Therapy, I did meet two people that got help from the Scrambler Therapy. Oddly, one young adult guy I talked to had CRPS and got tremendous help from the Scrambler in one foot, but not the other. He still felt it was totally worth doing. The other was a middle aged woman with neuropathy, and using crutches. She said it lowered her pain considerably, and she went for "booster" Scrambler treatment. All in all, Scrambler really did not work for me. LoriRenee1

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