Has anyone tried Scrambler Therapy for neuropathy or for pain?

Scrambler. It is the use of electrical stimulation to send a signal to the brain that is a "non-pain" signal. So the brain still receives the signals from the nerves, but interprets them as non-pain. My non-technical way of explaining it is that the radio is still on, but you've changed the station, so you are still hearing music, but it is a music that doesn't cause you pain. It is being used for nerve pain resulting from various conditions including peripheral neuropathy, demyelination (transverse myelitis, clinically isolated demyelination syndrome, MS), pain resulting from chemotherapy, and complex regional pain syndrome. There may be other conditions. These are the ones I know of. It has been around for about 20 years and in the non-research setting, it is called "Calmare."

It does not work for everyone. But it is non-invasive and if your situation is like mine - you've tried everything else and nothing worked - it is worth trying. In my case, the only program at the research hospital using Scrambler Therapy is the palliative care program in the oncology department but they are now adding it in the neurology program, the pain management program, and (I've heard), the physical therapy program.

Is it for non diabetic neuropathy?

Don't know but probably yes. You would need to ask a doctor who has some expertise or specializes in pain management. In the research setting, it was first used for cancer patients who had pain resulting from chemo or surgery but it is now used for a variety of neuropathic pain problems. If there is a Calmare near you, you may want to go there for a consultation, or see if any of your nearby hospitals offer it.

Hi all,
I blamed my chronic fatigue as being caused by 15 successful months of heavy chemo from lymphoma 5 years ago. Since then I've had 2 cervical decompression with multi level fusions and of course a case of Covid. I've developed chronic dry eye with pain in both eyes. Doesn't stop there. I have a discoloring of both elbows from red to purple, and have severe pain in both hands, headaches, numb cold toes, shortness of breath, light headiness and occasional vertigo. I'm a 68 year old male that played sports until a knee replacement 10 years ago.
I've gone through 2 complete blood panels from Rheumatologist, punch skin biopsy from Dermatologist narrow angle laser surgery, 4 different pain specialists, 5 different specialists from Columbia eye clinic, every eye drops on the market and more. One thing is always in common; nothing shows up as being the cause of anything. After reading up about different neuropathy's, I went to my Neurologist who spent an hour with me and have decided to see if that may be the cause of my issues. I would love to here if anyone else has gone through anything similar.

Just an update on my experience. I had my 15th and last (for now) Scrambler Therapy session on Thursday. On Friday, I had pain between 1-2 on the left side, but only in one spot. Later, the right side also began to hurt, about a 1, and in only one spot. In the early afternoon, both subsided to under a 1 and remained that way until this morning. Today, I had NO PAIN on the right, very slight pain on the left, and throughout the day so far (2:30 now), it has been nearly zero on both sides.

Another update. It has now been almost three weeks since my last treatment. My pain continues to fluctuate between zero and 1. Some days, it is mostly zero. Other days, it is mostly 1. Obviously, I would prefer that it be zero all the time.

Still. This is liveable. It is a reduction of between 75% and 100% of my pre-treatment pain levels.

The pain is in my torso, right where a bra band sits. Wearing a bra was torture. And yes, I bought every "this is the most comfortable bra ever" and every bra recommended by people with MS and similar conditions. I spent hundreds on bras. There is no such thing as a comfortable bra.

Thanks to COVID and retirement and baggy shirts, I was able to get away without wearing one for most of the past two years. I joked with the doctor who did the Scrambler therapy that I was so glad to have the therapy that I was even looking forward to being able to wear a bra. Well, I haven't worked up the nerve yet to even try it. Maybe on a day when the pain is zero, I will give it a try.

Sometimes I think we need more emoticons for reaction options / I LOVE and LAUGHED at your post. I look forward to updates on the post therapy, I’m glad it has worked!

Best medicine is laughter. Thank you.

What is scrambler?
My neuromuscular only sees me one a year, I take 800 mg 4x day gabapentin….. I’ve tried reaching out to them when I am in more then a person can deal with pain and they just offered a referral to pain management 🙄 They said no cure and mine is in later stages, hands n arms are also effected can barely feel with left hand a lil better with my right but still numb b pain!
Hope you have a good evening!! 😊

Scrambler therapy is a non-invasive method of treating neuropathic pain. Electrodes are placed on the body to send "non-pain" signals to the brain, replacing the pain signals. It doesn't stop the pain. It just trains the brain to interpret those signals as non-pain. In my very non-technical interpretation, it is a bit like changing the station on a radio. The music is playing but it is different music.

In the non-research, non-hospital setting, it is called Calmare and there's a growing number of clinics around the country. It is increasingly being covered by insurance even in the non-research, non-hospital setting.

It can be hard to figure who in a hospital is actually offering the treatment. It may be the oncology program, as the first use of Scrambler was for the nerve pain associated with chemotherapy.