Has anyone tried Scrambler Therapy for neuropathy or for pain?

Posted by wisfloj @wisfloj, May 23, 2019

I have read about this device and I’m hoping someone can attest to its effectiveness for idiopathic neuropathy. I've read success stories and information online. Apparently insurance does not cover treatments, to the tune of $250 for the customary recommended 10 consecutive weekdays.

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Yes it works but it has seemed to stop working after approximately 6 months.

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@billmrmi

Yes it works but it has seemed to stop working after approximately 6 months.

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Yes, that is typical I have been told by a Calmaire technician. You have to return every 5 to 6 months to repeat the treatment. For me it only made my PN worse after 3 days.

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@crossette

Yes, that is typical I have been told by a Calmaire technician. You have to return every 5 to 6 months to repeat the treatment. For me it only made my PN worse after 3 days.

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I recently tried Calmare for severe pain from pudendal neuralgia (PN). It may have helped a little but not substantially and by the fourth day I simply could not endure the treatment.
It was like bee stings. I asked for the intensity to be lowered, which the practitioner did. But it would always get too strong
because, as was explained to me, the machine had to
Cycle through the algorithm.
Another issue that caused difficulty was having to wean off of Lyrica because
it is not compatible with the treatment. This in itself caused a pain flare but I was determined to bite the bullet so to speak in hopes that the treatment would help.
As I mentioned, I’ve had PN for 2 years now. Earlier (over a year ago) I tried Calmare with another practitioner and got better initial results. It relaxed my entire pelvic area. Plus the treatment sensations were much milder and tolerable.
Unfortunately I did not continue because it flared a very uncomfortable genital nerve and there was no way of knowing whether this would subside or continue. I regret I wasn’t able to finish the ten-day treatment. (At that point I wasn’t on Lyrica so there was no issue about
weaning off of meds.)
I’ve read a lot about Calmare and spoke in depth with my two practitioners.
It is used at Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins. So I was very hopeful it would help me.
Best wishes
green mountain girl

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I have exhausted all channels that I'm aware of for centers/private practices/hoespitals that offer calmare therapy in my area of Westchester County NY. All places are either in a neighboring state (which is out of the question for me) or way out on Long Island or Massachusetts.

Does anyone have an idea how I can get the info that I seek?

I would be so grateful for any leads.
I am trying to get relief from the constant burning/cramping/hot electrical nerve pain in my left ankle/foot/leg. Was searching for a physical therapist who would have knowledge of and experience with complex regional pain syndrome but NO ONE within a 20 mile radius of hour home was able to confirm that they did, and majority had never even heard of the syndrome. In lieu of PT, I thought the scrambler therapy would be a great solution. I just want the constant (24/7) pain to stop....

If anyone has tried this therapy for CRPS, please let me know how it went for you.

Thank you.

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I participated in a clinical trial at Mayo (Rochester). First I used TENS for about a month or 2, then scrambler treatment for 8 sessions (weekly). Neither provided any relief for my chemo induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

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@barbdk

I participated in a clinical trial at Mayo (Rochester). First I used TENS for about a month or 2, then scrambler treatment for 8 sessions (weekly). Neither provided any relief for my chemo induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

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Thank you for replying and sharing your experience.
It's my understanding (from research that I've done) that my situation of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome has no "cure" and that basically I'm doomed to continue suffering with the 24/7 Pain Level 5 to 6 DAILY, but can reach 8 to 9 ou of 10. CONSTANT burning nerve pain that has affected my life negatively. Physically, emotionally, psychologically....All resulting from a horrid fall onto a concrete floor that traumatized my entire body but most specifically my ENTIRE left side from foot, leg (and knee), thigh, whole arm and shoulder...All areas have healed to a large degree, via OT and PT, but meniscus tear in knee and the damage to the ankle still affect me constantly. Yes, nerve damage exists. There's so much more, but suffice it to say that I am depressed over the fact that there is not much offered in the way of relief. I do NOT want injections in my spine since I have serious problems with the entire spine, a bulge in the sacral area and osteoarthritis. Lots of fun!
Tens has not been effective. I was told by Pain Management doctor and an incredible podiatrist (who is quite versed in CRPS) that I must return to PT, since area around the ankle has become "tight" and they want me to avoid atrophy. My gait has definitely been affected during the course of the last 2 + yrs...So I'll be going for 8 wks of PT to see how that may help. Will return to the excellent therapist who attended to my knee and helped me to strengthen it so that I can rise from a chair without moaning. I've called centers within a 20 mile radius of our home and no one has even heard of CRPS, let alone have knowledge of how to provide therapy for it. I do exercises at home that were taught to me from the first 3 therapists.
Again, thank you for sharing. I honestly hope you can find relief. I, too, have had peripheral neuropathy (of unknown etiology) for past 12 or so years.

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@delia74

Thank you for replying and sharing your experience.
It's my understanding (from research that I've done) that my situation of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome has no "cure" and that basically I'm doomed to continue suffering with the 24/7 Pain Level 5 to 6 DAILY, but can reach 8 to 9 ou of 10. CONSTANT burning nerve pain that has affected my life negatively. Physically, emotionally, psychologically....All resulting from a horrid fall onto a concrete floor that traumatized my entire body but most specifically my ENTIRE left side from foot, leg (and knee), thigh, whole arm and shoulder...All areas have healed to a large degree, via OT and PT, but meniscus tear in knee and the damage to the ankle still affect me constantly. Yes, nerve damage exists. There's so much more, but suffice it to say that I am depressed over the fact that there is not much offered in the way of relief. I do NOT want injections in my spine since I have serious problems with the entire spine, a bulge in the sacral area and osteoarthritis. Lots of fun!
Tens has not been effective. I was told by Pain Management doctor and an incredible podiatrist (who is quite versed in CRPS) that I must return to PT, since area around the ankle has become "tight" and they want me to avoid atrophy. My gait has definitely been affected during the course of the last 2 + yrs...So I'll be going for 8 wks of PT to see how that may help. Will return to the excellent therapist who attended to my knee and helped me to strengthen it so that I can rise from a chair without moaning. I've called centers within a 20 mile radius of our home and no one has even heard of CRPS, let alone have knowledge of how to provide therapy for it. I do exercises at home that were taught to me from the first 3 therapists.
Again, thank you for sharing. I honestly hope you can find relief. I, too, have had peripheral neuropathy (of unknown etiology) for past 12 or so years.

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I to have a neuropathy. I had a nerve testing that says right is worst then left. But I feel left is worst then right.
Left ankle the podiatrist says is RA and it feels like a stiff rod through big toe
It sometimes feels like gout at the toe nail
Or infection in nail but only thing docs say is poly neuropathy
Lyrica and gabapentin never helped
Cymbalta Volatran no help
The injection in ankle helped to ease the movement and the second time i has injection the doctor put half in the ankle and half at the toes, (like on top of toes and middle ) it helped the anxious movement
Which that movement started the ankle pain
The fist injection was April And the secon injection was Sept
I would like to get in to a rheumatologist to ask about fructose intolerance issues
Could be causes of the toe feeling like gout
My gout are high normal
I hope I wrote this of making sense
But neuropathy does make sense.
It’s a wait and listen game?

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@delia74

Thank you for replying and sharing your experience.
It's my understanding (from research that I've done) that my situation of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome has no "cure" and that basically I'm doomed to continue suffering with the 24/7 Pain Level 5 to 6 DAILY, but can reach 8 to 9 ou of 10. CONSTANT burning nerve pain that has affected my life negatively. Physically, emotionally, psychologically....All resulting from a horrid fall onto a concrete floor that traumatized my entire body but most specifically my ENTIRE left side from foot, leg (and knee), thigh, whole arm and shoulder...All areas have healed to a large degree, via OT and PT, but meniscus tear in knee and the damage to the ankle still affect me constantly. Yes, nerve damage exists. There's so much more, but suffice it to say that I am depressed over the fact that there is not much offered in the way of relief. I do NOT want injections in my spine since I have serious problems with the entire spine, a bulge in the sacral area and osteoarthritis. Lots of fun!
Tens has not been effective. I was told by Pain Management doctor and an incredible podiatrist (who is quite versed in CRPS) that I must return to PT, since area around the ankle has become "tight" and they want me to avoid atrophy. My gait has definitely been affected during the course of the last 2 + yrs...So I'll be going for 8 wks of PT to see how that may help. Will return to the excellent therapist who attended to my knee and helped me to strengthen it so that I can rise from a chair without moaning. I've called centers within a 20 mile radius of our home and no one has even heard of CRPS, let alone have knowledge of how to provide therapy for it. I do exercises at home that were taught to me from the first 3 therapists.
Again, thank you for sharing. I honestly hope you can find relief. I, too, have had peripheral neuropathy (of unknown etiology) for past 12 or so years.

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Hello @delia74, It's great to see you already have a response from another new member @doriskay79. I would like to welcome you both to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry to hear you both are having to deal with neuropathy symptoms and hoping others that relate can share their experience.

@delia74 It's great to hear you've found that PT has provided a lot of help. You mentioned having Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). You might want to check out some of the other discussions on CRPS. I did a search of Connect and here is a list of the discussions and comments on CRPS that you might find helpful - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=CRPS.

@doriskay79 It sounds like you have multiple conditions going on and you are still looking for something that helps. My experience with gout quite a few years ago was painful and I was prescribed colchicine which provided me with pain relief and helped with the swelling. I also have neuropathy but I only have the numbness. One of the best things that helped me was being on Connect and learning as much as I can about neuropathy and what treatment options are available. Here are a couple of great sites for learning more about neuropathy:
--- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/
--- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/

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I'm specifically interested in SCRAMBLER THERAPY for various chronic pains which I experience periodically mostly from my osteoarthritis example: rt. SI jt. pain, rt. lumbar facet syndrome L2-4, knee pains, hand pains, etc. Flares up when the weather turns cold. I am a 82 y.o. Anesthesiologists- retired for 17 yrs. now. Worked and still live in Savannah, Georgia.

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@domaval

I'm specifically interested in SCRAMBLER THERAPY for various chronic pains which I experience periodically mostly from my osteoarthritis example: rt. SI jt. pain, rt. lumbar facet syndrome L2-4, knee pains, hand pains, etc. Flares up when the weather turns cold. I am a 82 y.o. Anesthesiologists- retired for 17 yrs. now. Worked and still live in Savannah, Georgia.

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I am 84 years old and have Neuropathy and recently finished 12 treatments. My pain is gone. It was Scrambler. I don't know if this would work for you. I used Radiant Pain Centr. 503-379-0790. They should help. Good Luck!

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