Scrambler therapy for noncancer neuropathic pain: a focused review.
Journal
Current opinion in anaesthesiology
ISSN: 1473-6500
Titre abrégé: Curr Opin Anaesthesiol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8813436
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 Dec 2021
01 Dec 2021
Historique:
pubmed:
16
10
2021
medline:
27
11
2021
entrez:
15
10
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Therapeutic methods for neuropathic are limited; available drugs can be inadequate or have adverse effects that compromise quality of life. Interest has grown in alternatives to pharmacologic therapy for neuropathic pain. We present a focused review of the literature about the relatively novel noninvasive, nonpharmacologic electrocutaneous nerve stimulation technique called scrambler therapy for treating noncancer neuropathic pain. Neuromodulation techniques targeting peripheral sites have changed rapidly in recent years. Several clinical studies have demonstrated the analgesic effect of scrambler therapy after 10 sessions of treatment for various types of pain. Although scrambler therapy was originally used for cancer pain, its indications have broadened to postoperative pain, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, low back pain, diabetic neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome and central pain syndrome. That said, some of the studies are controversial owing to their small sample size, lack of appropriate scrambler therapy protocol and possible lack of experience of the operators. We present the historical perspective, mechanism of action and trial outcomes of scrambler therapy, representing an avenue for managing neuropathic pain without drugs. Well designed phase II/III clinical trials must be conducted to confirm the positive findings reported using scrambler therapy technology. If validated, scrambler therapy could be a game changer.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34653073
doi: 10.1097/ACO.0000000000001073
pii: 00001503-202112000-00018
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
768-773Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Références
Nahin RL. Estimates of pain prevalence and severity in adults: United States. J Pain 2015; 16:769–780.
Kennedy J, Roll JM, Schraudner T, et al. Prevalence of persistent pain in the U.S. adult population: new data from the 2010 national health interview survey. J Pain 2014; 15:979–984.
Melzack R, Wall PD. Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science 1965; 150:971–979.
Marineo G. Inside the scrambler therapy, a noninvasive treatment of chronic neuropathic and cancer pain: from the gate control theory to the active principle of information. Integr Cancer Ther 2019; 18: 1534735419845143.
Mealy MA, Kozachik SL, Cook LJ, et al. Scrambler therapy improves pain in neuromyelitis optica – a randomized controlled trial. Neurology 2020; 94:e1900–e1907.
Sabato AF, Marineo G, Gatti A. Scrambler therapy. Minerva Anestesiol 2005; 71:479–482.
Marineo G, Iorno V, Gandini C, et al. Scrambler therapy may relieve chronic neuropathic pain more effectively than guideline-based drug management: results of a pilot, randomized, controlled trial. J Pain Symptom Manage 2012; 43:87–95.
Ricci M, Pirotti S, Scarpi E, et al. Managing chronic pain: results from an open-label study using MC5-A Calmare ® device. Support Care Cancer 2012; 20:405–412.
Smith TJ, Marineo G. Treatment of post herpetic pain with scrambler therapy, a patient-specific neurocutaneous electrical stimulation device. Am J Hos 2018; 35:812–813.
Joo SY, Cho YS, Cho SR, et al. Effects of pain scrambler therapy for management of burn scar pruritus: a pilot study. Burns 2017; 43:514–519.
Russo D, Zoratto F, Tirocchi G, et al. Scrambler therapy in the management of somatosensory signs and symptoms related to neuropathic pain: an exploratory and prospective analysis. Acta Biomed 2018; 89:180–185.
Ricci M, Fabbri L, Pirotti S, et al. Scrambler therapy: what's new after 15 years? The results from 219 patients treated for chronic pain. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e13895.
Nayback-Beebe A, Panula T, Arzola S, et al. Scrambler therapy treatment: the importance of examining clinically meaningful improvements in chronic pain and quality of life. Mil Med 2020; 185:143–147.
Marineo G, Marineo G. Inaccuracy in the article ‘scrambler therapy treatment: the importance of examining clinically meaningful improvements in chronic pain and quality of life’. Mil Med 2020; 185:e1387.
Min YG, Baek HS, Lee KM, et al. Differential response to scrambler therapy by neuropathic pain phenotypes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10148.
Compagnone C, Tagliaferri F. Scrambler Therapy Group. Chronic pain treatment and scrambler therapy: a multicenter retrospective analysis. Acta Biomed 2015; 86:149–156.
Kim YN, Lee DK, Lee HJ. Effect of pain scrambler therapy on antineuralgic pain and quality of life after shingles. J Phys Ther Sci 2017; 29:1113–1115.
Notaro P, Dell’Agnola CA, Dell’Agnola AJ, et al. Pilot evaluation of scrambler therapy for pain induced by bone and visceral metastases and refractory to standard therapies. Support Care Cancer 2016; 24:1649–1654.
Raucci U, Tomasello C, Marri M, et al. Scrambler Therapy ® MC-5A for complex regional pain syndrome: case reports. Pain Pract 2016; 16:E103–E109.