An exploratory study on the effectiveness of “Calmare therapy” in patients with cancer-related neuropathic pain: A pilot study

• Published in: European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society Vol. 21; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Lee, Sang Chul, Park, Keun Suk, Moon, Jee Youn, Kim, Eun Jung, Kim, Yong-Chul, Seo, Hyejin, Sung, Joon Kyung, Lee, Da Jeong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Calmare therapy; Cancer pain; Cancer Pain - therapy; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuralgia - etiology; Neuralgia - therapy; Neuropathic pain; Noninvasive approach; Nursing; Pain management; Pain, Postoperative - etiology; Pain, Postoperative - therapy; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Scrambler therapy; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; Treatment Outcome; South Korea; Cancer pain; Noninvasive approach; Pain management; Scrambler therapy; Calmare therapy; Neuropathic pain
• ISSN: 1462-3889; 1532-2122
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2015.12.001

Abstract Purpose Calmare therapy (CT) has been suggested as a novel treatment for managing chronic pain. Recently, it was reported to show a positive therapeutic outcome for managing neuropathic pain condition. We performed an exploratory prospective study on the effectiveness of CT in patients with various types of cancer-related neuropathic pain (CNP). Method We performed an open-labeled, single-arm, exploratory study on the effectiveness of CT in patients with various types of cancer-related neuropathic pain (CNP). The primary endpoint was a comparison of the 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain score at one month with the baseline score in each patient. Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and consumption of opioid were also evaluated during follow-up period. Results CT significantly decreased NRS pain score at one month from baseline (p < 0.001) in 20 patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (n = 6), metastatic bone pain (n = 7), and post-surgical neuropathic pain (n = 7). It also improved overall BPI scores, decreased consumption of rescue opioid (p = 0.050), and was found satisfactory by a half of patients (n = 10, 50.0%). Conclusions Our preliminary results suggest that CT may be considered for cancer patients with various types of CNP. Large studies are necessary to confirm our findings and ascertain which additional CNP show positive response to CT.