A trial of Scrambler therapy in the treatment of cancer pain syndromes and chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Neuropathic pain is common among cancer patients and often difficult to treat. This study used Scrambler therapy, a patient-specific electrocutaneous nerve stimulation device, to treat cancer patients with pain. Patients received Scrambler therapy for 10 sessions (one daily) over a two-week period....

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy Vol. 27; no. 4; p. 359
Main Authors Coyne, Patrick J, Wan, Wen, Dodson, Patricia, Swainey, Craig, Smith, Thomas J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.12.2013
Subjects
Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - complications
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Pain - etiology
Pain Management - methods
Pain Measurement
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - etiology
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - therapy
Quality of Life
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Neuropathic pain is common among cancer patients and often difficult to treat. This study used Scrambler therapy, a patient-specific electrocutaneous nerve stimulation device, to treat cancer patients with pain. Patients received Scrambler therapy for 10 sessions (one daily) over a two-week period. The primary outcome was changed in pain numerical rating scale (NRS) at one month; secondary outcomes were changes in the Brief Pain Inventory and European Organization for Treatment and Cancer QLC-CIPN-20(EORTC CIPN-20), over time. Thirty-nine patients, mean age 56.5 yr, 16 men and 23 women, were treated over an 18-month period for an average of 9.3 days each. The "now" pain scores reduced from 6.6 before treatment to 4.5 at 14 days, 4.6, 4.8, and 4.6 at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively (p < 0.001). Clinically important and statistically significant improvements were seen in average, least, and worst pain; BPI interference with life scores, and motor and sensory scales on the EORTC CIPN-20. No adverse effects were observed. In this single arm trial, Scrambler therapy appeared to relieve cancer-associated chronic neuropathic pain both acutely and chronically, and provided sustained improvements in many indicators of quality of life.
ISSN:1536-0539
DOI:10.3109/15360288.2013.847519