Chronic pain solution: Spinal cord stimulators (SCS) versus scrambler therapy

Over the course of the past few years, I’ve been asked about my position on spinal cord stimulators as a treatment for severe, treatment-resistant pain. After receiving another query over the weekend via Facebook, I’ve composed my own position statement on the subject:

First, every patient and their medical condition is unique and the prescribing doctor must use all of his resources to procure the most viable treatment plan that offers best chance of a successful outcome. My opinion is based upon the patients I have treated over the years with these implanted devices.

How Calmare Therapy’s electric transmission differs from SCS

SCS is, at best, a temporary relief. There seems to be about a three to six- month period when it can be optimally effective. The SCS functions like a tens machine which transmits a single current. Conversely, Calmare’s scrambler therapy technology offers 16 different currents which constantly alternate so that no one sequence is repeated during a treatment. This variability prevents the brain from learning to tolerate it (as with the SCS) and therefore will not accommodate to it.

Why is the SCS often a short-term solution for pain relief? The brain will learn to tolerate a single consistent current and ultimately it will be less effective. The SCS is especially tricky for the RSD/CRPS patients due to the surgical implantation involved and the potential for the development of additional pain symptoms after the procedure.

Cost Benefit Analysis

Another practical aspect is the cost of the SCS, which can be more than $60,000, sometimes partially covered by insurance, but often not. To me, when you compare the cost of 10 Calmare treatments ($2,500 total) combined with the fact that it is:

·        non-invasive

·        has no painful side effects

·        doesn’t involve any pharmaceutical use

·        cleared by the FDA

it does make me wonder why the SCS garners so much attention.

The good news is that we can use Calmare Therapy on patients with SCS, so long as the device is turned off throughout the treatment cycle. As a Calmare provider, there is nothing better than having a patient tell me they have no need to turn the SCS back on once their therapy is complete...

 If you or a loved one has the SCS device implanted but is interested in undergoing Calmare Therapy, please contact our office so we can learn more about your medical history, treatment efforts, medication usage and personal experience with your SCS.