title: Treatment of Postherpetic Pain With Scrambler Therapy, a Patient-Specific Neurocutaneous Electrical Stimulation Device.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postherpetic neuropathy (PHN) is common, severe, and often refractory to treatment. We treated 10 patients with refractory PHN using Scrambler therapy, a neurocutaneous stimulation device that delivers "nonpain" information with surface electrodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scrambler therapy was given as 30-minute sessions daily for 10 days. Pain was recorded before and after treatment. Two centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average pain score rapidly diminished from 7.64 ± 1.46 at baseline to 0.42 ± 0.89 at 1 month, a 95% reduction, with continued relief at 2 and 3 months. Patients achieved maximum pain relief with less than 5 treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scrambler therapy appears to have a promising effect on PHN, with prompt and continued relief and no side effects. Further research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: 1 Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: 2 Delta Research & Development, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marineo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*
keywords: devices; electrical pain stimulation; neurocutaneous pain stimulation; new therapies for pain; pain; postherpetic neuropathy