Abstract
Schwannomatosis patients (SP) suffer from chronic nerve pain that is often inadequately relieved. Scrambler therapy (ST) can relieve neuropathic pain quickly, safely, and inexpensively. We successfully treated a patient who had disabling leg pain with five daily sessions of ST, each for 40 minutes. She had complete relief of pain and hyperalgesia, with return to normal function, by day 5, that has persisted for at least three weeks. This article briefly describes Schwannomatosis, scrambler therapy, and the need for further research to ascertain the best way to use this neuromodulation.
Highlights
Schwannomatosis is a condition most frequently characterized by the development of multiple schwannomas throughout the body, and the most common presenting complaint is chronic neuropathic pain [1]
Scrambler therapy is believed to be effective by acting on the afferent information aspects of pain, which is accomplished by replacing endogenous pain signals with synthetic signals that travel along the same nervous pathways
These synthetic signals are transmitted via topical electrical stimulation channels which may interact with the surface receptors of C fibers [5]
Summary
Schwannomatosis is a condition most frequently characterized by the development of multiple schwannomas throughout the body, and the most common presenting complaint is chronic neuropathic pain [1]. Scrambler therapy is believed to be effective by acting on the afferent information aspects of pain, which is accomplished by replacing endogenous pain signals with synthetic signals that travel along the same nervous pathways These synthetic signals are transmitted via topical electrical stimulation channels which may interact with the surface receptors of C fibers [5]. A preprint of this article was previously published in Research Square This 48-year-old woman with known schwannomatosis since age 40 presented with pain in the right anterior thigh and groin. Electrodes were placed vertically 2 cm above and below the area of the pain on the quadriceps area, and diagonally across the L1 (medially) and L2 (laterally) dermatomes (Figure 2) She was treated with five 35minute sessions of scrambler therapy, with the stimulation increased slowly to tolerance and replacement of the pain sensation with the scrambler sensation. Full written permission was obtained to use her story and photographs, and Johns Hopkins does not require IRB approval for three or fewer patient cases
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