Calmare Therapy for Chronic Pain and CRPS

Can Calmare Therapy Help With RSD / CRPS?

After receiving your diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy or complex regional pain syndrome (RSD / CRPS) and finding out that your pain would be chronic, your doctor may have discussed different treatment options for you. These might include medication, therapy (physical and talk), and the use of mild shocks to stimulate the nerves at the affected site. Depending on the area of your RSD / CRPS, the nature and the severity of your injury, some treatments may work better than others. You want to be able to live your life with as few side effects from your pain as possible. If you are able to work, you’d like to avoid missed days because of pain. You would also like to enjoy time with your family, participating in various activities and having fun. Calmare Therapy, also known as Calmare Scrambler Therapy, is a noninvasive treatment that may offer another option for managing neuropathic pain.

Calmare Therapy was developed by Professor Giuseppe Marineo, a bioengineer and researcher, who has worked to advance the treatment of pain. Marineo blended the principles of engineering and medical research in developing his new pain relief system. The Calmare system uses Scrambler Therapy to deliver electrical stimulation through electrodes placed on the skin. It is a non-drug approach that has been studied for several types of chronic neuropathic pain.

Your doctor uses the Calmare Therapy system by placing electrodes on your skin, which send a signal to disrupt the pain signal. This no-pain signal overtakes the pain signal coming from your brain, allowing you to feel relief from the RSD / CRPS pain. (“Calmare” is Italian for “to soothe or ease.”)

Who Can Benefit

Individuals with reflex sympathetic dystrophy may benefit from this treatment. Research into Scrambler Therapy has continued since I originally wrote this article. Studies have reported promising results for some types of chronic neuropathic pain, although results vary and more research is needed. Research specifically involving people with CRPS remains limited.

Calmare therapy has been studied or used for conditions including the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, RSD / CRPS, phantom limb pain, neck pain, sciatica, low back pain, and post-surgical neuropathic pain. In addition, Calmare Scrambler Therapy can help patients who have undergone unsuccessful surgery for back pain. This syndrome is called “failed back surgery syndrome.” Cancer patients suffering from chronic pain can also benefit, as can those who have been diagnosed with brachial plexus neuropathy. Your doctor must completely evaluate your pain so he knows whether you are an appropriate candidate for this type of treatment system.

Calmare Therapy may not be appropriate for everyone. Certain medical conditions, implanted electrical devices, medications, pregnancy, skin conditions, and other factors may affect whether the treatment is appropriate. Talk with your doctor and a qualified Scrambler Therapy provider about your medical history before considering treatment.

How Does Calmare Work?

Instead of using a biochemical (pain medications) approach, Calmare uses a biophysical treatment approach. Disposable surface electrodes placed on your skin send no-pain messages to the general region of your pain. The electrodes deliver electrical signals intended to alter how pain signals are communicated to the nervous system. The intensity of your pain does not affect the ability of the Calmare Therapy system to break the pain signal. Some people may experience pain relief during or after treatment, while others may require multiple sessions before noticing a change. The amount and duration of pain relief can vary from person to person. One advantage: You may be able to enjoy extended periods of no pain, but this does depend on the cause of your pain and its severity.

Conclusion: The Calmare system is a non-invasive and painless treatment system that may help you obtain relief from your RSD/CRPS. As with any treatment, talk with your doctor about possible risks and whether Calmare Therapy may be appropriate for you. If you are interested in this, check with your doctor to see if he feels you are an appropriate candidate. You can also learn more about natural treatments for chronic pain.

Because chronic pain involves the way the nervous system processes pain signals, learning how to support your nervous system can also be helpful. My 8-Week Nervous System Reset offers practical strategies for managing stress, supporting your nervous system, and living with chronic pain.