The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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Scrambler Therapy for Patients with Cancer Pain - Case Series -

  • Park, Hong Sik (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Sin, Woo Kyung (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Hye Young (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Moon, Jee Youn (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Park, Soo Young (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Yong Chul (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Sang Chul (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2012.08.02
  • Accepted : 2012.11.15
  • Published : 2013.01.01
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Abstract

More than 80% of cancer patients experience cancer pain. Among them, more than 50% experience moderate to severe pain. To control cancer pain, a variety of methods have been used, including medications and nerve blocks. In some patients, however, it is impossible to perform nerve blocks due to caner metastasis into the epidural space, while in other patients, opioid dose escalation is impossible due to opioid side effects; thus, cancer pain management is difficult. Scrambler therapy is a novel approach for pain control that uses EKG-like pads, which are applied above and below the site of pain. Scrambler therapy synthesizes 16 different types of nerve action potentials that provide "non-pain" information via cutaneous nerves. The advantages of this treatment are that it is non-invasive and safe and has no significant side effects. In this case series, we report the treatment results of using scrambler therapy in three cancer patients with intractable pain.

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References

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