What is Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® ?
Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® is an FDA 510(k) approved and European CE marked
Certified, computer-assisted, patented medical device that applies non-invasive electroanalgesia by delivering low-intensity stimuli (max. 0.005 amperes),
which then generate "information packets" from five artificially created neurons, which are recognized by an algorithm as patient-specific "non-pain" signals, which are transmitted to the C-fiber pain receptors via five independent channels using disposable surface electrodes on the skin (like ECG electrodes).
The transmission of the "non-pain" signals results in an immediate analgesic effect that is capable of
to completely eliminate pain in real time. Calmare Scrambler Therapy® uses artificial neurons,
to synthesize 16 different types of nerve action potentials and assemble them into sequences using specific algorithms that provide patient-specific treatment algorithms to reduce or eliminate pain by replacing chronic "pain" information with artificial "non-pain" information.
When placing the electrodes, the method for identifying the pain areas to be treated must be strictly followed. If the treatment is performed correctly, the pain can usually be reduced to zero (or very close to zero) in real time, regardless of the initial intensity and the pathology that caused it.
Is the Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® the same as the
transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS / TNS)?
No. Calmare Scrambler Therapy® is unique and very different from TENS / TNS,
which normally works through the gate theory of blocking pain through electrical stimulation of the large nerve fibers. Calmare Scrambler Therapy® is the only medical device that preferentially stimulates the nerves responsible for chronic pain, i.e., the small C-fiber nerves.
Calmare Scrambler Therapy® stimulates the C-fibers through the use of artificial neurons and is able to transmit signals such as "no pain" to the brain.
Most patients experience significant pain relief after the first treatment.
As treatments progress, the brain is literally rewired through neural plasticity.
Most patients experience a significant reduction or absence of their pain for
3-12 months or longer.
Does Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® , work through a placebo reaction?
No. Although the patient's expectation of a positive response often leads to symptom improvement with all treatments (medications, injections, therapy, surgery, etc.).
The typical magnitude of improvement in a placebo response is usually between 20 and 40% and is usually not permanent.
Calmare Scrambler Therapy® (CST) results in over 80 percent improvement, which is incomparable to a simple placebo treatment. Furthermore, controlled studies comparing OST with sham therapy (therapy with stimulation without a scrambler) have demonstrated the superior efficacy of Calmare Scrambler Therapy®.
How does Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® work ?
Calmare Scrambler Therapy® delivers corrective bioelectrical code information through the
peripheral nerves into the spinal cord and the central nervous system. These new artificial
"Non-pain" codes reprogram the brain to see a "non-pain" code as real and self-generated, thereby shutting down the old chronic pain signals.
Over the course of ten (35-45 minute) treatment sessions, the brain is rebooted (rebuilt) through neuronal plasticity and the chronic pain signal is switched off.
How effective is Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® ?
Many patient-specific factors determine how quickly pain relief occurs.
Most patients experience a significant reduction or complete absence of pain during the first treatment session. Pain relief may last several hours or longer after the first treatment session. With subsequent treatments, as the brain is rebooted (retrained), pain relief lasts longer and longer.
After a typical treatment course of 10 sessions, the pain is relieved, in many cases, for more than three months or even a year.
In some patients, pain may gradually recur, but booster treatments
with 1-3 sessions, usually provide sustained, long-term pain relief.
Based on numerous clinical and research studies (see Research Studies section), Calmare Scrambler Therapy® is effective in over 80% of patients treated for neuropathic pain.
What is the average number of treatments?
Most patients require 10 treatment sessions (35-45 minutes per session) to significantly reduce or eliminate their pain. Depending on patient-specific factors, more or fewer sessions may be required. Patients often experience significant relief during the first treatments.
Calmare Scrambler Therapy® significantly reduces or completely eliminates their neuropathic pain. Pain relief can last for several hours after the first treatment session.
With subsequent treatments, in which the brain is rebooted (retrained), pain relief lasts longer and longer, achieving pain relief for up to one year after a typical treatment cycle of 10 sessions.
If the symptoms gradually reappear, refresher treatments of 3 to 5 sessions are usually successful in achieving long-term pain relief.
Which pain conditions are treated with
Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® treated?
Calmare Scrambler Therapy® treats a variety of neuropathic pain (nerve pain) including:
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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
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Chronic cancer pain
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Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)/ reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) / Sudeck's disease
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Diabetic neuropathy
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Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
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Chronic sciatica
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Cervical/lumbar radiculopathy (pinched nerves)
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Shingles / Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)
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Phantom pain
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Trigemenal neuralgia
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Other neuropathic pain
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Brachial plexus neuropathic pain
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Off-label diagnoses
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Fibromyalgia
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Drug-resistant migraine
Which pain characteristics promote longer
"pain-free" periods?
There are many patient-specific factors that can determine the extent and duration of pain relief. Generally, these are neuropathies (nerve damage) where the tissue damage is stabilized and no new inflammation occurs, or new damage caused by recurrent
Nerve injuries or progressive underlying diseases or other pathologies.
In stable cases, a full course of therapy (10 sessions) can be very effective. This is often seen in sciatica where surgery is considered successful, but pain persists. In these cases, a full course of 10 treatments (35-45 minutes) after surgery can often relieve residual neuropathic pain.
Are there any pain conditions that may not respond to Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® ?
Yes. Calmare Scrambler Therapy® is not effective for non-neuropathic (non-nerve-related) pain, such as arthritic pain or joint pain. Furthermore,
Calmare Scrambler Therapy® is not as effective in cases of ongoing nerve injury or nerve damage due to active disease conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes (HBA1 c > 7) or when an active medical condition is causing progressive nerve injury/damage.
Are there reasons why someone
Cannot use Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® ?
Yes. Caution is advised in patients with implanted devices such as:
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pacemakers,
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defibrillators,
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Spinal cord stimulators or deep brain stimulators.
Patients treated with ketamine within the last 12 months may not experience adequate relief of their neuropathic pain with Calmare Scrambler Therapy®
Additionally, Calmare Scrambler Therapy® may not be as effective in patients taking medications that suppress nerve transmission. Medications used to treat neuropathic pain, seizures, and antiepileptic drugs include:
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Lyrica (pregabalin)
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Neurontin (Gabapentin)
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Amytriptyline
In these cases, more treatments than the usual 10 units may be required.
These medications should be discontinued before starting treatment. We would be happy to discuss this with you personally and work with your treating physician.
Is Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® painful?
No, Calmare Scrambler Therapy® is painless.
During treatment, the stimulation is often described as a "buzzing," "tapping," or sometimes "tingling."
As the treatment progresses, as the transmitted signals are modulated and fine-tuned, these sensations are often replaced by different feelings, most often described as a "pleasant feeling."
Are there any undesirable effects of
Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® and is it safe?
Calmare Scrambler Therapy® is safe and side effects are unknown.
This treatment has been used in the US for several years and has been approved by the FDA.
Furthermore, this therapy has been used successfully in Europe for more than 15 years without side effects.
It is currently used by major academic medical centers such as MD Anderson Cancer Center , Mayo Clinics and Hospitals, Johns Hopkins University , Walter Reed Army Medical Center , and many other academic medical centers.
Why is the procedure called Calmare Scrambler Therapy ® ?
Calmare Scrambler Therapy® was originally developed by Professor Giuseppe Marineo.
An Italian neuroscientist at the Center for Pain Management at the Tor-Vergetta University Medical Center in Rome. Dr. Marineo originally named the device "Calmare," which means calm in Italian.
He renamed it Scrambler Therapy® because this therapy converts pain signals into "non-pain" signals that the brain learns.
How much does it cost?
The cost for a standard therapy block (10 sessions) is currently €1,600. An in-person consultation is charged at a flat rate of €100. If, after this consultation, you decide to undergo therapy at Medicenter Baiersbronn , this fee will be offset against the therapy costs.
We would be happy to conduct a short consultation by telephone in German or English.
Here we try to answer your questions in advance.
Does the health insurance company cover the costs of treatment?
Unfortunately, the therapy is not covered for patients with statutory health insurance.
In this case, our therapy is a self-pay service. Privately insured patients will receive an invoice according to the current fee schedule, which is then fully or partially reimbursable, depending on your plan.
Who trained the user team at Medicenter Baiersbronn?
Markus Seuthe completed a private intensive course under Dr. Michael Cooney.
We also had the honor of welcoming Dr. Cooney personally to the Medicenter Baiersbronn.
Dr. Cooney is, alongside Dr. D'Amato, the most experienced practitioner of this innovative therapy worldwide.
Dr. Michael Cooney has been running a Scrambler Calmare Therapy® center near New York for 12 years and has successfully treated several thousand pain patients.
Dr. Cooney continues to advise us. In complex cases, we can access Dr. Cooney's expertise through direct consultation.
How do I know if this therapy is effective for me?
The effectiveness of the therapy is achieved within 6 - 8 treatments.
If no pain reduction occurs here, it can be assumed that the pain cannot be sustainably influenced by Scrambler Calmare Therapy ® .
In this case, therapy will not be continued.
Do I have to stay on site?
Yes, because the treatment is carried out over 12 consecutive days. Treatment is carried out in two 5-day sessions. Many of our patients come from all over Germany and from German-speaking countries. We have also been able to accompany patients from France, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium on their journey to pain relief.
We have good contacts with private landlords, guesthouses and hotels and are happy to help you find accommodation.