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<Previous Page
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 A
Practical Protocol for Electromedical
Treatment of Pain
Chapter 61 in Pain Management: A Practical Guide for Clinicians
Daniel L. Kirsch, Ph.D., D.A.A.P.M., F.A.I.S.
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When a muscle experiences trauma it goes into spasm to protect itself.
This decreases its blood supply, reducing the amount of oxygen and
nutrients that reach it. The decreased circulation causes an
accumulation of metabolic waste products. This acts as noxious input
resulting in pain.
Adenosine triphosphate is an essential factor in the healing process.
Large amounts of ATP, the cell's main energy source, are required to
control primary functions such as the movement of vital minerals, like
sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, into and out of the cell.
It also sustains the movement of waste products out of the cell.
Injured tissues are deficient in ATP.
As MET restores circulation and replenishes ATP, nutrients can again
flow into injured cells and waste products can flow out. This is
necessary for the development of healthy tissues. As ATP provides the
energy tissues require for building new proteins, it also increases
protein synthesis and membrane transport of ions.
SURVEY RESULTS
Two surveys were recently conducted on a total of 3000 people using
Alpha-StimTM technology employing the combined treatment protocols of
MET and CES as presented here.
Healthcare practitioners completed a post-marketing survey of 500
patients in 1998 (Kirsch, 1999). There were 174 males, and 326
females, ranging from 5 to 92 years old. Outpatients accounted for 479
of the forms, while 21 were hospitalized at the time of treatment.
Treatment was satisfactorily completed by 197 (41%) of the patients
with 207 (43%) still receiving treatment at the time of the survey.
Ten patients discontinued treatment because they thought it was not
helping them, and three more discontinued due to undesirable side
effects. An additional 13 terminated treatment when their insurance
ran out and they could no longer pay for treatment; 20 patients moved
out of the area while treatment was in progress or discontinued
treatment for other, unstated reasons.
Negative adverse effects were all rare, mild, and self-limiting, with
472 (94.4%) reporting none. Six (1.2%) reported vertigo as a side
effect and 2 (0.4%) reported nausea, either of which normally occurs
when the current is set too high or in patients with a history of
vertigo. Only 3 (0.6%) reported skin irritation, and 1 (0.2%) each
reported anger, a metallic taste, a heavy feeling, or intensified
tinnitus. These generally receded or disappeared as soon as the
current was reduced.
The most important aspect of this survey was the results reported as a
degree of improvement in the seven symptoms present in most patients
for which MET and/or CES is prescribed; i.e., pain, anxiety,
depression, stress, insomnia, headache, and muscle tension. The
treatment outcome was broken down into response categories beginning
with it made the condition] "Worse," and progressing up to "Complete"
improvement or cure. As in pharmaceutical studies, a degree of
improvement of 25% or more was considered to be clinically
significant. The data for all 500 patients reporting on multiple
symptoms are summarized in Table 61.1.
In addition, 2500 patients were surveyed through a form attached to
warranty cards (Smith, 2001); 1411 (72.40%) of the patients were
female; ages ranged from 15 to 92 years old with a mean of 50.07
years. The length of use ranged from the minimum of 3 weeks which was
Results of Using Alpha-StimTM
Technology for MET and CES as Reported by Healthcare Practitioners
|
Condition |
N |
Worse |
No
Change |
Slight
< 24% |
Fair
25-49% |
Moderate
50-74% |
Marked
75-99% |
Complete
100% |
Significant
>
25% |
|
|
|
1 |
5 |
20 |
48 |
77 |
108 |
27 |
260 |
|
Pain |
286 |
0.35% |
1.75% |
6.99% |
16.78% |
26.92% |
37.76% |
9.44% |
90.91% |
|
|
|
0 |
8 |
14 |
39 |
89 |
181 |
18 |
327 |
|
Anxiety |
349 |
0.00% |
2.29% |
4.01 % |
11.17% |
25.50% |
51.86% |
5.16% |
93.70% |
|
|
|
0 |
8 |
I1 |
31 |
38 |
82 |
14 |
165 |
|
Depression |
184 |
0.00% |
4.35% |
5.98% |
16.85% |
20.65% |
44.57% |
7.61% |
89.67% |
|
|
|
0 |
6 |
12 |
37 |
70 |
124 |
10 |
241 |
|
Stress |
259 |
0.00% |
2.32% |
4.63% |
14.29% |
27.03% |
47.88% |
3.86% |
93.05% |
|
|
|
0 |
16 |
12 |
17 |
34 |
45 |
Il |
107 |
|
Insomnia |
135 |
0.00% |
11.85% |
8.89% |
12.59% |
25.19% |
33.33% |
8.15% |
79.26% |
|
|
|
1 |
8 |
6 |
25 |
32 |
63 |
16 |
136 |
|
Headache |
151 |
0.66% |
5.30% |
3.97% |
16.56% |
21.19% |
41.72% |
10.60% |
90.07% |
|
|
|
2 |
6 |
6 |
42 |
76 |
111 |
16 |
245 |
|
Muscle tension |
259 |
0.77% |
2.32% |
2.32% |
16.22% |
29.34% |
42.86% |
6.18% |
94.59% |
Note:
Total N = 500 patients with multiple symptoms.
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Pain Management: A Practical Guide for Clinicians • Chapt. 61 • 2002 |
Used with permission of Electromedical Products
International, Inc.
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