Scrambler Therapy for the Treatment of Multiple System Atrophy-Parkinsonian Subtype Pain: A Case Report

Abstract

The management of pain in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) is often inadequate, and treatments commonly result in adverse effects. A 63-year-old man with the parkinsonian subtype of MSA presented with bilateral neck, shoulder, upper extremity, lower extremity, and low back pain of 6 years' duration. His baseline pain was 5 of 10 with flares to 10 of 10. After 4 35-minute scrambler therapy (ST) treatments, his pain was reduced to 0 of 10. His pain relief after 4 ST sessions lasted for 6 weeks. No complications or adverse effects occurred. ST deserves further study for patients with atypical parkinsonism.

Pain in Multiple System Atrophy a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“… 19 , 24 An optimized management of some distressing MSA features, including botulinum toxin for focal dystonia 57 or targeted strategies for cardiovascular, 58 bladder, and bowel autonomic disturbances may ultimately represent additional MSA‐specific pain therapeutic strategies. Among non‐pharmacological measures, regular exercise, physiotherapy, and scrambler therapy have been also reported to contribute to pain reduction in MSA, 19 , 59 possibly preventing painful contractions and pressure sores.…”

Scrambler Therapy in Acute and Chronic Pain: A Review

“…In 2021, a case report treating centralized neuropathic pain associated with Parkinson's disease was published by Wang et al [60]. A 63-year-old man suffered from constant shocking and burning pain in the lower extremities with severe nighttime pain flares in a "coat-hanger" distribution.…”