Robert H. Odell, Jr., MD, PhD1, and Richard E. Sorgnard, PhD2
Inflammation often plays a key role in the perpetuation of pain. Chronic inflammatory condi- tions (e.g. osteoarthritis, immune system dysfunction, micro-circulatory disease, painful neu- ritis, and even heart disease) have increased as baby boomers age. Medicine’s current anti- inflammatory choices are NSAIDs and steroids; the value in promoting cure and side effect risks of these medications are unclear and controversial, especially considering individual pa- tient variations.
Electricity has continuously been a powerful tool in medicine for thousands of years. All med- ical professionals are, to some degree, aware of electrotherapy; those who directly use elec- tricity for treatment know of its anti-inflammatory effects. Electronic signal treatment (EST), as an extension of presently available technology, may reasonably have even more anti-in- flammatory effects.
EST is a digitally produced alternating current sinusoidal electronic signal with associated har- monics to produce theoretically reasonable and/or scientifically documented physiological ef- fects when applied to the human body. These signals are produced by advanced electronics not possible even 10 to 15 years ago.
The potential long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects of some electrical currents are based on basic physical and biochemical facts listed in the text below, namely that of stimulating and signaling effective and long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects in nerve and muscle cells. The safety of electrotherapeutic treatments in general and EST in particular has been established through extensive clinical use.
The principles of physics have been largely de-emphasized in modern medicine in favor of chemistry. These electrical treatments, a familiar application of physics, thus represent pow- erful and appropriate elements of physicians’ pain care armamentaria in the clinic and possi- bly for prescription for use at home to improve overall patient care and maintenance of qual- ity of life via low-risk and potentially curative treatments.
Key words: Electroanalgesia, electronic signal treatment (EST), inflammation, anti-inflam- matory effects, immune system, neurogenic inflammation, chronic pain, steroids, NSAIDs, os- cillo/torsional effect, cAMP, membrane repair and stabilization, pain care/management
Pain Physician 2008; 11:6:891-907
