Chronic Pain Treatments
Treatment Success:
Approximately 90% of our patients experience at least 90% relief of symptoms. Sometimes, a patient will leave our clinic with only a partial improvement. We continue to remain in contact with that patient, until maximum improvement (ultimately 100%) is enjoyed.
Basis of the treatments:
All indications are that the treatments utilized in our clinic create various neuropeptides (substances normally found within the body). When created, these substances increase blood flow to areas, which have had insufficient circulation. This improvement in circulation is crucial to the healing process. In effect, the body is allowed to "heal" itself, rather than just treating the pain.
It has been found that chronic pain patients are deficient in one or more of these substances. As these compounds are created within the body by the treatments, the patient's pain diminishes. As the pain diminishes, the patient's need for pain perception altering medications (including narcotics) is decreased. As the need is decreased, the medications can be slowly reduced and ultimately eliminated. As the patient's pain level decreases, their quality of life increases.
All of these diseases respond to carefully modulated variations of the same type of treatment because they are due to the same underlying cause: a lack of adequate circulation to portions of the body.
Drug companies have long understood the need to create these neuropeptides but have been unable to make a pill or injection, which will release these substances.
When it became apparent that no technology was available to adequately treat the cause of chronic pain, new methodologies were created in our clinic. Eventually, this resulted in three United States and worldwide patents.
- The first of these patented technologies was licensed to Dyanatronics, which resulted in the Dynatronics STS clinical and STS home units, as well as, the STSi clinical unit. All of these are FDA approved physical therapy modalities. The efficacy of these treatments has been demonstrated in multiple studies, including a study, which can be found in the paper regarding peripheral neuropathies. Our patients have enjoyed improvement and normalization in the function of the sympathetic nervous system. Not only do the patients state that they feel better but this improvement has been demonstrated utilizing objective testing such as; heart rate variability studies, digital skin thermometer data, photophlethysmography data, pulse oximeter readings, and plain film thermography studies.
- The second U.S. and worldwide patent was granted for a topical cream, which provides quick, temporary relief of pain by altering circulation to a small area of the body.
- The third U.S. and worldwide patent was granted for a specialized magnetic electrode, which was designed specifically to increase the effectiveness of the Dynatronics STS treatments.
- The cream and the optimizer electrode™ are available exclusively for use by our patients through Alan Neuromedical Technologies
Treatment Process
In our clinic, patients are evaluated utilizing various painless methods to determine Sympathetic Nervous System involvement. Not only do these tests help determine what is involved with the patient's pain and how to effectively treat the patient; but also it assures the patient that they have an actual illness and that it is not "in your head", as they have probably been told by doctors who could not determine what was wrong. These tests help us determine whether or not small areas of nerves are involved, if there is a biomechanical problem, or if structural pathologies are involved. If necessary, other medical specialists are consulted. The results from these tests and consultations determine the patient's treatment process.
While most of the treatments utilized in our clinic are STS, some other physical therapy modalities have proven effective in combination with the STS treatments and are used when necessary.
We take great care to ensure the comfort of our patients. Patients are scheduled so that there is minimum time spent in our reception area. It is rare for a patient to spend more than 10 minutes in our reception area before proceeding to a treatment room and beginning therapy.
Each day, the patients fill in a picture grid and a questionnaire, which help determine the appropriate treatments, for that day.
The treatments are administered, while the patients sit comfortably in a large recliner. Movies and music are available so that the treatment time is more enjoyable. Electrodes are used to apply the STS treatment through the patient's feet and hands. The treatments are not painful.
The patients are provided blankets and/or heating pads as required, to maintain comfort. Treatment times vary between one and two hours.
The patients are encouraged to begin evening treatments, starting on the first day of treatment. This second treatment is vital since the neuropeptides, which will normalize the circulation, have a lifetime of less than 12 hours.
Our clinic is open seven days a week, throughout the year.
We recommend twice daily treatments for at least the first 30-60 days. When the treatment is given only once per day, it is important that it be given after 6 pm. Chronic pain symptoms are usually more apparent after 6 pm. This is due to the normal cyclical decreased blood pressure (less oxygen available), decreased endorphin level (increase pain perceived), and decreased cortisol level (increase pain perceived).
When the patient receives a home STS unit (ideally on the first day), the patient will be trained in the proper use and application of the home unit. The patient is then able to administer the second daily treatment, the very first evening.
The total length of time a patient will spend in our clinic depends upon the complexity of their chronic pain. Some patients are pain free the first day, while other patients may require many months of treatments. However, nearly every patient begins to have significant pain relief within 15 days.
Each patient's progress is closely monitored. When the staff and patient agree that maximum improvement in the clinical setting has been achieved, the patient returns home. The patient and staff remain in close contact while the patient's treatment at home continues.
