For years, allopathic physicians have emphasized the pharmacologic approach to treating illness. This approach works well for acute disease but not so much for chronic disease. In Western countries, our approaches to acute disease have been highly effective: the excellent algorithmic care given to victims of trauma, acute myocardial events, cerebral vascular accidents, most infections, acute cholecystitis and appendicitis. In these pharmacological and/or surgical solutions can restore the patient to their pre-pathological state.

Western medicine does not do as well with chronic disease, however, which gobbles up a majority of our health care costs. Patients with chronic disease will cost the healthcare system much of its limited resources with year after of symptom management only. Most of this is pharmacological in nature. In the case of pain management, the opioid approach not only merely ‘papers over” symptoms, but is associated with a serious epidemic of abuse itself.

We must seek solutions which serve to heal our patients’ pathology, not merely mask symptoms. One of the most significant scientific developments in understanding human physiology occurred when Becker and Seldon [1] electrically induced limb and nerve tissue regeneration in frogs and rats. They effectively showed that specific frequency-range electromagnetic fields exist that control all aspects of bioprocesses. As they stated, “These studies of extra-neuronal analog electrical morphogenetic fields have secured the importance of bioelectricity for all basic bioprocesses.”

These principles have been utilized in the development of both transcutaneous and implantable devices. Common implantable devices include spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulators. Transcutaneous devices include the well-known TENS devices, which have been marketed in many forms. Over the past 20 years, more sophisticated cell signaling has emerged on the market. The leader in this field is the device invented and manufactured by RST-Sanexas, the only device which can deliver true Electronic cell Signaling Treatment (EST) [2-4].

EST is defined as a digitally produced alternating current sinusoidal electronic signal with associated harmonics which produce physiological effects when applied to the human body [2]. These signals are produced by advanced electronics not possible even 10 to 15 years ago. EST can be enhanced by utilizing local anesthetic in a technique termed Combined Electrochemical Technique (CET), an approach popularized in my clinic in Las Vegas in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, both the pain and numbness.

A discussion of the mechanisms of action of this electronic cell signaling is beyond the scope of this review; however, two important concepts are emphasized: 1) the significance of frequency modulation and 2) the role of accommodation. The human body (as other biological systems) operates on the principles of frequency modulation; pain intensity in A-delta and c fibers is coded as a function of frequency. Moreover, the complexity of these signals makes it difficult for the nerve cells to “learn” how to defeat the physiologic effects of the signals. In this way accommodation is minimized.

1.       Becker RO, Selden G (1985) The body electric. New York, ISBN-10: 0688069711.

2.       Odell RH, Sorgnard RE (2011) New device combines electrical currents and local anesthetic for pain management. Pract Pain Manag 11: 52-68.

3.       Cernak C, Marriot E, Martini M, Fleishmann M (2012) Electric current and local anesthetic combination successfully treats pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. Pract Pain Manag 2012: 24-36.

4.       Odell RH, Sorgnard RE, Carney P, Milne RE (2015) Combined electrochemical treatment for peripheral neuropathy. Pract Pain Manag 15: 1.

5.       Malik, RA (2017) Quoted in Medscape Medical News.

6.       Carney PM (2014) Quantum Theory Treats Neuropathy Better than Pharmacology. Award winning poster presentation at the American Academy of Pain Management Annual Meeting.

7.       Carney PM, Sorgnard RE, Odell RH (2017) Electric cell signaling of nerves reduces the need for opiates. AAPM 2017 Annual Meeting Abstracts Poster 100. Pain Med 18: 569.

8.       Carney PM, Odell RH (2016) Successful opioid reduction when treating pain by using electric cell signaling. Midwest Pain Society Conference, Chicago: USA.

9.       Sorgnard R, Milne R, Odell RH (2017) Utilization of electronic cell signaling to effect recovery from peroneal neuropathy in patients with complete foot drop. J Spine Neurosurg 6: 3.