Innovations in Neuropathy Pain

We are performing integrated nerve blockade treatments for our patients at Family Foot and Leg Center at our East Office exclusively. 

We are currently noticing an improvement in nerve pain in the foot and ankle area, as well as some studies are finding that some patients actually have improved balance and proprioception longterm after the treatment is completed. We will see patients 2 times a week for 4 weeks, and each treatment consists of 30 minutes which combines electrical and neuroblockade consisting of lidocaine to the peripheral nerves to the ankle and foot. This treatment is revolutionizing noninvasive management of the painful condition of neuropathy. 

New Advanced Technology

The vast majority of electromedical devices available in the United States employ LF stimulation (eg, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]). Balanced MF currents have been developed that produce twice the electrical current with no electrical charge. A new type of electrical current technology has been developed to enhance the stimulating lower frequencies and nonstimulating middle frequencies for increased efficacy in clinical practice. The device also combines, and simultaneously delivers, frequency-modulated (FM) and amplitude-modulated (AM) electric cell currents in the MF range. We refer to this electromedical approach as electronic signal treatment (EST).

This new technology may reach deeper into tissue structures with simultaneous modulation of amplitude and frequency between 2,500 Hz and 33,000 Hz. It is also capable of modulating its MF electric cell-signaling current down into the LF range at available frequency rates between 0.1 and 999 Hz.

In addition, we have combined the new EST with local anesthetic injections (bupivacaine 0.25%) with clinical success. This technique provides a combined (electrical and chemical) nerve block that enhances treatment of a neuropathy or a painful condition (see Tables 1 and 2). 

According to the Gould Medical Dictionary, a nerve block is defined as “[t]he interruption of the passage of impulses through a nerve, as by chemical, mechanical, or electrical means.” Because nerve blocks occur at voltage-gated channels, all nerve blocks are essentially electrical. According to Szasz, “There is no such thing as a chemical block … only an electrical block.”6 We refer to this as combined electrochemical block (CEB).