Neuropathy and chronic pain:
the Causes
Trauma:
Actual trauma is one of the major causes of neuropathy
and chronic pain, and results when the myelin sheath is
cut or etched away by chemotherapeutic agents,
environmental toxins, poorly performed injections, or
from amputations and accidents. Traumatic causes must
obviously be mitigated by removing the cause as in drug
therapy, chemotherapy, physical entrapment, and
environmental poisons. Permanent tissue damage may be
beyond the scope of any therapy. When these conditions
are removed, the ReBuilder® may be a helpful adjunctive
therapy in the healing process.
Diabetes: Diabetes can also trigger
neuropathy and chronic pain by affecting the levels of
glucose and/or insulin in the blood stream. When this
occurs, minerals are driven out of the fluid in the
synaptic junction thereby reducing conductivity and
impairing nerve impulse transmission. Nerve signals
propagates from the cell body unidirectionally over the
synapse, first along the axon and then across the
synapse to the next nerve or muscle cell. The synaptic
cleft, the gap between presynaptic terminal and
postsynaptic terminal, has a thickness of 10 - 50 nm.
The fact that the impulse transfers across the synapse
only in one direction, from the presynaptic terminal to
the postsynaptic terminal, is due to the difference in
electrical polarity between the sending axon and the
receiving dendrite. This is one of the reasons that the ReBuilder® sends its signal from one foot to the other –
it sets the relative potential in each gap properly so
that it forces the signal to jump properly, always
toward the central nervous system and not miss-fire and
jump the wrong way, perhaps to a sending axon that can
lead to the periphery.
Figure 4
(A) At rest synaptic vesicles.
(B) Activated synaptic vesicles (when activation reaches
the presynaptic terminal, electrical signals jump across
the synaptic cleft to activate the postsynaptic
terminal).
As a result of hypoxic cellular atrophy, nerve signals
must now try to jump a larger gap through a less
conductive medium. This loss of nerve transmission is
first perceived as tingling, then burning, and finally
as pain when the demineralization and gap widening
process progresses. The initial perception associated
with atrophied nerves and enlarged synaptic gaps is
tingling as some of the normal signals are misdirected
to nearby nerves. As the condition progresses, it
happens more and more until more signals are misdirected
than properly propagated, and the resulting sensation is
one of pain. Finally, after the nerve signals can no
longer be transmitted at all, numbness is the primary
complaint. This secondary effect of neuropathy and
chronic pain reduces the strength of the calf muscles
which, in turn, reduces the blood flow to the lower
extremities. This condition often results in poor
tissue perfusion, insecure gait, balance problems, and
other mobility issues.
Chemotherapeutic Agents: Prescribed for
cancer precisely because they inhibit fast growing or
fast acting cells, chemotherapeutic agents cause
neuropathy and chronic pain in approximately one third
of the patients to whom they are administered. Though
nerve cells do not reproduce themselves like cancer
cells do, they do change electrical states quickly and
are thus particularly susceptible to the effects of
chemotherapeutic drugs. The fast acting nerves are
mistaken for fast growing neo-plasms. Chemotherapy has
the effect of de-mineralizing the synaptic fluid,
damaging the integrity of the nerve cells, and making it
difficult for the ionization of the cell membranes to
propagate the signal along the surface of the nerve.
When ionization takes place, the outer membrane of the
nerve cells change from positive to negative in a wave
like motion taking a positive charge from one end of the
nerve all the way to the other end. Chemotherapy is
designed to interrupt the ability of the cell to control
the permeability of the outer membrane and this process
is electrically modulated. This electrical interruption
is misapplied when the agent is in contact with the
myelin sheath of a healthy, active nerve cell and causes
the nerve cell to “short out” and inhibit the necessary
different potentials in the nodes of the myelin sheath.
Cardiovascular Disease:
By reducing the amount of blood that can perfuse the
tissue of the lower legs and feet, cardiovascular
disease can also cause neuropathy and chronic pain.
When the arteries and veins become blocked, blood flow
is reduced. One of the first symptoms is intermittent
claudication which results in a reduction in the
distance a patient can walk before the onset of
localized leg pain due to reduced oxygen availability.
Therefore, the muscle cells switch from aerobic
metabolism to using anaerobic metabolism thereby
creating greater than normal amounts of lactic acid, the
by-product of muscle metabolism. The increased lactic
acid collects in the cells causing inflammation and
pain.
Lumbar Trauma: Trauma to the lumbar
area of the back can be another cause of neuropathy and
chronic pain. This trauma can be as slight as lifting a
bag of groceries out of the trunk, picking up a
grandchild, or bending down to tie a shoe. Our studies
show a 60% correlation between repeated injuries to the
lower back and subsequent development of neuropathy and
chronic pain symptoms. During the acute phase of
localized trauma, inflammation develops reducing
arterial and venous blood to the lumbar synaptic
junctions. Nerves in the region temporarily shrink due
to the reduction in activity. Since the body tends to
conserve resources, the affected nerves begin to
atrophy, the synaptic junction gap begins to widen, and
synaptic minerals leech away making signal transmission
more difficult.
Signals of normal strength can no
longer cross synapses that are damaged by the reduction
in blood flow. The loss of signals across the synapses
compounds the process of deterioration. Muscle atrophy
and a host of other problems follow. We have found that
a signal delivered at 7.83 cycles per second (the body's
natural electromagnetic resonant frequency) and at an
amplitude approximately 10 times that originally
required will cross these enlarged synapses, repolarize
them.
High Blood Pressure Medication: High
blood pressure medication not only lowers blood
pressure, it also reduces the ability of the arterial
blood to refill the veins. This vacancy results as the
venous muscle pumps the blood back to the heart. When
this occurs the blood has a tendency to pool in the
lower extremities; the nerves and synaptic junctions do
not have enough necessary nutrition and oxygen to
maintain their health resulting in nerve cell atrophy,
loss of mineralization, and conductivity of the synaptic
junctions as explained above.
Psychoactive Drug Therapy: These drugs,
used to reduce anxiety or seizures, have the effect of
reducing the intensity/frequency of all nerve signals.
This, too, can result in loss of motor and sensory
nerve function. These conditions can result in impaired
mobility and balance issues due to the loss of muscle
strength. Whenever overactive nerves that might be
causing psychological problems are depressed, they
depress borderline poorly functioning nerves as well.
The
ReBuilder® Works on Three Separate, but Simultaneous
Levels
Electro Stimulation of Nerves:
The ReBuilder’s® electrical signal is a compilation of
two signals transmitted simultaneously. One signal is
specifically designed to stimulate the nerves themselves
and has a very narrow waveform with a small amount of
current under the curve and a relatively high transient
voltage (characteristically 40 to 90 volts ac.). The
resulting current is miniscule and much below what is
commonly found with traditional TENS devices. A larger
than normal signal must be used because of the widening
gap between the nerve cells (See Figure 3) and the loss
of much of the conductivity in the synaptic junction
fluid due to demineralization (See Figure 2) the
ReBuilder’s® nerve stimulation signal is many times
stronger than the normal afferent and efferent signals;
therefore, it can effectively complete the circuit.
This stimulates the nerves causing them to re-establish
their normal metabolic function. This signal, crossing
the synaptic junctions, also re-polarizes the junctions
causing them to be receptive to reabsorb minerals thus
improving the conductivity.
Electro Stimulation of
Muscles: The ReBuilder’s®
second signal, which overlays the nerve stimulation
signal, is designed to stimulate the muscles. This
signal has a different, wider waveform with a larger
sub-threshold amount of current under the curve and a
much smaller voltage (5 to 20 vac.). Muscles are most
responsive to this waveform. This signal causes the
muscles of the feet, calves, thighs, and buttocks to
contract and relax in harmony with the ReBuilder’s®
signal. Overcoming any residual inflammatory resistance
to blood flow, the ReBuilder’s® proprietary signal also
has specific characteristics that cause a complete
relaxation of the muscles’ fast and slow twitch cells
between each contraction stimulus. In order for the
venous pressure to move the blood through the muscles
bringing oxygen and nutrients and taking away
accumulated lactic acid, the muscle fibers cannot remain
in spasm. Adequate blood flow can only occur in a
flaccid muscle. This is an important consideration. It
is not the contraction but primarily the time interval
between the contractions that contribute to the
increased perfusion of blood through the oxygen starved
tissue.
If the frequency of the muscle
stimulation signal is too fast, it does not give the
muscle the appropriate time necessary to fully relax.
If the signal’s frequency is too slow, the muscle
cannot entrain and recruit enough fibers for a sustained
contraction. By stimulating the muscles to contract in
this manner in response to the ReBuilder's® signal, the
venous muscle pump is used to propel blood, against
gravity, back up towards the heart. Blood flow is
increased with mineral enriched blood which results in a
flushing of metabolic byproducts. This not only offers
relief of pain from the build up of excessive lactic
acid, but it also triggers the creation of new muscle
mass. The synaptic junctions, bathed with this mineral
rich blood, are now able to permanently conduct the
nerves signals more effectively and efficiently.
Combined Electro Stimulation at 7.83 Hz:
This twin electrical signal (one to stimulate the nerve
cells and the other to trigger muscle cells) is pulsed
on and off at the frequency of 7.83 cycles per second.
We have found that the human body is particularly
sensitive to this frequency. One postulation for this
sensitivity is that the electrical potential between the
earth's atmosphere and the earth’s surface is also
approximately 7.83 Hz. Using this signal frequency, we
have found that the body not only responds favorably but
the brain is induced to release large amounts of
endorphins. Endorphins, internal analgesics as powerful
as and chemically related to morphine but without any
negative side effects, are created and modulated by the
body’s own chemistry. The effect of this endorphin
release is a generalized sense of well-being, a
reduction in pain and anxiety levels elsewhere in the
body, and even a reduction in emotional pain. This
ensures a very high level of patient compliance not only
because the patient feels good physically during the
massage-like treatment period but because he/she feels
better emotionally afterward experiencing a reduction in
global non-neuropathic (nociceptive) pain for a period
of 4 to 6 hours.
An additional feature of the ReBuilder® is its
simultaneous weighted DC signal. This intentional
imbalance to the asymmetric waveform that results in a
tiny DC current is designed to stabilize the trigger
threshold that regulates the sensitivity of the nerve
cell. Like a heart in fibrillation, this normally
stable trigger level begins an unregulated oscillation
that can result in erratic transmission of incoming
nerve signals. Sometimes small signals are accepted for
an attempt at propagation, and sometimes only large
signals are accepted. This upsets the homeostasis of
the part of the brain assigned to managing these signals
and selecting the appropriate response. By sending this
constant DC signal, the effect is to hold this resting
potential at a fixed voltage long enough for the cell to
stabilize itself and regain control.
When the conductive rubber electrodes are applied to
feet, the current path is directed from one foot, to the
ankle, up to the knee, the thigh, the lumbar area, down
the other leg all the way to the foot. This means that
all the nerves of both legs are stimulated
simultaneously as well as all the muscles. This is a
unique aspect of the ReBuilder®.
The ReBuilder® contributes to the healing process
by accomplishing the following:
- Stimulates leg muscles to
contract and relax thereby increasing blood velocity
and volume with fresh blood to the nerves and
muscles.
- Stimulates all the afferent and
efferent nerves in the lower extremities with a
signal larger than normal to re-establish the
pathways for subsequent normal signals to follow.
- Draws axon and dendrite nerve
endings closer together to facilitate proper nerve
transmission.
- Builds residual pain relief each
time the system is used.
- Causes the brain to release
endorphins that reduce global pain and anxiety.
- Promotes the healing of non
plantar surface diabetic skin ulcers and sprains.
- Increases muscle strength for
safe, pain free walking.
- Promotes better mobility and
balance as proprioception returns to the legs and
feet.
- Reduces edema as muscle
contractions encourage lymphatic drainage and
movement to the proper nodes.
- Increases collateral circulation,
stimulating vasogenesis.
The ReBuilder® accomplishes these
functions in a simple to use home care system that is
not only effective in helping relieve many of the
symptoms of neuropathy and chronic pain and in limiting
its progression, but can cause the regression of pain,
burning, and numbness.
When the ReBuilder’s® electrical signals stimulate the
leg muscles to contract, this "venous muscle pump" moves
the mineral rich blood to the muscles and the nerves.
Osmotic pressure and the ionic tension from the
ReBuilder’s® signals successfully jumping across the
gaps then carries these necessary minerals into the
synaptic junctions between the nerve cells helping to
restore the conductivity that is characteristically
lost.
The Electrophysiology
of Electro Stimulation with the ReBuilder®
The activation process
encompasses certain specifics
such as currents, potentials, conductivities,
concentrations, ion flows, etc. The term action
impulse describes the whole process. When
activation occurs in a nerve cell, it is called a
nerve impulse; correspondingly, in a muscle cell,
it is called a muscle impulse. The
bioelectric measurements focus on the electric
potential difference across the membrane; thus the
electric measurement of the action impulse is called the
action potential that describes the behavior of
the membrane potential during the activation.
Consequently, we speak, for instance, of excitatory
postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) and inhibitory
postsynaptic potentials (IPSP). In biomagnetic
measurements, it is the electric current that
is the source of the magnetic field. Therefore, it is
logical to use the term action current to refer
to the source of the biomagnetic signal during the
action impulse. These terms are further illustrated in
Figure 5, below. Since it is these action potentials
that are in a fibrillation mode similar to a myocardial
infarction, the ReBuilder® can be thought of as a
defibrillator for nerve cells.
Figure 5: Clarification of the
terminology used in connection with the action impulse:
A) The source of the action impulse may be nerve or
muscle cell (correspondingly the nerve impulse or a
muscle impulse).
B) The electric quantity measured from the action
impulse may be potential or current (correspondingly the
action potential or action current).
The concentration of sodium ions (Na+)
is about 10 times higher outside the membrane than
inside, whereas the concentration of the potassium (K+)
ions is about 30 times higher inside as compared to
outside. When the membrane is stimulated so that the
transmembrane potential rises about 20 mV and reaches
the threshold, i.e., the membrane voltage changes from
-70 mV to about -50 mV (these are illustrative and
common numerical values), the sodium and potassium ionic
permeabilities of the membrane change. The sodium ion
permeability increases very rapidly at first, allowing
sodium ions to flow from outside to inside, making the
inside more positive. The inside reaches a potential of
about +20 mV. After that, the more slowly increasing
potassium ion permeability allows potassium ions to flow
from inside to outside, thus returning the intracellular
potential to its resting value. The maximum excursion
of the membrane voltage during activation is about 100
mV; the duration of the nerve impulse is around 1 ms, as
illustrated in Figure 6. While at rest, following
activation, the Na-K pump restores the ion
concentrations inside and outside the membrane to their
original values.
Figure 6: Nerve impulse recorded
from a cat motoneuron following a transthreshold
stimulus. The originating triggering stimulus may be
seen at t = 0.
Whether an excitatory cell is activated depends largely
on the strength and duration of the stimulus. The
membrane potential may reach the threshold by a short,
strong stimulus or a longer, weaker stimulus. The
ReBuilder’s® therapeutic benefit depends on its use of a
short voltage pulse rather than current. Although the
rheobase is very small, to get that true net figure, a
transdermal signal must be larger and take into
consideration both the resistance of the skin and the
impedance of the body. The impedance acts as a
threshold “brake” that must first be overcome and then
immediately sensed and subsequent signals must be
reduced to avoid overwhelming the nerve potentials. The
ReBuilder® has special circuits that monitor and control
these electrical parameters in real time. The curve
illustrating this dependence is called the
strength-duration curve; a typical relationship
between these variables is illustrated in Figure 7on the
following page. The smallest current adequate to
initiate activation is called the rheobasic current
or rheobase. Theoretically, the rheobasic
current needs an infinite duration to trigger
activation. The time needed to excite the cell with
twice rheobase current is called chronaxy.
The
Strength-Duration Curve
Figure 7: (A) The response of the
membrane to various stimuli of changing strength (B),
the strength-duration curve. The level of current
strength which will just elicit activation after a very
long stimulus is called rheobase. The minimum time
required for a stimulus pulse twice the rheobase in
strength to trigger activation is called chronaxy. (For
simplicity, here, threshold is shown to be independent
on stimulus duration.)
Accommodation
and habituation denote the adaptation of the
cell to a continuing or repetitive stimulus. This is
characterized by a rise in the excitation threshold. Facilitation
denotes an increase in the excitability of the
cell; correspondingly, there is a decrease in the
threshold. Latency denotes the delay between
two events. In the present context, it refers to the
time between application of a stimulus pulse and the
beginning of the activation. Once activation has been
initiated, the membrane is in the absolute
refractory period, and is insensitive to new
stimuli no matter how great the magnitude. During the
relative refractory period, near the end of the
activation impulse, the cell may be activated but only
with a stimulus stronger than normal. A damaged nerve
is in this relative refractory period and that is why
the ReBuilder® sends a 10X signal.
The membrane voltage
(transmembrane voltage) (Vm) of an excitable cell is
defined as the potential at the inner surface (Фi)
relative to that at the outer (Фo) surface of the
membrane, i.e. Vm = (Фi) - (Фo). This definition is
independent of the cause of the potential whether
the membrane voltage is constant, periodic, or
nonperiodic in behavior. Fluctuations in the
membrane potential may be classified according to
their character in many different ways. Figure 8 on
the following page shows the classification for
nerve cells developed by Theodore Holmes Bullock
(1959). According to Bullock, these transmembrane
potentials may be resolved into a resting potential
and potential changes due to activity. The latter
may be classified into three different types:
- Pacemaker potentials: the intrinsic activity of the
cell which occurs without external excitation.
- Transducer potentials across the
membrane, due to external events. These include
generator potentials caused by receptors or synaptic
potential changes arising at synapses. Both
subtypes can be inhibitory or excitatory.
- As a consequence of transducer
potentials, further response will arise. If the
magnitude does not exceed the threshold, the
response will be nonpropagating (electrotonic). If
the response is great enough, a nerve impulse
(action potential impulse) will be produced which
obeys the all-or- nothing law (see below) and
proceeds unattenuated along the axon or fiber.
Figure 8: Trans membrane
potentials according to Theodore H. Bullock.
Distinct and characteristic
morphologic changes have
been demonstrated in diabetic neuropathy and chronic
pain including focal and generalized nerve fiber loss,
nodal changes, blunted fiber regeneration, and segmental
demyelination. (This segmental demyelination is a result
of the shrinking of the nerve cell which draws the nodes
together. When these nodes touch, they in effect, short
each other out and lose their integrity.) (See Figure 3
on page 3).
Pathophysiologically, by utilizing the
technique of threshold electrotonus, diabetic neurons
(myelinated and unmyelinated) display selective
reduction of inward rectification of the potassium
channel. Thus, channel closure produces an excess of
positively charged potassium (K+) on the inner side of
the nerve membrane leading to depolarization. This also
induces the opening of both the voltage and
time-dependent calcium (Ca++) channels and sodium (Na+)
channels. Evidence suggests that this axonal
accumulation of sodium and calcium (as opposed to the
opposite leeching of these minerals from the synaptic
fluid) during dysesthetic neuropathy and chronic pain is
key to the symptoms of paresthesiae and burning.
Paresthesiae are believed to be produced by multiple
cutaneous or motor axons firing ectopically and
cyclically with alteration of Na-K-Cyclic adenosine
monophosphate (C-AMP) and ATPase. The DC portion of the
signal produced by the ReBuilder® stabilizes the uptake
of these minerals by forcing a baseline voltage
differential and inhibiting this de-polarization
phenomenon. In addition, the application of additional
biologically available Ca balances the Ca++ and the Na+.
Some researchers believe that a final
common pathway might be a decrease in the intra-axonal
concentration of C-AMP. Based upon the disappearance
and/or significant improvement in the paresthesiae, it
is tempting to speculate that this aberrant behavior of
the fibers is affected at the cellular level with
stabilization. Since these specific changes are seen to
a greater extent in sensory nerves and with advanced
age, it is hypothesized that ReBuilder® bio-stimulation
selectively induces hyperpolarization or repolarization
with a return to baseline axonal potential in the
sensory afferents. The effects of this ReBuilder
®stimulation on peripheral nerve excitability may depend
on a combination of factors including design, strength,
intensity, and duration as well as the functional state
of the peripheral nerve. To date it has been difficult
to identify electrophysiological changes by the
conventional gold standards of serial nerve conductions
and SSEP. These wave form factors that the ReBuilder®
uses are designed to mimic a normal signal and are part
of the patent pending technology. It is the purpose of
the ReBuilder® to be an external source of stimulus to
induce an action potential impulse which will then
proceed fully along the axon.
Several general principles have
emerged from our studies. First, electrical stimulation
induces ionic gradient changes in the Na-K-ATPase
system. Since there are distinct physiologic and
neuro-biologic changes noted at the cell membrane level,
it is postulated that repetitive sub-threshold
stimulation of afferents also induces similar ionic
changes. The most plausible explanation is that the
ReBuilder® targets the small C-fibers and induces a
change in the firing pattern of the C-fibers by
recruitment, synchronization, and possible temporal
summation, thereby producing either hyper-polarization
or re-polarization. It is well known that the
functional C-polymodal receptor afferents are
functionally adaptive and can be modulated by drugs and
temperature which act or influence their surface
membrane receptors. Similarly, stimulation by either
threshold or sub-threshold influences could produce the
same effect. It is recognized that unmyelinated C-fiber
axons comprise 75% of the axons in cutaneous peripheral
nerves in the sole of the foot (epidermis and dermis)
and have increased utilization of potassium channels.
By virtue of this defect in the internal rectifying
channel, there is an interference with neuronal
transmission thereby producing a constant
depolarization. In Figure 9 below, the active portion
(B) is reduced and nerve propagation is inhibited in a
salutatory manner. Those nerves that are unmyelinated
(A) do not possess this feature and this is why, in
neuropathy and chronic pain, the motor neurons may not
be damaged in the same time sequence as the sensory
neurons. This observation also accounts for the
intermittent quality of the sensations or lack thereof
in the same anatomical area. The ReBuilder® is designed
to repolarize this defect in the internal rectifying
channel and because 75% of the axons are in the plantar
surface of the foot, this is one of the ReBuilder®
administers its signals via the foot.
Figure 9: Conduction of a nerve
impulse in a nerve axon.
(A) Continuous conduction in
an unmyelinated axon.
(B) Saltatory conduction in a myelinated axon.
Since dramatic benefits are seen in
diabetic patients, it is presumed that the ReBuilder®
stimulation induced alteration of the nociceptive
threshold (which depends on voltage-flux, flux density,
time, and usage) leads pain modulation. This is the
well known strength-duration relationship. These
factors are all a part of the patent pending technology
of the ReBuilder®. Examples of nociceptive pain include
sprains, bone fractures, burn, bumps, bruises,
inflammation (from an infection or arthritic disorder),
obstructions, and myofascial pain (which may indicate
abnormal muscle stresses).
Nociceptors are the nerves which sense
and respond to parts of the body which suffer from
damage. They signal tissue irritation, impending
injury, or actual injury. When activated, they transmit
pain signals (via the peripheral nerves as well as the
spinal cord) to the brain. The pain is typically well
localized, constant, and often with an aching or
throbbing quality. Visceral pain is the subtype of
nociceptive pain that involves the internal organs. It
tends to be episodic and poorly localized.
Our research is finding that
regardless of the absence of electrodiagnostic
sensitivity, the morphologic and pathophysiologic
changes raise several interesting questions. Axonal
damage indicative of physical shrinkage along a
longitudinal axis was seen in all the subjects with 100%
loss of sensory action (SNAP) and 60% loss of compound
motor potentials (CMAP). Despite this extensive damage,
there was dramatic subjective, statistically significant
benefit in 90% of the patients using the ReBuilder® in a
clinical setting.
Since it is assumed that there is both
A and C-fiber damage, the current results suggest this
observed high frequency of regenerating axons, likely
related to transient hypoxia, may be relevant to the
benefits seen. This lack of available oxygen to the
nerve cells has a cascading effect resulting in specific
metabolic abnormalities that have been identified in
diabetic neuropathy and chronic pain. Some of these
include a reduction in nerve-free myoinositol, a
reduction in the rate of synthesis and transport of
intra-axonal proteins, a reduced incorporation of
glycolipids, electrolytes and amino acids into myelin, a
reduction in nerve Na-K-AT-Pase, and excessive glycogen
accumulation. It has also been documented that elevated
glucose levels evoke a rise in the intracellular ATP
levels thereby closing the potassium channel. Increased
glucose levels also cause sore muscles from the
conversion to lactic acid in the muscles which farther
reduces blood flow and exacerbates hypoxia.
The idea that a single ReBuilder®
treatment can induce a change in the firing pattern of
the C-fibers is novel and appealing. However, one
cannot ignore the therapeutic benefit over a longer
period. Patients using the ReBuilder® clearly showed an
accumulating improvement, particularly those with
underlying diabetic neuropathy and chronic pain.
The intriguing issue of
neuroprotection needs to be addressed. Does the
ReBuilder® treatment delay the progression of peripheral
nerve damage? So far follow up data suggests that it
does.
As mentioned above, electrical
stimulation alteration of the nociceptive threshold
depends on voltage-flux, flux, density, time, and usage.
According to Faraday’s Law, a magnetic field (created
by the ReBuilder’s® current path) will exert a force on
a moving ionic current. Furthermore, an extension of
this physics principle known as the Hall Effect holds
that when an electromagnetic field is perpendicular to
the direction of flow, it will generate a secondary
intracellular voltage and secondary heat. Since
peripheral nerves in diabetic neuropathy and chronic
pain have impaired blood flow with endoneurial hypoxia
secondary to nerve micro vessel damage, it is tempting
to speculate that improvement in the micro vascular
circulation is also reflected in the feeling of warmth
which may be due to an improvement in local and regional
blood flow.
Safety
Considerations
As intermittent electrical signals are
received into the nervous system, the resistance,
capacity, and impedance changes dramatically on a
dynamic basis. This change must be monitored and the
voltage, current, and other electrical parameters must
be adjusted in real time. Unless an electrical device
incorporates the safety features unique to the
ReBuilder®, either the patient can be injured or the
instrument will be damaged. Therefore the
clinician should not be tempted to try to stimulate the
nerves and muscles simultaneously with a normal TENS or
EMS device. The ReBuilder® has patented
technology built in which samples the patient’s
electrical parameters over 25,000 times per minute and
automatically adjusts the output to ensure the patient’s
safety. This, coupled with the both the power supplied
by a 9 volt battery and the electronic circuits inside
the unit being electrically isolated from the direct
contact with the patient, insures complete safety.
A Few Physician Testimonials
A
growing number of physicians are using the ReBuilder®
to aid their neuropathy and chronic pain patients.
