A non-invasive treatment that uses an FDA-cleared medical device to deliver programmed electrical signals through electrodes placed on the skin.
Send the nervous system non-pain information through nerve pathways that have been carrying chronic pain signals.
People with several types of chronic neuropathic pain, including CRPS, peripheral neuropathy, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
As one part of an individualized neurological rehabilitation program that may include up to 24 therapies.
It is not a guaranteed cure. It does not produce the same response in every patient, and it does not automatically restore strength, movement, balance, or function.
Chronic neuropathic pain can continue long after the original injury has healed. Over time, the nervous system may keep sending or reading signals as dangerous. Scrambler Therapy works to change the information moving through those pathways. Here is a simplified view of the process.
Chronic pain signaling
The nervous system repeatedly sends or interprets information as pain.
New information is introduced
Scrambler Therapy delivers programmed electrical information through electrodes placed near the painful area.
The brain receives non-pain input
The signals give the brain a different message through the affected nerve pathways.
The nervous system may respond differently
With repeated treatment, some patients feel less pain and the nervous system may begin interpreting incoming information differently.
Graphic caption: Current research suggests Scrambler Therapy works by helping the brain reinterpret abnormal pain signaling through mechanisms believed to involve neuroplasticity.
For decades, Dr. van der Merwe has viewed chronic pain differently than many providers. Pain is real and often life-altering. But she has long believed that pain itself is rarely the true problem. More often, pain is the nervous system’s protective response to an underlying dysfunction. Unless that dysfunction is addressed, lasting change is difficult.
She often compares pain to the warning light on a car’s dashboard. The light matters because it tells you something needs attention. But covering the light does not repair the engine. That idea became the foundation of the clinic. Instead of asking how to suppress pain, her team asks a different question. Why is the nervous system producing pain in the first place, and what can help it work more normally again?
CRPS is often described as being caused by an injury or a surgery. Dr. van der Merwe believes that tells only part of the story. She uses another picture. Imagine a kitchen slowly filling with gas from a leaking stove. The match may trigger the explosion, but the match is not the real cause. In the same way, an injury or surgery may be the event that triggers the pain. It does not explain why one person develops CRPS while thousands of others with the same injury recover normally. The trigger is only one piece of a much larger neurological puzzle.
For years, that view made Scrambler Therapy seem incomplete. If a treatment reduced pain without addressing the broader dysfunction behind it, would patients reach the kind of long-term recovery everyone hoped for?
Then neuroscience began to change the conversation. As research into neuroplasticity grew, Dr. van der Merwe became more and more interested in the brain’s ability to adapt, reorganize, and build new pathways throughout life. The more she studied, the more her question changed.
What if reducing pain was not the end of treatment? What if it created an opportunity? If real pain relief let patients move more normally, take part more fully in rehabilitation, and engage the nervous system in healthier ways, then that period of reduced pain might be worth far more than symptom relief alone. It might open a window when the nervous system is more ready to change. That idea changed how she viewed Scrambler Therapy.
Scrambler Therapy is already built on neuroplasticity. Its goal is not merely to interrupt pain. It is to teach the nervous system a new response rather than suppress symptoms. But learning is rarely instant. Think about learning to play the piano. It can take years. New pathways may form quickly, but stable remission depends on reinforcement over time. This is where our neurological recovery program does its most important work. It helps speed that process.
Today, The Spero Clinic offers Scrambler Therapy. Not because our philosophy changed, but because our understanding of neuroplasticity grew. We do not view pain relief as the destination. We view it as the start of a larger process of neurological restoration.
Scrambler Therapy is mainly considered for people with chronic neuropathic pain. A diagnosis alone does not decide whether someone is a good candidate. Our clinical team also weighs the location and type of pain, medical history, previous treatments, current health, and treatment goals.
Conditions we may evaluate
Scrambler Therapy may be a fit when
It may not be right for everyone
Certain medical conditions, implanted devices, skin conditions, or other clinical factors can affect whether Scrambler Therapy is appropriate. Our team reviews each person’s history individually before making a recommendation.
Most patients start their search for Scrambler Therapy with one goal. They want their pain to stop. We understand that completely. Chronic pain changes nearly every part of life. It affects sleep, relationships, work, exercise, mood, confidence, and independence. It takes your energy and your joy. When pain drives every decision, relief becomes the most important thing in the world.
Our clinical team also knows something else. Pain changes more than how you feel. It changes how the nervous system works. After months or years of chronic pain, the body develops deep protective patterns. Muscles weaken from disuse. Balance shifts. Movement becomes guarded. Fear of movement grows. Everyday activities become exhausting. Even after pain starts to improve, these changes often remain.
In other words, reducing pain does not automatically restore function. Someone who has avoided stairs for three years does not suddenly regain strength and confidence the day their pain drops. A person who has walked with an abnormal gait for years does not return to normal movement just because the pain eased. The nervous system has to relearn those patterns through repetition, experience, and guided rehabilitation.
That idea sits at the heart of our philosophy. We do not see Scrambler Therapy as the end of treatment. We see it as the start of an opportunity. When pain decreases, patients can often take part more comfortably in therapies that used to be too hard or too painful. They can move more naturally, exercise more effectively, and begin replacing years of protective programming with healthier patterns. That is why Scrambler Therapy was such a natural addition to our program.
It did not replace our philosophy. It strengthened it. By combining meaningful pain reduction with comprehensive neurological rehabilitation, we believe patients may be better able to use the nervous system’s natural capacity for change. We continue to evaluate this approach through ongoing outcomes work. It reflects the belief that has guided us for years. Lasting recovery takes more than symptom relief. It takes helping the nervous system learn to function differently.
Graphic caption: Our hypothesis is that reducing pain may create an ideal opportunity for comprehensive neurological rehabilitation, allowing patients to participate more fully in therapies designed to restore function and reinforce healthier neuroplastic change.
Every patient who comes to us has a unique story. Some have lived with CRPS for decades. Others are recovering from chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, Long COVID, peripheral neuropathy, or another complex neurological disorder. No two nervous systems are the same, and no two treatment plans should be either. What these patients often share is that chronic pain has changed far more than their comfort. It has changed how they move, how they think about movement, how they sleep, and how they experience daily life.
Over time, the nervous system adapts to those experiences. Muscles weaken. Protective movement patterns become automatic. Fear of movement develops. The autonomic nervous system often stays on high alert, which makes it harder for the body to return to normal even after the original injury heals. That is why our philosophy has never focused on pain alone. Our goal is to help restore the nervous system’s ability to function, adapt, and respond well to the demands of daily life.
Every plan is individualized. Our approach is built around four principles.
Pain is exhausting. It takes your attention, limits movement, interrupts sleep, and often keeps you from taking part fully in rehabilitation. When every movement hurts, the nervous system reinforces protective habits that get harder to overcome. Scrambler Therapy may help lower that barrier. As neuropathic pain decreases, many patients become better able to take part in the therapies that follow. They often move with more confidence, tolerate rehabilitation more comfortably, and take on patterns that pain had made impossible. We do not see this as the end of treatment. We see it as the start of an opportunity.
Pain relief opens the door. What happens next may determine where that door leads.
The nervous system does not work in separate parts. Movement affects pain. Pain affects stress. Stress affects the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system affects inflammation, sleep, digestion, circulation, and much more. Every system talks to the others. That is one reason we believe complex neurological disorders call for a comprehensive approach rather than a single fix.
After a full evaluation, each patient receives an individualized plan that may include up to 24 therapies. Depending on your needs, those may focus on autonomic regulation, neuromuscular re-education, functional neurological rehabilitation, sensory integration, brain balancing, circulation, lymphatic function, vestibular rehabilitation, oxygen therapies, nutritional support, manual neurological therapies, laser therapy, magnetic resonance therapy, and other evidence-informed care. Not every patient receives every therapy. Each one serves a specific purpose in a coordinated plan.
This is where recovery moves beyond symptom relief. Every step taken without fear. Every staircase climbed. Every muscle activated correctly. Every balance exercise. Each one gives the nervous system new information. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to learn through experience. Just as chronic pain can reinforce unhealthy pathways, meaningful rehabilitation can build healthier ones. Repetition matters, because every successful movement teaches the brain that the body can work differently than it did yesterday. This cannot be rushed. It takes repetition, guidance, progression, and thousands of chances for the nervous system to practice healthier patterns until they become the new normal. Our goal is not simply to reduce pain. It is to help you recover the abilities that chronic neurological illness slowly took away.
This last principle may matter most, because it defines how we measure success. Life does not stop after treatment. Dr. Katinka often tells patients they should not leave feeling they have to live wrapped in bubble wrap. They should leave stronger than they felt before they became ill. Life will bring challenges. Illness, stress, injury, surgery, and setbacks are almost certain. The question is not whether they will happen. It is how the nervous system will respond when they do. Our hope is that by combining meaningful pain reduction with comprehensive rehabilitation, patients leave with a nervous system better prepared to adapt rather than fall back into the protective patterns that once controlled their lives.
That is why we believe recovery should never be measured only by pain scores on the last day of treatment. It should be measured by what happens months and years later. When patients return to work or school, travel with their families, play with their children or grandchildren, exercise without fear, and keep living full lives. That is the destination we work toward every day.
One of the most common questions we hear is simple. If Scrambler Therapy works so well, why do some people eventually need another series of treatments? The honest answer is that medicine does not yet fully understand why long-term results vary from person to person. Some patients do well for years. Others notice a gradual return of symptoms months or years later and benefit from booster sessions.
Many factors likely play a role, including the underlying diagnosis, how long you have had pain, ongoing tissue injury, immune function, autonomic regulation, lifestyle, stress, and overall health.
Needing a booster does not mean the first treatment failed. Chronic neurological disorders are complex, and the nervous system keeps adapting throughout life. At Spero, this question led us to another one. If pain relief creates an opportunity for the nervous system to change, how do we make the most of that window while it lasts? That question is a big reason we focus so much on what happens after pain improves. We use that time to work on movement, function, and nervous system regulation rather than relying on pain reduction alone.
Scrambler Therapy has been studied in several chronic neuropathic pain conditions. Research has included patients with CRPS, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, phantom limb pain, postherpetic neuralgia, and other forms of chronic nerve pain.
Some studies have reported meaningful reductions in pain. In some cases, improvements continued after the initial treatment series.
The research also has limits. Study sizes have often been small. Treatment protocols have not always been identical. Patient diagnoses and pain histories vary. Long-term results are not the same for everyone. Researchers continue to study the mechanism, the best protocols, patient selection, and how long results last.
Several therapies we use have been studied on their own. The complete Spero approach, including the combined use of Scrambler Therapy and our broader neurological rehabilitation program, has not yet been evaluated as a single treatment model. We think that distinction matters. Our approach is based on current neuroscience, our clinical experience treating thousands of patients with complex neurological disorders, and the growing understanding of neuroplasticity. We are actively working to evaluate our outcomes so our broader approach can continue to be studied.
Evidence module: add 3 to 5 selected studies reviewed and approved by the clinical team. Include study title, publication, year, and a link to the original research.
When people first contact us, they often ask a simple question. Do you offer Scrambler Therapy? The answer is yes. But we think the more important question is this. What happens after my pain begins to improve? That question has shaped everything we do.
For many years, The Spero Clinic has helped patients with complex neurological disorders restore function, improve quality of life, and regain independence through comprehensive neurological rehabilitation. Adding Scrambler Therapy did not change that mission. It strengthened it.
Rather than viewing pain relief as the finish line, we view it as a chance to rebuild what chronic neurological illness has slowly taken away. For some patients, that means learning to walk normally again after years of guarding a painful limb. For others, it means rebuilding strength, improving balance, restoring endurance, or overcoming the fear of movement that often develops with chronic pain. Many also work to improve sleep, regulate the autonomic nervous system, increase activity tolerance, and regain confidence in their bodies. No single therapy can do all of that. That is why every patient receives an individualized plan based on a comprehensive neurological evaluation rather than a standard protocol.
Treatment advances because clinicians keep asking better questions. The question that led us to Scrambler Therapy was not whether it reduced pain. Research had already shown it could help many patients. Our question was different. Could meaningful pain reduction create an opportunity for more effective neurological rehabilitation? Could patients who move with less pain take part more fully in therapies designed to restore function? Could that combination help some patients reach more durable improvement than either approach alone? We believe those are questions worth exploring. Every decision we make serves one goal. Helping each patient build the healthiest, most adaptable nervous system possible.
Our mission has never been simply to reduce pain. Our mission is to help people reclaim their lives.
Dr. Katinka van der Merwe
Scrambler Therapy uses an FDA-cleared medical device. FDA clearance applies to the device and its cleared intended use. It does not mean every patient or condition will respond to treatment.
No. Both use electrodes on the skin, but they use different devices, signals, and approaches. Scrambler Therapy is meant to send non-pain information through nerve pathways rather than simply interrupting or distracting from pain signals.
The treatment is meant to be comfortable. You may feel electrical sensations during a session. We adjust the settings based on your response and comfort.
No. Scrambler Therapy is non-invasive and uses electrodes placed on the surface of the skin.
Scrambler Therapy should not be described as a guaranteed cure for CRPS. Some patients see meaningful pain reduction. Others see partial improvement or little change. We combine Scrambler Therapy with individualized neurological rehabilitation because reducing pain does not automatically restore strength, balance, movement, or function.
It has been studied in several forms of chronic neuropathic pain, including CRPS, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, phantom limb pain, and postherpetic neuralgia. A clinical evaluation is needed to decide whether it may be appropriate for you.
Because reducing pain is a starting point, not the finish line. When pain decreases, many patients can take part more fully in rehabilitation that restores movement, strength, balance, and function. Our program is built to use that window.
The Spero Clinic’s comprehensive program is a 14 week program. The number and frequency of Scrambler Therapy sessions within it depend on your condition, response, and plan. Our clinical team will explain your expected schedule after reviewing your history and completing an evaluation.
It depends on your condition, response, and treatment plan. Our team will give you a specific expected schedule after your evaluation.
We use Scrambler Therapy inside our 14 week comprehensive neurological rehabilitation program. Reducing pain may create an opportunity for recovery, but pain reduction alone may not address the movement, strength, balance, autonomic, and neurological changes that develop with chronic pain. Our team will determine whether the full program is appropriate for you.
The Spero Clinic’s comprehensive program is generally cash pay and is not typically covered by insurance. Our team will explain the current program cost, payment requirements, and what is included before you decide whether to proceed.
Yes. The Spero Clinic’s 14 week program is provided at our clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and patients generally stay in the area during treatment. We welcome patients from across the United States and around the world.
Every treatment has potential risks and limits. Our clinical team reviews relevant medical conditions, implanted devices, skin concerns, and other factors before recommending Scrambler Therapy.
The first step is a conversation with our team. We will review your diagnosis, symptoms, previous treatment, and goals. If the program is not the right fit, we will tell you.
Choosing where to seek treatment for a complex neurological condition is one of the most important healthcare decisions you will make. You deserve honest answers, realistic expectations, and a plan built around your situation. That begins with a conversation.
The Spero Clinic may be a fit for people who:
If you have been diagnosed with CRPS, peripheral neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, Long COVID, or another chronic neurological condition, our team would be honored to review your history, discuss your goals, and help you decide whether our program appears to be a good fit. If we believe another approach would serve you better, we will tell you. Our commitment has always been to do what we believe is in your best interest, whether or not you ultimately receive care with us.
Start your patient journey with the Spero Clinic's neurologic rehabilitation program.
