L. R. S, M.D.
YALE-New Haven Hospital
Connecticut, U.S.A.

Read Dr. Lloyd R. Saberski’s Yale Medicine School Profile Here

Pilot evaluation: PEMF

OBJECTIVE: To determine if pulsed electromagnetic fields of low amplitude
and frequency can effect pain and sleep patterns in patients with chronic intractable pain for greater than 2 years.

PATIENTS/SETTING: 11 patients suffering intractable chronic pain: 6 Neuropathic, 3 Somatic, 2 Mixed

Non-placebo controlled preliminary study where low level pulsed electromagnetic fields were applied at home on a nightly basis.

Pilot evaluation: PEMF

INTERVENTION: Non invasive pulsed electromagnetic field therapy generates a pulsed unidirectional waveform with a peak strength of about 90 gauss on the surface of the electromagnet; about .05 gauss through 10 in. mattress.
(Version 4.3 generates up to 300 gauss at magnet or about 1 gauss through 10 in. mattress).

Pilot evaluation: PEMF

INTERVENTION:  PEMF is applied at night through the mattress at about 10 Hz. (no Local Recover-Mode application).

Pilot evaluation sleep: PEMF

RESULTS:

11 patients
7 improvements in quality of sleep.
Subjectively assessed by number of hours of sleep, sense of well being, fatigue, energy level.

Neuropathic pain
4 of 6 improved sleep
Somatic
1 of 3 improved sleep
Mixed
2 of 2 improved sleep

Pilot evaluation pain: PEMF

RESULTS:
11 patients
7 improvements in pain.
Subjectively assessed by Visual analog pain scales.

Neuropathic pain
4 of 6 reduced pain
Somatic
2 of 3 reduced pain
Mixed
1 of 2 reduced pain

Pilot evaluation : PEMF

RESULTS:
11 patients
8 improvements in either pain or sleep (6 improvements in both pain and sleep)
Subjectively assessed by Visual analog pain scales and quality of sleep.

8 patients-Improvement
Average use continuous 2.5 months
3 patients-No improvement
Average use 1 week

Pilot evaluation : PEMF

Summation

Pilot study suggests very powerful effect on both sleep and pain on heterogeneous group of patients with chronic intractable pain for 2 years or more.
Further blinded and placebo controlled studies are warranted.