With COVID-19 safety protocols in place, Andrea celebrates a reduction in CRPS pain with Dr. Michael Cooney
It means the world to us when healthcare providers put their expertise and trust in Calmare scrambler therapy and clinical director Dr. Michael Cooney to treat their chronic pain.
Andrea, a bright and talented registered nurse from PA, has battled CRPS since 2017, after a simple fall in her driveway at home.
After six Calmare treatments, Andrea’s CRPS pain level has reduced from an 8/9 to 1–and we aren’t done yet!
Clinical director Dr. Michael Cooney will perform four more Calmare treatments (10 scrambler therapy treatments is the typical protocol) to fortify the pain reduction with the goal of achieving a sustained pain-free level.
Our goal is to send Andrea home pain-free and with plans for her to get back to work and resume the work that is her passion–helping others.
“Andrea will follow our Calmare NJ USA-specific post-treatment protocol and rest as much as possible,” Dr. Cooney notes. “If she feels ready, I can foresee her returning to nursing in about a month.”
Meet More Registered Nurses Who Trust Calmare Therapy
Click on the links below to meet more healthcare providers who have shared their scrambler therapy experiences:
If you would like to discuss your chronic pain condition with Dr. Cooney, call our Calmare team at 201-933-4440, email us atinfo@calmaretherapynj.com or complete the freeConsultation Request card below, and we’ll be happy to reach out to you:
The RSDSA is a 30-year-strong organization that provides support, education, and hope to all affected by the pain and disability of CRPS/RSD. They also drive research to develop better treatments and a cure. The RSDSA is an international 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization, based in Milford, Connecticut, formed in 1984.
“The RSDSA is a powerhouse organization that serves serve its constituents around the US and the world who are battling CRPS,” says Dr. Cooney. “I have recommended their resources to many of our RSD patients and I’m honored to speak about our success using Calmare scrambler therapy to help reduce pain and lessen symptoms.”
Dr. Cooney will answer participant questions and a few of his patients will speak live about their Calmare treatment experiences.
How to Join the RSDSA Facebook Live Event
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2020
Time: 7 pm (EDT)
Location: facebook.com/rsdsa – from your computer, tablet, or phone. The video will be pinned to the top of our page.
You do not need a Facebook account to view this live event. If you don’t have an account, you will not be able to ask questions.
If you miss the live event, it will be available on Facebook via our “Live” video tab. You can re-watch it on mobile and desktop.
If you miss the Live event, you can still view the discussion on tour website or the Calmare YouTube channel.
Calmare NJ USA will also offer the video on our social profiles as well.
Dr. Michael Cooney has been a leading provider of Calmare Therapy since 2011. He has successfully treated more than 1,000 patients from 20 countries. He is one of seven Certified Calmare Therapy providers in the US. Dr. Cooney specializes in treating early- and late-stage CRPS, fibromyalgia, shingles (PHN), post-surgical pain and pain after chemotherapy (CIPN) in children teens, adults and older people.
Few things are harder for a parent than being unable to reduce chronic pain for a child living with neuropathy. Parents often resort to giving their children powerful opioids, desperate to lessen their discomfort.
As parents, we all feel that if we could take on the pain our children have, we would do so gladly.
But we can’t.
Parents of children battling medication and treatment-resistant chronic pain live with this challenge daily.
Estimates suggest that anywhere between 5 and 38% of children live with chronic pain. It not only affects their quality of life and that of their parents, but also increases the likelihood of this becoming a lifelong issue.
More than 70% of childrenand teens who live with chronic pain will go on to struggle with it in adulthood.
At Calmare Therapy NJ USA, we have treated more than 100 children, from ages 8 to 18.
“A common hurdle children with chronic pain face is the invisible nature of neuropathy and a child’s understandable difficulty describing their pain and level of pain,” says Dr. Michael Cooney, clinical director.
Why non-invasive Calmare is ideal for pediatric neuropathy
FDA-cleared510(k)-cleared and European CE mark-certified
Pain-free treatment
Non-invasive (no injections, IV’s, outpatient procedures)
Drug-free (no narcotics or over-the-counter medications required)
No side effects (except for a possible light humming sensation, which we can adapt if your skin is unable to sustain any physical contact.)
How does scrambler therapy work?
Click the image to read about Abby’s scrambler therapy success at 13-years-old.
Children or teenagers are comfortably connected to the Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment® device via small electrodes (similar to those used in EKG and other medical procedures) placed on the patient’s skin at the pain site/s.
The device then sends a very low current of electrical stimulation through the skin and nerve fibers, which carries a “no-pain” signal to the brain, essentially overriding the previous pain signal.
We recommend the child have books, magazines or handheld entertainment to help pass the time during the 35-minute daily treatments.
In some cases, pain relief has been reported after the first treatment, but each child’s case is unique.
Scrambler therapy treatments are performed over a two-week period, with the goal of the patient’s pain steadily decreasing, eliminating the need for wheelchairs, canes or any mobility support devices.
After ample rest and continued recovery at home, pediatric patients are encouraged to ease back into normal daily activities.
Eligibility criteria for pediatric Calmare patients
Prior to approval for treatment, parents should provide copies of the child’s MRIs, EMGs and/or CAT scans.
We treat children who have been medically-diagnosed with neuropathy
Youngsters should be able to describe where their pain is located, and on a scale of one to 10, roughly describe the level of pain with some accuracy.
Children should also be able to verbalize if their pain level increases or decreases.
Since the Calmare MC-5A device is FDA-cleared, has no side effects and cannot worsen an existing condition, the overall risk factor is very low.
There are no drugs, injections or surgery connected with scrambler therapy.
During the 10-treatment course of therapy, most children will be able to identify a reduction in pain by the fifth treatment, some as soon as the first treatment.
Children with CRPS
Click the image to watch 10-year-old Kiera’s Calmare Therapy experience.
Most families with a child experiencing chronic pain have previously tried ‘every pain management treatment under the sun’ before contacting us, especially for children living with CRPS / RSD / RND.
Not surprisingly, many are initially skeptical (and who could blame them?) about the potential for pain relief using scrambler therapy.
And after 10 daily Calmare treatment sessions, lasting about 35-minutes each, more than half of the pediatric patient we treat experience “very significant and sustained pain relief.”
Does Calmare work for every child? Sadly, like any therapy or medication, it does not work for everyone and we do not guarantee success.
Disappointing outcomes are often attributed to additional health issues inhibiting pain relief, misdiagnosis of the neuropathy (it is a structural injury rather than a nerve injury) or there is an additional undiagnosed medical condition/s.
Now that school is coming to a close for many students, summer is an ideal time to consider pain management.
Dr. Cooney offers no-cost phone consultations to discuss the child’s case, review medical records and answer questions.
Calmare Therapy Pediatric Testimonials
As you will see below, other families with children and adolescents have generously shared their firsthand experiences with scrambler therapy, which helps families see the potential for success.
Dr. Michael Cooney is one of seven USA certified providers of Calmare scrambler therapy. Since 2011, he has specialized in treating patients of all ages battling severe neuropathy as a result of CRPS / RSD, fibromyalgia, diabetes, shingles, post-surgical pain and pain after chemotherapy (CIPN ).
To contact Dr. Cooney at his clinic in New Jersey just outside New York City, email us at info@calmaretherapynj.com or call 201-933-4440 for a no-cost personal phone consultation.
Rhonda and Dr. Cooney celebrate her success reducing her chronic pain from 2-10 down to 0-1.
By Dr. Michael Cooney, Clinical Director
Trust us, we’re smiling under these masks!
In mid-May, Rhonda traveled from California for New Jersey to undergo 10 Calmare Therapy treatments after a toe injury in 2016 led to a CRPS diagnosis in both feet.
I was honored to treat her for two weeks, after she had endured four long years of unsuccessful medications, nerve blocks, physical therapy and Ketamine, which ultimately failed to reduce her pain level, which ranged from 2-10.
The hospital lab director had 10 Calmare treatments, once daily lasting about 30 minutes, and left at a 0/1 pain level, even during the night when her pain level traditionally spiked to 8+.
I was elated to use scrambler therapy to help get this healthcare worker back to work, where her heart lies.
But Rhonda is the hero, as she took a gamble, even during COVID-19, to win the war against chronic pain, by traveling 3,000 miles for our treatment.
Next week, she is returning to her beloved career once again, living life to the fullest.
Rhonda adds a pin to northern CA on our Calmare patient map.
Beginning in mid-May, we re-opened our pain management clinic in New Jersey, where we are treating only one patient at a time for optimal patient, family member and staff safety.
Please complete the eCard below if you would like to discuss your chronic pain battle with me personally, email us at info@calmaretherapynj.com or call the clinic during business hours at (201) 933-4440.
Dr. Michael Cooney is named a 2020 iPain Hero of Hope Finalist!
The International Pain Foundation (iPain) announced its 2020 nominees for Hero of Hope this morning and Calmare Therapy NJ USA clinical director Dr. Michael Cooney has been nominated in the Healthcare Provider category:
“Hero of Hope Awards recognizes exceptional people who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to assisting and advocating for people living with chronic pain diseases. Nominations are solicited from the pain community of those who are making a significant contribution within the field of research, education, awareness, or patient assistance for each category.”
A pain management provider for more than 40 years, Dr. Cooney was one of the first Calmare-Certified providers of scrambler therapy, a non-invasive, painless, drug-free and side-effect-free treatment to lessen or eliminate medication and treatment-resistant neuropathy.
Dr. Cooney has treated more than 1,000 patients from as far away as South Africa, Australia, South America, Africa, and Western Europe.
“I introduced scrambler therapy in 2011 to help my chronic pain patients who did not experience pain relief after medication or other therapies,” Dr. Cooney explains. “As healthcare providers, we must find a way to help those with treatment-resistant pain.”
What is Calmare Therapy?
Scrambler therapy uses a biophysical (using physical methods to treat biological problems) rather than a biochemical (drugs) approach.
The brain’s reaction to chronic pain can be compared to learning to play the piano or memorizing a poem − the more the body “practices” processing pain, the stronger the connections between pain nerves and the brain become.
The scrambler therapy device tells the brain to stop sending a pain signal
When someone is injured, the brain sets up a process to heal the injury. For example, cells carry away dead tissue or it increases blood flow to the area.
Eventually, the brain realizes the injury has healed and it cuts off the pain message.
But for some people, the brain never sends that pivotal message saying,
“There’s no more injury here so you can stop the pain signal.”
That’s where the scrambler device comes in. Using several small electrodes (think an EKG) carefully placed in the region of the injury, the technology sends a mild “no pain” message to the brain through the electrodes.
Essentially, the scrambler machine “overrides” the brain’s confused message and corrects it to the ‘no pain here” message.
A treatment, from start to finish, lasts about 35 minutes. For most patients with diagnosed neuropathy, 10 treatments are required, once per day.
In the majority of cases, by the end of the 10-treatment cycle, there is no more pain signal emanating from the brain, resulting in a very significant reduction in pain level.
Our warmest congratulations to Dr. Cooney and our sincere thanks to the International Pain Foundation (iPain) and the Calmare patients who nominates the doctor. This is an incredible honor for him.
We are delighted to announce we have re-opened our Calmare clinic here in NJ after implementing several new safety and social distancing precautions:
Dr. Michael Cooney, Clinical Director
Dr. Cooney is undergoing regular COVID testing.
The doctor and all patients have their temperatures taken before every treatment.
We are treating patients one-at-a-time only.
Unless patients are mobility-challenged, we ask that family/friends remain outside the clinic.
Clear partitions installed between patients/administrative staff.
Socially-distanced seating in waiting room.
Everyone, including patients, wearing masks and gloves at all times.
Continuous deep-sanitizing before and after every patient.
Hand sanitizer available in every room and at clinic entrance/exit.
New Calmare Patients
If you are interested in pursuing Calmare Therapy for chronic nerve pain, please reach out to schedule your no-fee phone or video consultation with Dr. Cooney by calling (201) 933-4440 or email us at info@calmaretherapynj.com.
Calmare scrambler therapy is not right for everyone and we will not recommend this therapy for you if the doctor does not feel there is a strong possibility for significant pain relief, elimination of pain, markedly improved mobility or a significant improvement in quality of life.
We are now booking patients seeking one or more booster treatments beginning in June.
Depending on the severity of the original neuropathic pain condition, and the length of time the patient has been experiencing chronic pain, periodic booster treatments may be required to reduce any return of pain.
While some Calmare patients never require further treatment, some patients benefit from booster therapy as needed.
Feel free to speak with Dr. Cooney if you have experienced a resumption of pain to discuss next steps.
We are individually contacting patients and families that we were unable to treat due to the onset of the novel coronavirus in March. If you have not received a call to schedule your therapy for a future date, please call our team at (201) 933-4440.
Note that we are offering priority dates to previously confirmed patients and those traveling from outside the US.
Travel and Lodging Arrangements
For patients traveling outside the metro New York City area, please check with your preferred hotel and ensure they are fully operational to meet your needs.
Dr. Cooney specializes in alternative therapies to help people with medication- and treatment-resistant chronic nerve pain.
During our global confinement due to COVID-19, the healthcare community must nonetheless reach out to the community to offer guidance, advice and support.
Calmare Therapy NJ USA is continuing the fight against chronic pain.
Beginning Wednesday, April 1, 2020, Dr. Michael J. Cooney, clinical director at Calmare NJ (est. 2011) and a chiropractor with more than 40 years of clinical pain management expertise, will offer virtual, no-fee consultations with people batting treatment and medication-resident neuropathic pain around the world.
The doctor will be available to answer questions and suggest non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical alternative options to help lessen chronic nerve pain, based upon the information provided by the caller.
“During this unprecedented time, I am happy to use my expertise to offer non-invasive, drug-free pain management options for parents of children and teens, as well as adults and seniors with diagnosed neuropathy,” says Dr. Cooney.
He will also answer questions about the viability of Calmare scrambler therapy to people with chronic pain and make Patient-2-Patient referrals upon request.
Since Calmare NJ USA treats patients from around the world, international consultations are also welcomed (English only).
How to schedule your live consultation with Dr. Michael Cooney
Consultations are every Wednesday from 1 to 3 pm EDT (New York/USA) beginning April 1, 2020.
Length of consultation
20 minutes (average) in order to accommodate as many callers as possible.
Scheduling
Please email info@calmaretherapynj.com to reserve your requested date and specify your preferred time.
Please feel free to offer any helpful background about your medical history and any specific questions you may have. This is not required, but will help Dr. Cooney to optimally prepare for your discussion.
Virtual Consultation Dial-In Information
Cooney will accept your incoming call via the Facetime, WhatsAppor direct phone dial-in.
We will provide the number you should call when your consultation is confirmed, based upon which communication option you prefer.
NOTE: You will direct-dial to Dr. Cooney; he will not contact you.
“He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity.”
William Samuel Johnson
By Dr. Michael Cooney, Clinical Director
As we grapple with COVID-19’s siege on our lives and our health, I wanted to touch base and offer an update from New Jersey:
We are treating patients, new and those seeking booster treatments, on an individual basis, with no overlap from other patients in the office.
Immediately after a patient has received scrambler therapy, we use the next appointment time to thoroughly sanitize our treatment rooms and public spaces, from the front doorknob to the check-in desk and everywhere in between.
When possible, we ask that the patient’s family or friends do not enter the clinic, but wait in the car.
So far, so good.
For people who wish to re-schedule upcoming Calmare Therapy treatments, please reach out as quickly as possible to give us ample time to fill your slot.
Due to the additional time required to clean our clinic between patients, 50% fewer appointments are currently available.
I want to share some valuable content from our longtime friends and partners on dealing with the coronavirus while living with CRPS.
We encourage you to bookmark BN and check back for more of their specialized content.
Victoria, founder of Burning Nights, and her husband, visited our clinic for a wonderful visit in 2018.
Burning Nights CRPS founder, Victoria Abbott-Fleming, headquartered in the UK, battled CRPS after a car accident in 2003. She is now a global figurehead providing objective information and resources about CRPS.
She and her organization are also strong supporters of alternative pain management therapies, like Calmare scrambler therapy, to treat chronic nerve pain and the physical symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome.
During this scary time, know that I am here to offer any advice or guidance to anyone in the chronic pain community. Just call the clinic at (201) 933-4440 or email me at info@calmaretherapynj.comfor a prompt response.
Can eating dark chocolate really reduce chronic pain?
Our Calmare Therapy NJ USA team fully supports combating chronic nerve pain without the use of medications, injections, surgery or other invasive pain management options.
It should come as no surprise, then, that we also support nutritional strategies to help reduce inflammation and resulting pain.
Many medicines are derived from plants, so eating plant-based foods only makes good sense to promote overall health.
For example, tomatoes promote heart health and spinach and other vegetables help offset several types of cancer.
And most pain sufferers know that cutting dairy, wheat, sugar or alcohol can decrease allergies, acid reflux and inflammation, ultimately improving overall well-being—including pain levels.
A sweet way to reduce pain
In addition, everyone’s favorite sweet treat, chocolate, has also been shown to help reduce pain.
But not all chocolate is the same.
Dark chocolate and cocoa have significantly higher flavanol levels, while milk chocolate and white chocolate have much lower levels.
Cocoa, the active ingredient in chocolate, provides a host of anti-inflammatory health benefits, from mood-lifting to antioxidants galore.
In addition to reducing swelling, dark chocolate also improves blood flow, which can also decrease pain.
Dark chocolate benefits
The main active ingredient to create chocolate is cacao, derived from trees (again, plant-based). It has been scientifically proven to:
Increase the body’s natural opiates (endorphins)
Fire the brain’s cannabis receptors
Increase serotonin levels
Release the body’s natural amphetamine, phenylethylamine, better known as the “love drug”
Releases anandamide (aka the “bliss molecule”)
Contains tryptophan, the same chemical found in turkey, which makes you relaxed, even sleepy
Keep in mind, when shopping for dark chocolate for pain relief, the higher the cocoa content, the better.
Therefore, I’d skip the Dollar Store when shopping for medicinal chocolate products.
For the best results, choose a brand with at least 65 percent cocoa.
Finally, dark chocolate doesn’t have the super-sweet and creamy flavor of typical milk chocolate, so it may take some taste bud adjustment when you first start to eat it.
Be creative, add it to your steamed milk or coffee; add it to a favorite recipe.
Limit yourself to three ounces a day, and look for chocolate with the lowest fat content you can find.
When a loved one asks what you’d like for Valentine’s Day this year, tell them you’d love some high-quality dark chocolate—doctor’s orders!
Dr. Michael Cooneyis one of six Calmare-certified providers of scrambler therapy in the U.S. Since 2011, he has specialized in treating patients battling severe neuropathy as a result of fibromyalgia, CRPS / RSD, diabetes, shingles, post-surgical pain and pain after chemotherapy (CIPN).
A pain management provider for more than 40 years, Dr. Cooney was one of the first Calmare-Certified providers of 
For patients traveling outside the metro New York City area, please check with your preferred hotel and ensure they are fully operational to meet your needs.
