Synaptic technology has come a long way since its conception. It started with a double-blind study to evaluate the clinical Analgesia/Anesthesia efficacy on acute pain of the High Frequency Neuromodulator in various dental settings. (Published in Oral Surgery, Medicine, and Pathology Vol. 63 No 4 pp 501-505 April-1987). Results: Placebo rating - 8.5% favorable, Synaptic Electronic Activation ( S.E.A.) Tech. - 92.8% favorable.
Invasive dental procedures were chosen as a medium to show just how effective at controlling pain this technology is. Prior to S.E.A. Technology, no electrotherapy devices have been able to create 'profound long-term' Analgesia/Anesthesia. (Mann and Silverstone, 1989 Silverstone, 1992).
This breakthrough in technology has shown neurotransmitter modulation in humans 24 hrs after treatment, relative to pre-treatment levels. (Silverstone, 1996) This is unique to S.E.A. Tech. Neurotransmitters such as Serotonin, Beta - Endorphins, Enkephalins, A.C.T.H., Somatostatin , Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (G.A.B.A)., Epinephrine and Norepinephrines were shown to be modulated. The use of S.E.A. Tech. has wide parameters including controlling the pain associated with F.M. / C.F.S. Three years ago, we happened to be treating F.M. patients for their pain and they noticed changes were occurring above and beyond the gradual pain reduction. So, we put together a small group of F.M./C.F.S. sufferers to study and found that their overall sleep pattern seemed to be the first thing to change, in a manner which allowed them to have more energy through the day and recover from flare-ups and bouts of fatigue more easily.
Over the next two years we collected subjective information from a number of study groups and from personal case studies, which indicated that the improvement was consistent. We needed a way to prove clinically and independently that what was happening was effecting the pathogenous and changing that condition long term. This is the reason why we have mounted the present study, using the E.E.G. of sleep patterns to see what changes have been affected, if any, by the Synaptic treatment. The study has been running since Oct. 1999 and we intend to keep it going until April 2001 so there is still time for many more participants to join the study. We can only accommodate people from the Toronto area at this time, where we have 4 clinics participating in this study. If you would like to participate in this free study, call (416) 225 -4654 and speak with the study’s Coordinator, Rowland Warwick.
This new therapy has a hand- held remote control, which is operated by the patient, who is in total control of his/her own treatment. There are no contraindications other than Cardiac Pacemaker and Pregnancy. The device is very safe. It has been approved by the F.D.A. and Health Canada. Its notification under the Health Act is the ability to control acute and chronic pain and speed up the healing process.
The additional studies that have been done, and the ones that are on-going, are showing much wider use and application of S.E.A.Tech. in the control and treatment of other conditions that were not evident to us in the beginning. Some of these benefits are now backed up with studies in essential tremor, cancer pain, depression, sleep patterns, relief of muscle spasm, incontinence, irritable bowel and bladder syndromes helped or eradicated, re-educated old pain pathways, re-calibrated neural pathways, which exploit a phenomenon called "neuronal plasticity". With this help to the Central Nervous System, patients are able to become less dependent on their medication, and, in many cases, can be weaned off completely. Did you know that scientists at McGil University recently announced that, according to their research, serotonin production is 53% higher in men’s brains than in women’s. This fact is one of the biggest gender divergences ever in human brains. People with sleep disorders are usually deprived of non-REM sleep. Serotonin, G.A.B.A. Dopamine, Norpinephrine and hormone, Melatonin, are required to make the transition from REM to non- REM sleep. However, there is an imbalance of neurochemicals / neurotransmitters in those individuals suffering from insomnia, anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain. (FM. & CFS fall into this category.) In 4 different study groups in the U.S. it’s been found that, in the spinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients, substance P is on average 2 to 3 times higher than in ordinary patients and that there are low levels of serum serotonin, platelet serotonin and serotonin in the central nervous system, compared with normal controls. All patients with chronic pain have reduced levels of blood serotonin compared with healthy subjects (approx. 20-25% less). Did you know that naturally-occurring Endorphins were found to be 48 times more potent than morphine when injected into the brain and 3 times more powerful when injected into the bloodstream? (S.H.Snyder,1977) & (R. Bolles & Fanselow 1982). Finally, a study started in England and completed by the University of California at Irvine found that 'long term potentiation' of high frequency stimulation to the hippocampus, not only strengthens existing synapses, but it also creates new ones. (Lynch et al 1988).
Note: The National ME/FM Action Network does not endorse any treatments. Please discuss treatments with your doctor.
This page was last reviewed/modified on 2006/08/20.