Electrical Stimulation Therapy Using the MC5-A Scrambler in Reducing Peripheral Neuropathy Caused by Chemotherapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) meeting the following criteria:

  * More than 4 weeks since prior neurotoxic chemotherapy including taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel or docetaxel), platinum-based compounds (e.g., carboplatin, cis-platinum, oxaliplatin), vinca-alkaloids (e.g., vincristine, vinblastine, or vinorelbine), or proteosome inhibitors (e.g., bortezomib)
  * Pain or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy for ≥ 1 month attributed to CIPN
  * Pain stable for ≥ 2 weeks
  * Average daily pain rating of ≥ 5 out of 10 using the pain numerical rating scale (0 is no pain and 10 is worst pain possible)
* No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No history of an allergic reaction or intolerance to transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation
* No pacemaker or implantable drug-delivery system (e.g., Medtronic Synchromed)
* No heart stent or vena cava clips
* No history of epilepsy or brain damage
* No other identified causes of painful paresthesias existing before chemotherapy (e.g., radiation or malignant plexopathy, lumbar or cervical radiculopathy, pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of another etiology \[e.g., B12 deficiency, AIDS, monoclonal gammopathy, diabetes, heavy metal poisoning amyloidosis, syphilis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, inherited neuropathy, etc.\])
* No skin conditions (e.g., open sores) that would prevent proper application of the electrodes
* No other medical or other conditions that, in the opinion of the investigators, might compromise the objectives of the study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 30 days since prior and no concurrent investigational agents for pain control
* More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent celiac plexus block or other neurolytic pain control treatment
* No prior or concurrent anti-convulsants
* No concurrent neurotoxic or potentially neurotoxic chemotherapy
* Concurrent pain treatments allowed provided the following criteria are met:

  * Pain is not satisfactorily controlled
  * Dose of the other medication has been stable for ≥ 4 weeks