CRPS

Pediatric CRPS After Bone Fracture: A Mother’s Account of Remission with Scrambler Therapy

A Complex Injury, Followed by a Devastating Nerve Pain Condition

When 12-year-old Abby sustained a tibial plateau fracture — a break in the upper, weight-bearing surface of the shinbone at the knee joint — the injury was serious but treatable.

What followed was not.

After immobilization and appropriate orthopedic care, Abby’s healing process did not follow the expected pattern. Instead of improving, her pain intensified.

She was ultimately diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a severe neurologic pain disorder that can develop after trauma and is especially disruptive in children and adolescents.

By the time she arrived at Scrambler Therapy NJ USA, Abby had not walked independently for three months. She relied on crutches and reported pain levels between 8 and 9 out of 10.

Everyday life had been disrupted — sleep, school, social interaction and athletics.

A Mother’s Perspective: “I Was Not Ready to Accept That Answer”

Her mother describes the experience:

“No one prepares you for the crazy ride that is being a parent, especially if that ride includes a diagnosis like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

This condition is suffered by many, though it is still wildly misunderstood in the medical world, which can result in years of physical and mental pain. I had heard of this condition before, working in the medical field, but until my daughter was diagnosed with it, I never truly understood how life-altering it is.

She experienced a minor sports injury — a fracture — which she had experienced before. But this time her healing process was not following the same pattern. I watched for weeks as my child’s pain steadily climbed despite following the doctor’s guidance with immobilization and stopping activity. She progressively worsened, with her pain at a constant 9 out of 10. It affected her sleep, schoolwork, social life and athletics.

We went to appointment after appointment — blood work, X-rays, MRI — with limited answers until she was diagnosed with CRPS.

Treatment options offered included occupational therapy, physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and pain management. Many professionals we spoke with had limited familiarity with CRPS. Those who had experience described management — not remission.

I was not ready to accept that answer.“

Click here to read the full article about Abby’s scrambler therapy experience:

Patient Review – Google – November 8, 2025

Note: We are incredibly grateful to our pain management patients who take the time to share their scrambler therapy treatment experiences on Google. The review below by Matt, reflects his 12-year experience being treated by our doctors for RSD / CRPS:

I found Calmare NJ scrambler therapy back in 2013 after a spinal surgery that left me with RSD/CRPS in my right foot. After many failed traditional medical procedures to try and remedy this, nothing worked. I was scheduled for a spinal cord stimulator installation and I did not want this invasive device in my body. I found Dr. Michael Cooney and his Calmare machine.

Matt during his first scrambler therapy treatment for CRPS in 2013.

After 2 one-week-long sessions a few months apart, I had my life back.

I was cautiously optimistic this device would work, but after my 2nd day I knew we were on to something. It restored my function to a normal level where I could enjoy life again.

Unfortunately there is no 100% cure for RSD/CRPS but this machine restores the nerves to a level you can live at a comfortable level of pain to go through life. Flash forward to May 2025 and after a fractured foot, (same foot my RSD is in), I found myself in need of this machine again.

I worked with my local doctors to first heal the fracture over a 4 month period then I went after taming the RSD. I reached back out to Calmare NJ and was pleased to find that Dr. Cooney’s son, Dr. Jason Cooney, DC, had taken over the practice and continued to provide the Calmare treatment and improve on what his father had founded.

Matt traveled from Mississippi to New Jersey to undergo scrambler therapy with Dr. Jason Cooney, DC. (November 2025)

I went up the first week of November 2025 for a week of sessions. Starting with an average pain level of 6-7 I was restored by the end of the week to a 1-2 pain level and 0 at the start of each day. RSD is still activated by heavy use of my foot, but this machine restored me back to my ‘old normal’ I was accustomed to before my foot injury.

I am glad that Dr. Jason is around to carry the amazing results of this machine and therapy into the next generation. If you have RSD/CRPS and are positive about the reality of the results this machine can provide and realize RSD is not curable but it IS TAMABLE, make an appointment!

Thank you Dr. Jason for helping me restore what I had lost.

Matt Hannon – Mississippi

Read more feedback by our recent patients:

Contact us at 201-933-4440 or complete this Contact Us quickform and we will reach out to you within 48 hours to discuss your CRPS or chronic nerve pain condition and answer your questions about FDA-cleared scrambler therapy.