Chronic
pain is estimated to effect as many as 50 million Americans. The cost
of pain to our country is $1 billion as a result of lost workdays and
unnecessary hospitalizations, etc.
If
you are one of the millions of American suffering from chronic pain, Neurological
Institute and Center of Spine in Savannah provides treatment options that can help minimize
the toll that pain takes on your life.
Treating Pain
Intrathecal
pain delivery
Intrathecal
drug delivery is a pain management method intended for those suffering
from back pain. It is only recommended when nonsurgical treatments have
failed. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) that is connected to a pump delivers
small but effective amounts of pain medication to the intrathecal space
surrounding in the spinal cord.
The
pump is surgically placed into the abdomen. One end of the catheter is
inserted into a pump and the other end into the targeted treatment area. 
Because
this procedure is invasive, complications may include infections, bleeding,
pain and discomfort around the implant site, and blood (known as "hematoma")
or fluid (known as "seroma") in the pocket where the pump is
implanted. It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications,
and benefits of intrathecal drug delivery with your doctor prior to receiving
treatment, and that you rely on your physician's judgment. Only your
doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
Dorsal
column stimulation
Dorsal
column stimulation, also called spinal cord stimulation, is used in complex
cases of back pain that cannot be resolved nonsurgically or with another
surgery. In most cases, it is used when leg pain is worse than back pain.
The intent of dorsal column stimulation is to use an electrical signal
instead of drugs to mask pain that cannot be removed any other way. It
is important to note that this technique is only used in the most extreme
cases of back and leg pain.
During
this procedure, the patient is awake, and the surgeon delicately places
tiny electrodes under the skin in the back. At that point, a small electrical
current is transmitted through the wires to the desired location in the
back. This sensation feels like a tiny tickle, as the electrical current
interrupts the pain signal that may be sent to the brain from the damaged
nerve. The patient helps instruct the surgeon as to which electrical setting
and placement of wires produces the most pain relief.
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