Posts Tagged ‘Magnetic resonance imaging’
You May Get relief from chronic pain by walking
If you are suffering from chronic pain from fibromyalgia or another medical condition, you know the frustration that comes with the attempts to control pain. While medication and therapies are a key factor in pain management, exercise can also work to relieve pain and improve quality of life. Inactivity can lead to more pain – the more you move, the less you will feel your pain.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, begin introducing regular walking workouts into your daily routine. Walking is the most basic form of aerobic exercise. There are several benefits of aerobic exercise, including: building stamina, boosting energy and reducing stiffness and pain. Specific health benefits of walking for exercise include:
- Strengthening muscles – By strengthening the muscles in the feet, legs, hips and torso, you will increase stability of the spine. Spinal stability may reduce symptoms of chronic back pain.
- Improves flexibility and range of motion – With improved range of motion, you will be less susceptible to injury due to stiffness or awkward movements.
- Strengthening joints – A low-impact workout such as walking improves strength and flexibility of the joints, as well as muscles and tendons surrounding the joints.
Research has shown that low-impact aerobic exercise is most effective for improving chronic pain symptoms. It provides a means of relaxation for both the body and mind. Exercise in short intervals has been shown to be most successful in relieving chronic pain. For example, rather than going for one 30-minute walk each day, take three short, 10-minute walks instead.
In a study of 52 sedentary patients with chronic lower back pain, Dr. Michal Katz-Leurer and colleague Ilana Shnayderman found that a simple daily walking routine can improve chronic lower back pain symptoms. Katz-Leurer, from Tel Aviv University’s Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, and Shnayderman, a graduate student at the Department of Physical Therapy and a practicing physiotherapist at Maccabi Health Care, published their findings in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation.
If you suffer from chronic pain, make a point to exercise daily. By exercising, you will help prevent muscle atrophy and decrease joint pain. Start with a simple 30-minutes of exercise each day, gradually increasing if you are able.
Consult with your physician before beginning any exercise routine.
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Herniated Disk in the Lower Back
Sometimes called a slipped or ruptured disk, a herniated disk most often occurs in your lower back. It is one of the most common causes of low back pain, as well as leg pain (sciatica).
Between 60% and 80% of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. A high percentage of people will have low back and leg pain caused by a herniated disk.
Although a herniated disk can sometimes be very painful, most people feel much better with just a few weeks or months of nonsurgical treatment.
Your spine is made up of 24 bones, called vertebrae, that are stacked on top of one another. These bones connect to create a canal that protects the spinal cord.
Five vertebrae make up the lower back. This area is called your lumbar spine.
Other parts of your spine include:
Spinal cord and nerves. These “electrical cables” travel through the spinal canal carrying messages between your brain and muscles.
Intervertebral disks. In between your vertebrae are flexible intervertebral disks. They act as shock absorbers when your walk or run.
Intervertebral disks are flat and round, and about a half inch thick. They are made up of two components:
- Annulus fibrosus. This is the tough, flexible outer ring of the disk.
- Nucleus pulposus. This is the soft, jelly-like center of the disk
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Dallas Spine Pain Center, Spine Pain Help Dallas, Dallas Spine Pain Doctors
If you are looking for a specialist in spine surgery, Dallas may be your next destination. BecomePainFree.com’s Dallas office provides:
- A free MRI or CT scan evaluation by medical staff
- Partner physicians board-certified in interventional pain management
- Free educational back pain seminars
- One of the top surgical facilities in the country
Free MRI or CT scan evaluation. Have you tried conservative therapies for your chronic back pain, and wonder if a medical procedure is the next best step? Allow our staff to evaluate your medical case. Our physicians will provide the most conservative recommendation deemed appropriate for your special case.
Free medical referral service. If you choose, your assigned patient coordinator will handle the logistics for any medical procedure recommended by one of our physicians.
Board-certified physicians. Our Dallas-based specialists collectively provide expertise in neurosurgery and interventional pain management, and provide a range of procedures, from epidural steroid injections to spinal fusion. They are unique providers of the BecomePainFree.com procedure.
Free back pain seminar. BecomePainFree.com’s Dallas office provides regular educational seminars so chronic pain sufferers can learn about the BecomePainFree.com procedure and talk directly to someone who can answer all of their questions.
Surgical facility. Victory Medical Center in Plano, TX is one of the newest surgical facilities in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Located in the center of the United States, the Dallas laser spine center also provides a convenient option for chronic back pain sufferers across the country – just a short plane-ride away. BecomePainFree.com’s Dallas office has partnered with the Hyatt Place, for traveling patients.
The BecomePainFree.com headquarters is also in Dallas TX. So when you visit, make sure to say hello to the patient coordinator and insurance teams, who strive to help patients like you find a solution for their pain.
Address:
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Dallas, TX 75240
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About us: BecomePainFree.com provides patient advocacy for spine pain sufferers. Patient care may be described as a table with patients on one side looking for a solution, and physicians on the other side providing a service; since BecomePainFree.com does not practice medicine, it is uniquely positioned on the patient’s side of the table, providing a compass to navigate the often confusing world of spine surgery and interventional pain management.
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Dallas skyline (Photo credit: dherrera_96)
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San Antonio Spine Surgeon, San Antonio Back Doctor, Mayo Clinic Trained Spine Surgeon, Bexar County Orthopedic Surgeon
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Stem Cells for Spine Surgery: 7 Points
Written by Laura Miller | May 23, 2012
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How we got here
Dr. Hynes was one of the many spine surgeons who participated in Medtronic’s original trials for BMP-2 in the 1990’s. While scientists have known about the ability of stem cells and BMP to generate bone for several years, Medtronic was the first company to develop a safe and effective molecule to stimulate cell growth. After completing the pre-market approval trials, the Food and Drug Administration granted approval for the BMP-2 product, Infuse, in 2002 for creating fusion in the Lumbar Spine placed through an anterior approach in a LT cage.
“In the original study, I experienced 100 percent of enrolled patients in my Practice achieving bone growth when combining BMP with the local cells that were already there,” says Dr. Hynes. “Local ‘stem cells’ respond to BMP and become activated thereby creating bone. When I saw it worked in 100 percent of my enrolled patients, I was a true believer. I have used it in my practice since the study and FDA approval going back greater than 10 years.”
What has changed is our ability to concentrate stem cells; Dr. Hynes harvests the stem cells from the iliac crest to combine with the BMP. It takes less than five minutes for his physician’s assistant to harvest the cells, which are spun in a centrifuge while he begins the operation. After 10-15 minutes, the cells are ready and Dr. Hynes adds a small amount to the surgical field along with the BMP. The collagen sponge is placed within an interbody LT cage to keep the material from migrating.
“This has been an effective Bone Graft method and it has been an advantage for my patients who can avoid Iliac Bone Graft surgery and Donor Bone issues and cost,” says Dr. Hynes. “It doesn’t add to my usual procedure time. It does add a small cost, but I find it’s worth the value proposition.”
Since its inception and release, surgeons have been experimenting with its use in several different capacities, on- and off-label. However, articles published in The Spine Journal in July 2011 suggest complication rates may be higher than the original studies reported. Several physicians have reported positive and negative events based on individual practice date, and further research into its use will be necessary going forward. As with all products, on label and off label use is routine practice and common place. When used correctly, minimal side effects of swelling, seroma and osteolysis occur.
What the research says
There have been several clinical studies and basic science research projects published in professional journals discussing the efficacy of using BMP with local stem cells to enhance fusion. However, research on the impact of increasing the number of stem cells is still lacking. Dr. Hynes’ current clinical work focuses on whether there is a better chance of achieving fusion with a higher concentration of stem cells.
He harvests stem cells from the iliac crest, percutaneously and painlessly, or vertebral body and extract about 60-80 ccs of blood. The desired stem cells are concentrated to a few ccs with centrifugation and has about a 50,000 cell count per “Spine Smith research data.”
“We already know the mechanism by which BMP-2 activates stem cells. The stem cells are already very effective,” says Dr. Hynes. “If we add to the population of stem cells that are already there that are available to regenerate new bone, it could make the procedure even better. Anecdotally, I have a high fusion rate for my spine patient population even before adding the extra concentration of stem cells. With the additional stem cells, I hope to achieve fusion at almost any level no matter how many levels are needed such as in degenerative scoliosis. In osteoporosis and aging spine patients, this has been extremely beneficial when compared to poor iliac crest from bone harvest.
Dr. Hynes’ ethereal practice goal is to someday be able to “guarantee” that they will achieve fusion for every patient who undergoes surgery. This means stabilization. However, fusion does not guarantee “success” of the surgery but increases odds of the surgical success. At this point, he is close, with approximately a 95 percent fusion rate. “What I want to do before I retire is to be able to guarantee a fusion,” he says. “I can’t guarantee pain relief or other clinical outcomes, but I want to be able to confidently guarantee the fusion or stabilization component.”
Options for harvesting stem cells
There are several bone graft options spine surgeons can choose from to achieve a fusion, and in the wake of recent controversies some surgeons are looking for an alternative to using BMP. Surgeons can go back to the traditional fusion method – the iliac crest – or using an allograft. Dr. Hynes says harvesting bone from the iliac crest can leave 30 percent of patients in more pain and add significant surgical time in the OR with increased blood loss. Allografts also have downsides, including graft consistency, quality, processing issues and less potential to achieve fusion than iliac crest or autogenous grafting methods.
“The bone for allografts may not be prepared correctly,” says Dr. Hynes. “We don’t always know the quality or consistency of the allograft compared to the patient’s natural bone. If I’m putting a piece of bone in patients, it’s better if it comes from their own bodies. That way, you can’t tell the difference between the bone you grow and the natural bone. (What we are doing is creating a nice bone graft that balances the biomechanics of the fusion construct better than the allograft.)”
In some cases, the allograft bone could migrate or fracture or reabsorb after the procedure, which can cause significant pain and complications, often resulting in revision procedures. By using the combination of BMP and stem cells in an interbody device, Dr. Hynes is able to avoid most of those complications because the cells are attracted to the BMP, which is restrained in the cage.
Patients should have the final say – “Informed Consent”!
Like many surgeons, Dr. Hynes describes the different fusion options to his patients and allows them to choose which procedure they feel most comfortable with. He discusses the pros and cons of each technique, including the most recent concerns about BMP, as well as his personal outcomes. He says patients often choose BMP combined with stem cells because they like the idea of regenerating their own bone naturally, avoiding the extra surgery and potential pain of iliac crest bone grafts and decreased potential or effect of donor allograft bone.
“The psychology of healing is part of this,” says Dr. Hynes. “Patients understand the procedure and like the idea of using their own cells as healing factors. People are very positive about that process because they feel like they are doing something natural instead of synthetic. Healing and surgery isn’t just biomechanics and science; it’s psychological as well. Successful outcomes of surgery depend on subjective relief as well as objective factors.”
In his practice, Dr. Hynes says a significant number of his patients chose the BMP and stem cell combination with given the option. However, when the patients choose a different option, he performs the other procedures as well. “It’s our duty to give patients their choice,” he says. “I’m not always smart enough to know what the best choice is for any one individual, but I’ve practiced many years and learned that if you take time to educate patients to all the reasonable options, they will make good decisions and take responsibility for them.”
Deciphering the complications
While Dr. Hynes hasn’t experienced significant complications among his patients, it’s clear that other surgeons have reported complications when they perform spinal fusions using BMPs. One reason for the discrepancy could be the dosage; well-documented evidence suggests that a higher dosage of BMP could cause swelling complications when used in the cervical spine. By using low doses of BMP and a pre and post-surgical protocol, swelling is completely avoidable in the cervical spine. Another factor is the surgical approach; Dr. Hynes says retrograde ejaculation (“RE”) – one of the severe complications mentioned in the studies this past summer – is a complication risk of any anterior spine surgery and not related to use of BMP. “I have performed thousands of anterior procedures before and after approval of BMP for anterior lumbar surgery and I find no difference in RE noted in my patients.”
“Every spine surgeon knows RE is a risk during anterior procedures and it usually will reverse on its own,” says Dr. Hynes. “RE occurs in an extremely low frequency. RE occurs because of disruption ‘surgically’ of small nerves to a sphincterine the bladder. BMP does not cause this effect, but the use of the electrocautery tool, during surgery, likely does. Use a small dose of BMP and a cage as well.”
In his practice, Dr. Hynes has never experienced a critical airway complication using cervical BMP. In early years, too high a dose would lead to swelling but not airway compromise which more commonly occurs with hematoma or blood clot, says Dr. Hynes. Papers published in The Spine Journal also mention cancer as an associated complication, which is something he hasn’t necessarily noted either. “I haven’t seen a rash of cancer in my patients, but I haven’t been surveying for it either,” he says.
He is currently going through his patient base to determine whether he can detect any cancer cases that could be associated with the procedure.
Whether to use BMPs
As surgeons report different findings based on their individual practice data, many of the studies and discrepancies have been reported in the media. However, full understanding of these complex issues is often lost in news reports. “I hate to see some of the surgeons and journals duking it out in the media,” says Dr. Hynes. “That isn’t the place to argue over the efficacy of stem cells and BMPs. We have to do it in the meetings where people understand the context. To lay this out in the newspapers exacerbates political agendas and confuses our patients. We need to speak honestly with each other about this at professional and scientific meetings, not in the press.”
This controversy isn’t the first time new spinal technology and procedures have been under attack. For a period of time, pedicle screws – which are a standard of care now – were under the microscope because complications were reported. In some instances, surgeons were sued and restricted from use at their hospitals for their alleged unfavorable outcomes. Now pedicle screws are the mainstay of spinal fusion procedures.
“At the time, there was only approval that pedicle screws could be used on single-level surgeries,” says Dr. Hynes. “Now we use them at multi-levels. The pedicle screws ultimately won the day, but with public stimulation ‘in the news’ in the early 1990s, we almost lost the ability to use them. This was a public attack on the advent of a new fusion technology, and now we are seeing similar phenomenon’s with BMP and other medical products.”
Covering the cost of BMP
In some cases, surgeons may have a difficult time receiving reimbursement for BMP products because they were more expensive in the past. Dr. Hynes and his colleagues have worked with hospitals and surgery centers to cover the cost in both out-of-network and in-network contracts. In some cases, patients are willing to cover the cost of using stem cells with BMP. Due to the success and demand, the cost has now become competitive considering operative costs of iliac bone surgery or allograft. “The increased volume of use and effectiveness has caused a dramatic decrease in cost,” says Dr. Hynes.
“I see patients from out of the Country and they are usually cash pay patients,” says Dr. Hynes. “We have to line item every part of the procedure to show the actual cost and there is almost no increased cost for the use of low concentrated BMP compared to iliac bone grafts or allograft when taking OR time, surgeon’s time and other OR costs into consideration.”
Fortunately, the hospitals in Dr. Hynes’ community allowed him to use BMP and conduct the clinical studies there. “We have more experience in our community with the benefits of this technology because we started so early,” he says. “Our surgeries are very efficient and our operative time is less because of our long-term experience with the procedure using stem cells and BMP.”
However, in some cases Dr. Hynes has made sacrifices to mitigate these costs. “I think about what I could live without and forego those expenses for stem cells and BMP,” he says. “I might use less expensive blades or a new set of tools for the next year. I might continue to use my old led apron or do surgery without a super drape. I’m there to give patients a better outcome and I want to make sure they have the opportunity to have the stem cells.”
More Articles on Spine Surgeons:
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6 Spine Surgeons on How Young Surgeons Can Position Themselves for Success in the Future
What Percentage of Your Spine Practice is Medicare Patients?
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Regenerative Medicine
Administering undifferentiated stem cells to an injured disc has made adult stem cell regenerative medicine in spine a reality. Adult stem cell regenerative medicine holds the promise of stabilizing or even reversing the degenerative changes associated with aging or following traumatic injury. Current clinical use of stem cells is very limited, in part by the cumbersome approval process. The use of concentrated bone marrow aspirate (BMC) as a “stem cell” preparation is currently the simplest and safest way of utilizing the regenerative potential for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to promote tissue regeneration. In fact, stem cells concentrated from bone marrow have been shown to stimulate the formation of bone, cartilage, ligament and tendon, and dermal tissues.
Conservative treatment options for lumbar and cervical pain associated with discogenic disc disease (Pfirrmann Grades 3-6) are limited. Treatment options include pain medication, steroids, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. Reversal of disc pathology has not been achieved with current available treatment modalities. Failure of these nonoperative treatments may leave surgical intervention as a treatment option.
The goal of utilizing MSCs is to not only potentially provide pain relief from the painful degenerative disc, but to reverse the degenerative process. There are three methods for placing MSCs into the painful nucleus pulposus.
The use of allogeneic mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) is currently being evaluated as a part of an FDA Phase I clinical trial. Extracted from donors and expanded in number by tissue culture, this process isolates and grows the stem cells into pure MPCs which are injected into the nucleus pulposus. This technology does not have FDA approval.
Utilizing expanded, autologous MSCs for injection into the painful disc is the second method. Federal regulations require the approval of an Investigational New Drug application supported by prospective, randomized clinical trials for the use of expanded autologous MSCs. The FDA has not approved this technology.
The third method involves autologous point of care therapy. This technology does not require FDA approval. The patient’s own MSCs are directly injected into the nucleus pulposus of the symptomatic degenerated disc(s) using standardized two needle discography technique. This requires fluoroscopic visualization and 2-3cc of MSCs are slowly injected into the symptomatic nucleus pulposus.
There have been no complications associated with the iliac crest aspiration or disc injection. Thus far no patient in the study has undergone spine surgery following treatment. Results obtained with this technique suggest its potential clinical efficacy in the treatment of moderate to severe degenerative disc disease. These results require verification with longer follow-up and randomized prospective studies.
For more information regarding treatment options please visit our websites at http://www.becomepainfree.com
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Lumbar Microdiscectomy, Spine Microdiscectomy, Microdiscectomy, Discectomy
The lumbar spine is the third part of the spine, after the cervical and thoracic portions. The vertebrae that comprise the lumbar spine are the largest and strongest of the three regions because they support the majority of the body’s weight. There are five pairs of lumbar nerves that control the movement and sensory functions of the lower extremities.
- Leg pain that limits your routine activities
- Weakness in your leg(s) or feet
- Numbness in your extremities
- Impaired bowel and/or bladder function
BecomePainFree has a System to perform lumbar microdiscectomy on his patients. Using this system, only the portion of a ruptured disc which is “pinching” one or more spinal nerve roots is removed.BecomePainFree begins by making a small incision in your lower back. Over this opening, he will insert a microscope that will help him clearly visualise and reach the pinched nerve. Once the pinched nerve is located, BecomePainFree will use microsurgical procedures to remove the ruptured portion of the disc and also any disc fragments which may have broken off from the main disc. The length of the procedure varies on a case-by-case basis, but generally, operative time for this surgery is less than an hour.BecomePainFree will discuss with you all risks and possible complications associated with the use of the BecomePainFree™ System, as well as the benefits. He will only perform this operation if you are a suitable candidate.
Minimal Access Spinal Technologies (MAST):
With the recent launch of Minimal Access Spinal Technologies (MAST), spine surgeons are using minimally invasive techniques for the first time to remove herniated intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine.
Minimally invasive technologies also are allowing spine surgeons to stabilize the posterior portion of the spine by making smaller incisions that cause less damage to the elements of the spine than in an “open” posterior spinal fusion.
Potential benefits of small incisions include limited tissue disruption, enhanced visualization and illumination, shorter hospital visits and faster recovery times. MAST developments continue to promote the advancement of spinal surgery, with a focus on patient recovery and new technologies and products that could potentially provide better outcomes from surgery.
BecomePainFree is committed to providing our patients with the latest advances in spinal surgery technology.
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Minimally Invasive Laser Spine Surgery | Spine Surgeons | Dallas, Texas, No More Back Pain, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Pain Free Fast, Fellowship-Trained Spine Surgeons,
Minimally Invasive Laser Spine Surgery | Spine Surgeons | Dallas, Texas
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Because the minimally invasive industry has become extremely competitive in nature, multiple misconceptions have resulted from varias procedures. And while many doctors board certified and not as well as fellowship trained and not claim to perform minimally invasive procedures, few actually are trained to do so properly, making it more important than ever for patients to not only interview doctors, but to know the right questions to ask and to be educated on the correct answers they get.
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Our physicians specialize in numerous medical specialties, including, but not limited to: Orthopedics- spine and extremities, OB/GYN, Interventional Radiology, Oncology, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Pain Management/Anesthesia, Surgical Anesthesia, Electro Diagnostic Testing, Autonomic Nervous System Testing, General Surgery/Bariatric Surgery, Hand/Plastic Surgery and Wound Care.
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Pain, Failed Back Syndrome, Failed Back Surgery, Back Pain, Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial, SCS Trail
What is a spinal cord stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator is a specialized medical device that stimulates the spinal cord and spinal nerves by tiny electrical impulses via a small electrical wire placed behind and just outside the spinal cord in the epidural space. The electrical wire or lead contains a series of four to eight evenly spaced electrodes that can be programmed to generate an electrical field.
English: Anterior view X-ray of a Medtronic Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) implanted in the thoracic spine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Are you a candidate for a spinal cord stimulator?
Are you a candidate for a spinal cord stimulator?
Spinal cord stimulators are most often used for patients with chronic and severe neuropathic pain, who have not responded to other more conservative medical treatments. Neuropathic pain is pain due to damaged nerve tissue. Common examples include patients with post-laminectomy nerve damage, radiculopathy, diabetic neuropathy and reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
What is the purpose of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS)?
A spinal cord stimulator generates a low level electric field to interrupt nerve conduction of pain signals to the brain.
What is the difference between a spinal cord stimulator trial and a spinal cord stimulator permanent implantation/ implant?
Typically, after patients have failed more normal conservative treatment options, consideration is given to a trial of spinal cord stimulation. Rather than put an expensive medical device permanently into a patient we take our time, a temporary spinal cord stimulator wire is placed in a patient for several days to a week. This temporary wire gives the patient an opportunity to experience spinal cord stimulation without having to undergo a full implantation. If this trial is successful in relieving pain, a permanent device can be placed under the skin at another date.
What determines if a spinal cord stimulator trial is successful or not?
Usually the patient who has had a trial has a very good sense of success. Most patients who are not sure that the spinal cord stimulator trial helped will not get a permanent spinal cord stimulator. Typically, the physician is looking for a significant increase in activity tolerance or a significant decrease in the need for pain medication or some combination of both.
How long does a spinal cord stimulator trial placement take?
Placement of a trial stimulator wire or lead takes from thirty minutes to an hour depending or the patients conditions.
How long does a spinal cord stimulator permanent usually implantation take?
Placement of a permanent spinal cord stimulator wire and a subcutaneous pulse generator or battery takes from one to two hours normally.
How is it a spinal cord stimulator trial lead placement actually performed?
The patient is monitored with an EKG, blood pressure cuff and an oxygen-monitoring device. The procedure is performed under sterile conditions usually on a Hospital. In a spinal cord stimulator trial, the temporary electrodes are placed and then the patient uses an external device to generate electrical current. The electrodes are placed under x-ray guidance with the patient lying on his belly. A local anesthetic is used to numb the skin and deeper tissues. An introducer needle is passed into the epidural space. The electrodes are inserted through the introducer needle. The position of the spinal cord stimulator electrodes is adjusted until stimulation covers as much of the painful area as possible. When this is accomplished, the introducer needle is removed and the temporary wire is secured to the skin with a small stitch and a large sticky bandage.
Will the spinal cord stimulator placement hurt me?
The procedure involves inserting an introducer needle through skin and deeper tissues. There is some pain thats involved. Most patients also receive intravenous sedation that makes the procedure easier to tolerate.
Will I be “put out to sleep” for a spinal cord stimulator?
The placement of the trial electrodes is done under local anesthesia with patients mildly sedated. This is necessary to ensure proper placement of the wires. The amount of sedation given generally depends upon the patient tolerance. The patient is conscious although some will have enough amnesia that they may not remember parts of the procedure. In a permanent placement, once the wires or electrodes are in good position, the patient is often sedated more heavily to place the pulse generator or battery.
Where are the electrodes inserted or entered ? Where is the generator placed?
For the pain involving lower back and legs, the electrodes are inserted in the midline of the lower back, usually above any previous surgery. For a permanent stimulator, the generator is then placed on the side of the lower abdomen or above the buttock. For the pain involving the arms, the electrodes are inserted in the midline at the upper back. The generator is then placed on the side of the chest.
What should I expect after a spinal cord stimulator?
If the procedure is successful, the patient’s pain may be gone or quite less. The patient will usually feel a constant sensation of stimulation, often described as warm or tingly. The patient may have soreness due to the needle placement for a day or two. Most patients with successful stimulation take less, not more, medication after the placement.
What should I do after the procedure(s)?
This procedure is an outpatient procedure. The patient will need a ride home they are not to drive. They The patient should plan to take it easy for a day or so after the procedure. The patient can do most activities but is generally advised to avoid a lot of bending or twisting of the spine.
How long will the generators last?
Depending upon the device used, the batteries may be internal or external. With internal batteries, the generator may last several years depending on the intensity and duration of stimulation required. The batteries cannot be replaced or recharged; they must be replaced surgically. With external batteries in the transmitter, the batteries can be replaced as needed.
Can a spinal cord stimulator be removed?
Yes. Even though we often consider the placement permanent fro life, the spinal cord stimulator wire or lead can usually be removed with relative ease.
Can I have an MRI if I have a spinal cord stimulator?
No. Typically, patient with a spinal cord stimulator in place should not have MRIs. They also should not have any deep electrical or deep heating physical therapy treatments, often called diathermy. There is a risk that an MRI or diathermy may raise the temperature of the electrical wire or electrodes and potentially harm the spinal cord or spinal nerves.
Can I pass through TSA airport security with a spinal cord stimulator?
Maybe. Depending on the sensitivity of the specific screening devices, many patients can pass through with ease, just like some patients with pacemakers. If not, all patients are provided with identification indicating a medical device has been implanted.
Will the spinal cord stimulator help?
It is sometimes difficult to predict if the procedure will actually help the patient or not. For that reason, temporary electrodes are placed as a trial to determine if a permanent device will be effective to relieve pain. Typically, with successful trial stimulation, patients will have a 50 to 70% reduction in their pain.
What are the risks and side effects of spinal cord stimulation?
Generally speaking, this procedure is safe. However, with any procedure there are risks, side effects and possibility of complications. Common side effects are bruising and soreness. Less common risks are short-term weakness or numbness, headache, bleeding or infection.
Who should not have a spinal cord stimulator?
Patients on a blood thinning medication, patients with an active infection going on, and patients with poorly controlled diabetes or heart disease should not have the procedure or at least consider postponing it if postponing would improve the overall medical condition.
Our Group has a team that can help with these procedures please contact us today. Call Us: (214) 396-3647 | (888) 373-3720
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Spine Surgeon Texas, Spine Surgeon Fort Worth, Spine Surgeon Dallas, Spine Surgeon Houston, Spine Pain, Sciatica
Sciatica is a symptom of a problem or medical disorder that compresses the sciatic nerve area. The sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves in your total body. It begins in your low/lower back, and travels downward behind the hip joint area, through the buttocks, and along the back of each leg into the feet.
The Symptoms
English: Branches of sciatic nerve (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Normal sciatica is often defined as symptoms that travel into one leg below the knee and sometimes into the foot on the same side. Although that is the normal definition, back and spine pain and symptoms above the knee certainly can mimic sciatic-like symptoms.
- Pain; mild ache to sharp and excruciating pain
- Pain is felt in the lower left or right side of the body area
- Pain can present as electric shock-like feel
- Aggravated by a cough, sneeze, when sitting or walking
- Sensations: burning, numbness, tingling, or pins and needles
- Difficult and painful to walk, stand, bend forward, backwards, side-to-side
- Mild to Moderate Muscle weakness
- Bowel or bladder dysfunction which can occur* (rare)
*Bowel or bladder dysfunction (loss of control) could be a symptom of cauda equina syndrome, a very serious medical condition that requires urgent care. (CALL 911 or goto a Emergency Room)
The Accurate diagnosis
Consult an medical specialist expert, especially if sciatica develops suddenly/fast , quickly worsens, or you have a pre-existing back disorder. An accurate diagnosis is much essential to an effective and successful treatment plan for your care.
Your medical history and physical and neurological examinations are very important. You and your doctor or surgeon can discuss your symptoms, when they developed, and all treatments tried. The doctor tests your many reflexes and evaluates you for muscle weakness, loss of feeling, and signs of neurological injury.
Diagnostic tests also help the doctor to determine if you have spinal nerve or canal compression. A simple x-ray can normally reveal the effects of spinal degeneration. CT and MRI are sensitive imaging tools that detail bone, disc and nerve structures.
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