Nov 1, 2007 9:57 am US/Eastern
Relief For Chronic Pain May Be Stimulation
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Chronic pain suffers know how debilitating excruciating pain can be and according to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 10 Americans have had pain for one year or more. Many people can't work, lose their jobs and become depressed.
There are plenty of options out there, but the key for patients is to commit to finding a treatment that works for them and one of those treatments might be a spinal cord stimulator.
Tom Carlin, 39, has tried several treatment options for pain that began more than 10 years ago. "They did physical therapy, ultrasound, massage therapy all sorts of stuff," said Carlin.
After years of searching for relief, he found a doctor who specializes in pain management and a treatment that works.
"I found that the nerve blocks worked very well for me," said Carlin.
Dr. Bruce Mann says the goal is to give patients like Carlin some relief so they can rebuild weakened muscles.
"The goal is to significantly reduce the pain so the patient can tolerate maybe physical therapy. And therefore maintain and restore function, strength and mobility," said Mann.
Mary Ballantine, 40, has been suffering with pain for nearly three decades.
"I have had six major back surgeries five in the last three years," said Ballantine.
When conventional treatments failed, Dr. Edward Frankoski, who specializes in interventional pain management, recommended she try a pain stimulator.
"It works almost like a pacemaker in a sense that it stimulates the spine using electricity the same way a pacemaker stimulates the heart," said Frankoski.
Once inserted into the lower back, leads are connected to the area causing pain. Patients can control the amount of electrical stimulation through a remote device.
These stimulators have been around for years but recent improvements make the battery last much longer up to ten years.
"The goal is to block the electrical impulses that go along the spinal chord before they get to the brain," said Frankoski.
Ballantine says she can now work regularly and enjoy life a lot more. "I can play with my granddaughter. It helps it helps," said Ballantine.
It is not unusual for pain specialists to try several different modalities on a patient before something finally works.
To reach Dr. Frankoski call
305-932-1660. To reach Dr. Bruce Mann, call
954-721-5400. Or you can call
888-PAIN-565.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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