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Surgeon eases patients' chronic pain through neurostimulation

Surgeon eases patients' chronic pain through neurostimu ... (Added: July 10, 2009)

Neurostimulation or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) devices are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a method of pain control for the treatment of chronic pain of the arms, legs and ... (more)

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By Nicole Boone
Published: July 10, 2009

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Although it is not a cure, SCS therapy can be successful in reducing pain that is the result of dysfunction or damage to the nervous system caused by injury, disease or localized trauma.

Dr. Jason Rosenberg, the Director of Pain Therapy at Waccamaw Hospital and NextStep Pain Management Services is using this technique to help his patients.

Spinal cord stimulators are implanted neurostimulation devices that are similar in function and appearance to cardiac pacemakers, except that the electrical pulses are sent to the spinal cord instead of the heart. These "pacemakers for pain" interrupt the pain signals' pathways to the brain by delivering low intensity electrical pulses to trigger selective nerve fibers along the spinal cord. Researchers theorize that stimulating these nerve fibers diminishes or blocks
the intensity of the pain message being transmitted to the brain, replacing feelings of pain with a more pleasant tingling sensation called paresthesia.

Rosenberg, is hosting a free educational seminar on chronic pain and the treatment called neuro-stimulation on Monday, July 13, at 6 pm. The event will be held at the Wachesaw Conference Center in Murrells Inlet. For more information, call 843-652-0200. You can also visit www.waccamawpainpartners.com for more information.