TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Hawaii (Army News Service, April 26, 2012) -- Advancements in the use of spinal cord stimulators for the treatment of chronic pain have brought relief to patients at the Integrative Pain Management Clinic, here.
The spinal cord stimulators use leads, which are wires that go from the stimulator device to the spinal cord, to deliver signals that will interrupt the feeling of pain.
In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of spinal cord stimulators using a pulse generator that senses a patient's position and "paddle leads" that are placed into a patient through a minimally invasive incision using a special insertion device.
The Integrative Pain Management Clinic, or IPMC, had been performing a similar type of pain management technique before, using "cylindrical leads" instead. The paddle leads and cylindrical leads are shaped differently and deliver their charges differently as well, the cylindrical leads send energy everywhere, while the paddle leads sends energy to just the spinal cord.
Additionally, the paddle leads use less energy, so patients fitted with the devices don't need to change the device's battery as often.
Dr. Phillip Lim, a pain management physician at the IPMC, performed the first paddle lead implant in Hawaii at Tripler in February. He said a lot of patients say it feels like a massage when the neurostimulator is activated.
"A few patients have even moaned from relief when I turn on the stimulation," Lim said with a laugh. "The technology has gotten so good over the years (with spinal cord stimulators)."
Maj. Brian McLean, chief, Pain Medicine and Interventional Pain Services, said the treatment is for patients with severe neuropathic pain, who have exhausted all other avenues of relief and treatment.
"We start with a three to seven day trial using a temporary lead similar to an epidural," McLean explained. "We do not want to (implant) a permanent lead unless the trial offers them at least 75 percent pain relief and improvement in function."
For Maggie Peeler, who recently received a permanent cylindrical lead implant, the spinal cord stimulator promises her relief from lower back and leg pain after an injury 10 years ago.
Peeler said after her five-day lead trial when they removed the temporary lead, she realized how much pain she had learned to live with and was anxious to receive the permanent lead.
"The procedure is done on a large number of patients for a wide variety of neuropathic pain reasons," McLean said. "It is a very powerful tool to help with chronic pain. Unlike medications and injections, it's not temporary relief; it is continuous, long-lasting relief."
McLean said that in addition to the lead advancements, the new devices can sense a patient's movement and adjust stimulation based on the position of their body.
McLean said the important thing for beneficiaries to know is that the IPMC can provide pain relief without pain medications.
"Our goal is to not just improve their level of pain, but their function," McLean said.
The spinal cord stimulator has also aided in retention and readiness.
"Soldiers have even deployed with the spinal cord stimulator in," McLean said. "It saves the Army from discharging a Soldier with severe chronic pain."
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