Chuck Turner is a retired welder who developed neuropathy as the result of an industrial accident while working as a welder at a nuclear plant. The accident happened years ago. And it was years before his peripheral neuropathy had advanced to the point where he could no longer sit, stand, or walk for an extended period of time. “The worst moment for me occurred in December 2009,” said Chuck of Minnetonka. “We were approaching Christmas and it was our tradition to drive down to Kansas to spend the holidays with my wife’s family. That year, we called to say we could not make the trip because my pain had made me practically bedridden.”
Neurostimulator patient Chuck Turner with Twin Cities Pain Clinic Nurse Practitioner Nancy Cleveland.
A month later, Chuck’s physician referred him to Twin Cities Pain Clinic for an evaluation for his chronic, wide-spread pain. “The staff was so patient with me as we explored different pain management options. And then we decided to try the neurostimulator which proved to be the lifesaver for me,” said Chuck.
What is a neurostimulator?
A neurostimulator is a small, implantable device that is surgically placed under the skin to send mild electrical impulses to an area near the spine to interrupt pain signals from reaching the brain. The system is also known as Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) Therapy. It has been in use for chronic pain relief since 1967. Over the years, the device has undergone many revisions to the point where it is now a very small device, only a few inches in diameter. And the accuracy with which the leads are placed along the spine has also improved to cover multiple pain areas simultaneously as well as more precise pain control to the areas where it is needed.
How does it help neuropathy?
With neuropathic pain, the nerve fibers themselves may be damaged, dysfunctional or injured. These damaged nerve fibers send incorrect signals to other pain centers. Neurostimulators have worked for neuropathy patients, like Chuck, by replacing the pain signals with a tingling sensation. “Many patients have described the sensation as a soothing, tingling sensation,” said Andrew J. Will, M.D. , the Twin Cities Pain Clinic Medical Director. “I like to say electricity is the new drug. You can’t get addicted to it and it can continue working for the rest of the patient’s life.”
Neurostimulation therapy has advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- The therapy is drug free, using electrical impulses rather than medication to block the pain signals.
- Neurostimulation therapy is a completely reversible procedure.
- All patients undergo a trial before a permanent implant would be done.
Disadvantages:
- A small percentage may develop an infection at the implant site
- The leads may move before tissue builds up to anchor leads in place
- Patients may experience pain at the implant site
- Loss of therapy effect or the therapy does not meet the patient’s expectations.
Chuck, no longer bedridden with pain, and his family.
What’s involved in a neurostimulation trial?
To try neurostimulation therapy, your physician will place a temporary lead(s) in your back, and connect the lead wire(s) to an external device that you carry around in a belt pack. The temporary system performs all of the same functions as an implanted device so you can experience what neurostimulation feels like and how it works for you.
Placing the lead is done through a needle and does not involve surgery. Your physician will program different settings and ask you what feels best. You will receive specific instructions on how to care for your temporary neurostimulation system. For the next 3 to 10 days, a patient will have the opportunity to try the system. During this screening period, you will be able to walk around and do most of the things that you are used to doing. Following the trial period, you and your physician will determine if neurostimulation therapy is right for you. If you decide to go ahead with the implantable device, the procedure is an outpatient surgical procedure.
Most patients ask about insurance coverage for neurostimulation therapy. While the situations vary case by case, most insurance does cover the neurostimulation therapy. It has been tested in hundreds of clinical studies worldwide and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a safe and effective pain management therapy.
If you are interested in watching a procedure for permanent implantation of a neurostimulator device, click here to see a report WCCO TV produced on two Twin Cities Pain Clinic patients.
Chuck has had his neurostimulator device for one year now without any complications. He has been able to rejoin his Men’s group for weekly coffee and started doing volunteer maintenance work at his church. Best of all, he took the trip to Kansas with his wife this past December.
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