Many people suffer from back and neck pain. There is a group of patients who cannot find relief despite undergoing multiple herniated disk surgeries. According to Liv Hospital Algology Specialist Prof. Dr. Kader Keskinbora, a spinal cord pain pacemaker may be a solution for these individuals. He explains, "Some patients continue to experience pain even after several back and neck surgeries. If pain management methods, physical therapy, and medication do not provide relief, then spinal cord stimulation”a spinal cord pacemaker for pain”should be considered. In this method, an electrode is placed within the patient's spinal cord and is connected to a current generator (pain pacemaker). The current produced by the pacemaker is delivered to the spinal cord via the electrode, preventing pain signals from being transmitted to the brain. By activating the pacemaker, patients can manage their back and neck pain effectively.
Depression can cause back and neck pain
Spine-related pain is most commonly felt in the lower back, neck, and mid-back. These pains may appear suddenly and severely (within six weeks) or persist at a moderate level for years. Pain in the lower back and neck area is often caused by muscle spasms, calcification of various joints (facet joints), or disc herniation. Such pain may develop after physical activity or trauma, but it can also occur without any apparent cause. Individuals experiencing mental and emotional stress, as well as those with weak lower back and abdominal muscles due to a sedentary lifestyle, are at higher risk for lower back and neck pain. If persistent or suddenly onset back and neck pain does not improve with physical therapy, and surgery is not required, interventional pain treatment options may be considered. Injections (such as cortisone) and radiofrequency therapy can be applied to the facet joints responsible for back and neck pain or to the nerve roots affected by herniation. In recent years, radiofrequency therapy applied to lower back and neck nerve roots has been recognized as more effective than injection treatments, providing longer-lasting pain relief and being favored since it does not cause tissue damage.
Pacemaker controls the pain
The other important group of patients are those who have undergone multiple back and neck surgeries but still suffer from pain. After lumbar and cervical herniated disk operation, some patients can have severe leg and low back pain due to some adhesions in the spinal canal. These patients have to undergo multiple lumbar surgeries as the pain does not relieve after herniated disk surgery. Each herniated disk surgery can cause a new adhesion and therefore further increased pain. If pain management methods, physical therapy and medication provides no pain relief, than the treatment method should be the spinal cord stimulation. In this method, which is also called spinal pacemaker, an electrode is placed into the spinal cord of the patient and its end is connected to a current generator (pain pacemaker). The current generated by the pacer is conducted to the spinal cord via electrode and prevents the pain signal from being transmitted to the brain. With this highly effective method, patients can control their back and neck pains by activating the pacemaker.
* Liv Hospital Editorial Board has contributed to the publication of this content .
* Contents of this page is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. The content of this page does not include information on medicinal health care at Liv Hospital .