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About Neurostimulators and Drug Pumps

Chronic Pain

If your chronic pain isn't responding to medication, or you can't tolerate the side effects, your doctor may prescribe one of our neurostimulators or drug pumps. These implantable devices may help you manage your pain, restore your ability to do everyday activities, decrease your need for oral pain medications, and improve your quality of life.1-4 For more than 30 years they have enhanced the lives of people with chronic pain.

What Are They?

Spinal cord stimulation (also called neurostimulation therapy) and targeted drug delivery are two proven, long-term pain therapies. Both use surgically placed devices.

A spinal cord stimulator (also known as a neurostimulator) sends mild electrical pulses to an area near your spine. These pulses disrupt the pain signals traveling between the spinal cord and the brain so you may feel relief.

Drug pumps deliver pain medication directly to the fluid around the spinal cord, instead of the blood stream, providing pain relief with a small fraction of the medication needed if taken orally.4,5

More: Neurostimulators

More: Drug Pumps

Questions and Answers

Get answers to frequently asked questions .

More: Neurostimulators

More: Drug Pumps

References

1

Ohnmeiss DD, Rashbaum RF, Bogdanffy GM. Prospective outcome evaluation of spinal cord stimulation in patients with intractable leg pain. Spine. 1996;21:1344-1350.

2

Kumar K, Taylor RS, Jacques L, et al. Spinal cord stimulation versus conventional medical management for neuropathic pain: a multicentre randomised controlled trial in patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Pain. 2007;132:179-188.

3

Deer T, Chapple I, Classen A, et al. Intrathecal drug delivery for treatment of chronic low back pain: report from the National Outcomes Registry for Low Back Pain. Pain Med. 2004;5:6-13.

4

Hamza M, Doleys D, Wells M, et al. Prospective study of 3-year follow-up of lowdose intrathecal opioids in the management of chronic nonmalignant pain.Pain Med. 2012;13:1304-1313.

5

Ruan X. Drug-related side effects of long-term intrathecal morphine therapy. Pain Physician. 2007;10:357-366.

Next: Getting the therapy

Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.