When to Consider Our Therapies
Medtronic Pain Therapies may be an option for you if you have been in pain for six months or longer and have already tried more traditional therapies for your chronic pain.
As you know, there are many options for treating chronic pain, including Medtronic Pain Therapies. In general, doctors recommend treatment options in a specific order depending on your individual situation and needs.
Over the counter pain medications
Examples of over the counter pain medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen.
Behavioral programs
Emotional stress may increase muscle tension and intensify pain. Relaxation techniques such as biofeedback, meditation, yoga, and counseling can help reduce tension and pain.
Injections
Sometimes physicians inject a local anesthetic or steroids near the site or source of pain to decrease inflammation or numb the nerve that serves the painful area.
Corrective surgery
Surgery may be needed to correct an identifiable problem such as a structural back problem or herniated disk.
Neurostimulation therapy
Uses an implantable system to deliver electrical impulses to the brain that interrupt pain signals and replaces them with a tingling sensation that covers specific areas where pain is felt.
Long-term pain killers
Some pain may be relieved by stronger medications called opioids. Commonly prescribed opioids include morphine and codeine.
Drug delivery therapy
Pain medication is delivered directly to the fluid around the spinal cord, called the “intrathecal space” via a drug pump. The drug pump is connected to a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. Both the pump and catheter are implanted under the skin.
Spinal ablative therapies:
The nerve fibers to the painful area are destroyed to interrupt pain messages to the brain. It is generally used only after other therapies have failed, because it is irreversible.
An alternative to surgery
While many patients try Medtronic Pain Therapies after corrective surgery has failed, you and your doctor may want to consider them sooner.
Medtronic Pain Therapies are reversible, and you can test them out before making a final decision. This flexibility may make them a good alternative to more permanent surgical options, such as:
- Lumbar spinal fusion surgery. With this type of surgery, vertebrae are permanently fused together to prevent abnormal motion in the spine.
- Laminectomy. This type of surgery involves surgically removing a herniated disc or part of a herniated disc to prevent it from pressing on a nerve root or the spinal cord.
- Spinal ablative therapies. With this type of surgery, nerve fibers are permanently destroyed so that they can not send pain messages to the brain.
