Patients undergoing neurostimulation treatments receive low voltage electrical signals directly into the spinal chord or specific nerves in an attempt to block the feeling of 'pain'. Generally used to block pain emanating from areas lower than the neck, neurostimulation is becoming more popular in a culture that feels overwhelmed with the high volume of medications being prescribed for nearly every medical situation, especially pain.
There are two primary configurations for a neurostimulation system. The first one must be surgically implanted and is completely internal. The other configuration has both external and internal components. For any internal configuration, the battery and nerve connectors are implanted surgically. External systems have surgically implanted leads that also have a radio-frequency receiver, while the battery and an antenna is externally worn.
The concept of neurostimulation and how it is used to relieve pain is actually quite simple. Pain is a signal that is sent from one part of the body to the brain. Constant pain that stems from an extremity signifies a steady stream of 'pain' signals being sent to the brain. All of these signals travel to the brain by way of the spinal chord. It is a mass of nerves that connect the brain to each part of the body, and likewise, connect each part of the body to the brain. If the 'pain' signals traveling to the brain can be 'interrupted', then the brain will not receiving the news that an area of the body is hurt or damaged.
Rather than 'cutting' off specific nerves or blocking signals altogether, neurostimulation actually activates other nerve fibers, which are in fact, pain-inhibiting. Once activated, these pain-inhibiting fibers actually masks or dull the strength of the pain signal reaching the brain, overall leading to less pain being felt. The activation of these pain-inhibiting fibers also brings forth a tingling sensation. The primary conditions with which neurostimulation is used as a treatment for are all chronic in nature and include, arachnoiditis, complex regional pain syndrome, and failed back syndrome.
The goal of neurostimulation is to reduce and relieve pain, instead of attempting to eliminate pain altogether. In fact, tests have shown that when applied correctly, the majority of patients can feel pain reduce by nearly 50%. Other effects include an increase in activity levels, and a substantial reduction of the use of any medications of a narcotic nature. However, the underlying benefit is possibly an overall improved quality of life.
With so many medications being prescribed for nearly every medical ailment, alternatives are aggressively being sought after. As technology advances and new discoveries in treatment are made, patients will receive better care and are more likely to live pain free lives. Neurostimulation as a treatment continues to develop and although pain is currently only reduced by as much as 50%, technology will continue to advance and we may one day see pain reduced by much higher levels. For those who live in constant and chronic pain, these developments cannot arrive too soon.
from pain. However, it is a known fact that the more pain you feel, the more pain relief medications you're going to need.
Certainly, you do have the option of using more potent medication, such as upgrading from Tramadol to morphine, but for most
cases, this is not an option.?The standard is that when the pain gets worse, the patient has to pop a few more pills. The
problem with this approach, and with using a more potent pain killer, is that the body eventually starts to feel a general
sense of numbness because of the medication. In high enough doses, the body may even fall asleep or become unconscious due to
the sheer amount of pain killer in the bloodstream.
Of course, there may be another way to go about this situation. The fact is, most people find the numbness and the
possibility of becoming unconscious to be a bit more than unsettling. It can be a severe annoyance in some cases, with the
potential to become threatening if the person needs to engage in activities that require alertness. Science has recognized
this flaw in the design of pain relief medication, but there has been little progress by way of finding an alternative
method. However, medical science is aware that the nerves and receptors that signal the pain reaction are distinct and
separate from the nerves and receptors that process other sensations. Therefore, there should be a way to suppress the pain
reaction without having to suppress every other reaction.
There is an experimental treatment currently being used that promises to be able to do that, but there is a catch. According
to the research team, it only works if an injection of hot pepper spice is made prior to the use of the experimental pain
relief compound. This is a negative factor because the injection has been known to cause effects ranging from mild
unpleasantness to actual pain. Researchers are still trying to find a way to circumvent that issue, eliminating the current
problem of having to introduce a painful compound into the body before administering something to dull it. However, despite
the ?high price? of this experiment, there have been positive results. For example, test subjects could feel a pinprick as a
regular sensation, without associating it with pain.
The research team hopes that this might one day revolutionize surgical and post-surgical uses of pain relief medication.
There have always been issues related to the use and effects of pain killers and anesthetics in surgical procedures, as well
as in post-surgical therapy. For example, most anesthetics make the patient fall asleep or become immobilized, which makes it
a frightening situation if the patient awakens during the procedure and is unable to inform the doctors that he feels
everything they're doing. If the researchers can perfect their technique, then the patient would be awake during the
procedure, but would feel nothing and would not be fully immobilized.
Both Catherine Meyers & Harvey D. Ong are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Catherine Meyers has sinced written about articles on various topics from Build Muscle, Migraine Headaches and Other Conditions. Catherine Meyers is a health consultant for Meds4You.net, a reputable licensed U.S. online pharmacy. Offering free consultations and free shipping, you can order safely an. Catherine Meyers's top article generates over 4400 views. Bookmark Catherine Meyers to your Favourites.
Harvey D. Ong has sinced written about articles on various topics from Gardening, Health and Birth Control. Harvey Ong is a part-time writer and part-time creative, currently employed by an online media and advertising company. He is interested in philosophy, history, psychology, criminology, toxicology, pharmacology, and sociology. He is also an avid collector. Harvey D. Ong's top article generates over 60500 views. Bookmark Harvey D. Ong to your Favourites.