Amputees find relief from Phantom limb pain with DRG Stimulation Therapy

Amputees find relief from Phantom limb pain with DRG Stimulation Therapy

Posted on August 18, 2021

After undergoing the amputation of a limb, patients may experience Phantom Limb Pain (PLP), a neuropathic condition in which pain is perceived as emanating from the amputated limb. This condition is difficult to treat using common pharmaceutical options, which are often ineffective or unbearable for the patient.

In search of an alternative solution for PLP and other pain-producing conditions, clinical trials were conducted to study the effects of Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation therapy in patients experiencing pain.

While the results varied between different clinical studies and patients, common consensus found that DRG Stimulation can be an effective tool in the treatment of pain arising from PLP and other conditions, with a high average of pain reduction in a majority of patients.

According to the results of the ACCURATE IDE STUDY, DRG Stimulation Therapy provided effective pain relief in:

  • 2% of patients at 3 months
  • 2% of patients at 12 months, (versus 53% in traditional SCS patients)

DRG Stimulation confined the sensation to the primary area of pain in 94.5% of subjects, (versus 61.2% in the control.)

What is DRG?

DRG Stimulation is first-of-its-kind therapeutic approach that provides pain relief to patients with neuropathic conditions underserved by traditional tonic Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and those who have tried multiple treatment options without receiving adequate pain relief.

DRG therapy works by stimulating dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). These are densely populated sensory nerve structures along the spinal column that regulate signals and sensations traveling through nerve fibers along the spinal column to the brain. Stimulating these structures can reduce pain in specific locations in your body.

The DRG system consists of an implantable device that emits mild electrical pulses in the body, with thin wires that carry those electrical pulses to the dorsal root ganglia. A handheld “remote control” enables the patient to adjust stimulation strength or turn it off completely.

What does DRG treat?

Chronic Post-Surgical Pain Disorders:

  • Knee Pain
  • Ankle/Foot Pain
  • Hip Pain
  • Hernia Repair Groin Pain
  • Pelvic Pain

Chronic Neuropathic Pain Disorders:

  • Phantom Limb Pain (PLP)
  • Crush Injury Pain
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Pain
  • Post Herpetic Neuralgia
  • Diabetic Neuropathy

 

DRG Therapy may be an effective alternative for those who:

  • Live with long-term chronic pain
  • Suffer isolated chronic pain in a lower part of the body such as the foot, knee, hip or groin, following an injury or surgical procedure
  • Find little or no relief from traditional neurostimulation, surgery, pain medications, nerve blocks or other pain management therapies

If you are experiencing any of the above conditions, DRG Stimulation may be the solution you’ve been looking for. Scheduling a consultation with an expert pain management physician is recommended, to determine whether DRG therapy can provide the relief you need.

Do you suffer from chronic pain?

At Riverside Pain Physicians, our pain management specialists are highly skilled and ready to consult with you to find a customized solution based on your individual situation and the nature of your pain. Whether the right treatment is DRG Therapy or another alternative, we’ll work together with you to find the most effective treatment to minimize your pain and restore quality of life.<

If you are tired of living with pain and want more information about our minimally invasive, proven procedures and treatments for minimizing or eliminating your suffering, call us today at 904.389.1010 or click here to set up a consultation online.

Tags: Chronic Pain Management, Chronic Pain Treatment, Pain Management Jacksonville