Do you or a loved one have lower-body pain that has persisted for weeks? If so, think about DRG Therapy, a brand-new chronic pain therapy option. What DRG Therapy is, who’s a good candidate for it, what to expect from the therapy, and what to do next are all covered in this blog post.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 11% of Americans live with chronic pain that lasts longer than six months. Pain and suffering can be brought on by injuries and infections, but chronic pain is brought on by a malfunctioning neural system. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a typical contributor to chronic pain (CRPS).
Nerve damage, or CRPS, is typically brought on by an injury. The limbs may enlarge or alter in color or warmth in response to pain. Patients with causalgia (also known as proven nerve injury) are classed as having CRPS-II, while those without causalgia are defined as having CRPS-I (previously called reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome or RSDS).
WHAT IS DRG THERAPY?
The term “DRG Therapy” refers to dorsal root ganglion stimulation. A dorsal root ganglion is a group of sensory neurons at the dorsal root of a spinal nerve. When controlling the impulses and sensations that flow up the spinal column to the brain, DRGs function like traffic lights.
The DRG was once believed to be unrelated to pain, but researchers now understand that this nerve bundle is crucial to the experience of nerve pain in CRPS I and II patients. In comparison to spinal cord stimulation, activating the DRG helps reduce pain more efficiently, according to a 2017 study published in Pain.
DRG therapy is a type of neurostimulation treatment. Both surgical and noninvasive techniques, as well as the use of electrical stimulation, must be used to accomplish this. In some spots, stimulation can relieve discomfort. DRG Therapy relieves persistent pain in specific lower body areas, including :
- Foot
- Knee
- Hip
- Pelvis
- Groin
Although isolated chronic pain cannot be cured, DRG treatment can offer much-needed respite in such locations. It is especially helpful for people who experience persistent pelvic and lower-body pain.
COULD DRG THERAPY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?
Considering DRG therapy may be a good idea if you’re going through :
- Following an injury or surgery, you experience persistent discomfort in your lower body, such as in your foot, knee, hip, or groin.
- Six months or longer of continuous agony.
- Minimal or nonexistent pain alleviation with standard neurostimulation, pain management techniques, drugs, or surgery.
- Other treatments have only partially helped.
WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT CAN YOU EXPECT?
An implantable, temporary device called a DRG stimulator is used as part of the therapy. Before having it implanted, the doctor will work with you to test the device to see if it can successfully manage your pain.
After it is implanted, the doctor will utilize a “remote control” provided to you as a patient to activate the stimulator and deliver brief electrical pulses to your dorsal root ganglia. Pain alleviation in the affected area should be the outcome.
REDUCE CHRONIC PAIN AND REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE
The management of chronic pain has significantly improved because of this innovative technology. According to the 2017 Pain study, DRG stimulation provided improved pain alleviation for persons with CRPS who had chronic pain in a lower limb after 12 months. The data speaks for itself :
- When using DRG stimulation, more persons (74.2%) reported meaningful pain alleviation than when using conventional spinal cord stimulation (53%).
- The tingling feeling that is a typical side effect of conventional spinal cord stimulation was absent in one-third of patients, who experienced pain reduction of more than 80%.
- Compared to conventional spinal cord stimulation, DRG stimulation improved the quality of life.
Nobody should have to endure constant, daily anguish. DRG Therapy is distinctive since it uses spinal stimulation to target the lower body. Reduce the suffering so you can lead the fulfilling life you deserve.
For effective chronic pain management call Specialty Care Clinics at (469) 545-9983.