Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulator

FANTASTIC FOR CRPS & PHANTOM LIMB PAIN

ALSO: CHRONIC PAIN IN HIPS, GROIN, KNEES, ANKLES

Sometimes you have an issue with your nerves or musculoskeletal structure, which can cause permanent pain.   Medication has limitations and you feel debilitated. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as causalgia, and other conditions that give you chronic pain in the hip, groin, foot, knee can get worse over time. If you are an amputee with phantom limb pain, had an injury or localized pain after a procedure or accident, the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulator may be considered. Image below (1):

CRPS & Phantom Limb Pain Solution

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

Pain travels from your limbs via nerves, which congregate at the dorsal root ganglion. From here, the pain sensation travels up your spinal cord and to your brain. If you have reasons for specific areas of your legs to continue sending pain, then there is the option of changing, or modulating, that pain signal so your brain perceives less pain. In essence, the dorsal root ganglion stimulator enables you to feel your leg in a different way.

DORSAL ROOT GANGLION STIMUATOR

This is a minimally invasive device which can be considered for patients who do not wish to get surgery, or still have pain after surgery. There are 3 parts to the dorsal root ganglion stimulator device (1)




  • Generator: battery + pulse creator
  • Leads: delivers pulses, changes the pain signal
  • Patient Controller: the remote that gives you programming capabilities

2 STEPS

  1. Trial period – 1 week to see if this is the right device for you. If it works, then we do an implant; if not, nothing stays in your body.
  2. Permanent Implant

COMPLICATIONS

General complications of any surgery include bleeding, infection, blood clots, and reactions to anesthesia. Specific to the DRG stimulator:

  • Increased pain
  • Epidural hemorrhage, hematoma, infection, spinal cord compression, cerebrospinal fluid leak. Seroma at implant site
  • Hardware issues: lead migration, battery failure/leakage/migration, allergic response to hardware
  • Extremely rare: Paralysis, weakness

GOOD CANDIDATES

  • Conservative therapies have failed
  • You do not have an upcoming surgery
  • You have no issues with untreated depression or addiction
  • You have had a successful Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) stimulator trial

REFERENCES

  • (1) Arizona Pain: https://arizonapain.com/pain-center/pain-treatments/dorsal-root-ganglion-treatment/
  • (2) Abbott: https://www.neuromodulation.abbott/us/en/chronic-pain/living-chronic-pain/treatments/ht-tab/drg-stimulation-therapy-.html.html