Spine-Pain

Diam Back Implant Study

http://www.back.com/articles-trial.html

Chronic Pain Therapy: Spinal Cord Stimulation - Video

Beth Israel Offers Inside Look at Chronic Pain Therapy

OR-Live.com webcast February 6, 2008 at 6:00 PM From Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY As more and more Americans are working harder, living longer and looking to remain active, chronic pain has become a main focus in today’s world of pain …

“The ideal candidate for spinal cord stimulation is someone who suffers from chronic pain who has not responded to primary medications, therapies or surgery,” says Dr. Sheu. “Once evaluated by a qualified pain specialist, an appropriate patient can undergo an outpatient ‘trial’ to experience spinal cord stimulation for themselves and determine if the relief is significant enough to proceed to a longer-lasting treatment”.

With spinal cord stimulation, the electrical impulses are delivered through a lead, a specialized, insulated wire that is implanted within the spinal canal. These electrical impulses block the pain signal traveling to the brain, providing lasting pain relief for the patient.

The Spinal Cord Stimulator implant surgery is performed by Dr. Robert Sheu, Director of the Pain Division in the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Medical Center.

A Medtronic RestoredAdvance Spinal Cord Stimulator is implanted in the patient.

The video starts off interviewing two females who received the Spinal Cord Stimulator.

The video has footage of the Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery.

The patient is awake during the implant surgery.

The video time is approximately an hour.

http://www.or-live.com/bethisrael/1867/event_flash/rnh.cfm??

Spine: Indications for Lumbar Fusions

UW Medicine Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
28 min 35 sec - Jul 8, 2007

This video is one of a series of excerpts of a regional symposium discussing indications and surgical treatment for spine conditions. The … all » presenters outline indications, limitations and potential of fusion surgery, as well as review recent developments in the field.

googleplayer.swf?docid=4036068355330664408

A TLIF procedure allows the surgeon to insert bone graft and spacer into the disc space from a unilateral approach laterally without having to forcefully retract the nerve roots as much, which may reduce injury and scarring around the nerve roots when compared to a PLIF procedure.

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/surg/TLIF/TLIF01.html

Tarlov cysts are fluid-filled sacs that most often affect nerve roots in the sacrum, the group of bones at the base of the spine. These cysts can compress nerve roots, causing lower back pain, sciatica (shock-like or burning pain in the lower back, buttocks, and down one leg to below the knee), urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and some loss of feeling or control of movement in the leg and/or foot. Pressure on the nerves next to the cysts can also cause pain. Tarlov cysts may become symptomatic following shock, trauma, or exertion that causes the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid. Women are at much higher risk of developing these cysts than are men.

Is there any treatment?

Tarlov cysts may be drained to relieve pressure and pain, but relief is often only temporary and fluid build-up in the cysts will recur. Corticosteroid injections may also temporarily relieve pain. Other drugs may be prescribed to treat chronic pain and depression. Filling the cysts with fat has not been shown to work. Injecting the cysts with fibrin glue (a combination of naturally occurring substances based on the clotting factor in blood) may provide temporary relief of pain. Some scientists believe the herpes simplex virus, which thrives in an alkaline environment, can cause Tarlov cysts to become symptomatic; making the body less alkaline, through diet or supplements, may lesson symptoms. Surgical resection may be needed when the cysts cause continued pain or progressive neurological damage.

What is the prognosis?

Most Tarlov cysts do not cause pain, weakness, or nerve root compression. The cysts do not appear to recur following complete resection by an experienced neurosurgeon. Acute and chronic pain may require changes in lifestyle. If left untreated, nerve root compression can cause permanent neurological damage.

What research is being done?

The NINDS, a component of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, vigorously pursues a research program seeking new treatments to reduce and prevent pain and nerve damage.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tarlov_cysts/tarlov_cysts.htm

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TARLOV  CYST  ASSOCIATION

http://www.tarlovcyst.net/