How New Technologies Can Provide Improved Long-Term Solutions to Pain
Pain can range from simply being uncomfortable and frustrating to being so debilitating that it is difficult to get through the day. While the goal of a surgical procedure may be to fix a problem causing pain, the source of the pain may be something that cannot be resolved, or the intervention may risk making a problem even worse. That’s why it’s important to find a tailored solution that provides patients with long-term relief rather than focusing solely on the source of the pain.
Pain management is a medical specialty that aims to help patients find relief from pain—and with new, groundbreaking techniques and technologies, patients can safely find relief faster than ever before.
Initially, pain management primarily dealt with providing medications (often opioid medications, such as morphine) to address pain. But research has shown that the use of opioids can have negative consequences, worsening patients’ function and quality of life. However, advancements in medical technology and our understanding of pain have brought new methods to address pain issues that previously seemed insurmountable.
One of these advancements is spinal cord stimulation. This technique has evolved over the past decade and can now provide pain relief for a wide variety of causes, such as failed back surgeries, peripheral vascular disease and diabetic neuropathy.
Another new technique is called dorsal root ganglion stimulation. This related technique allows for the treatment of severe chronic pain syndromes involving the abdomen, pelvis and legs.
One unique feature of these procedures is that patients are able to test out the treatment, unlike traditional surgery. By trialing a procedure, patients can witness its potential value before committing to it fully.
New technologies and techniques have also impacted surgical treatments. We now have the ability to effectively treat patients with smaller incisions, less trauma and faster recovery. Operations that once required a several-day stay are completed in an outpatient setting or with only an overnight stay. Where the standard in the past may have been to fuse a patient—or try to eliminate pain by getting bones to heal together and cease moving—we now offer disc replacements.
The most commonly performed type of disc replacement is in the neck or cervical spine. In the appropriate patient, this technique allows for faster recovery, more normal function and a decreased likelihood of developing other problems in the future.
As the integration of surgical technology and pain management continues to progress, patients and providers can look forward to improved outcomes, increased quality of life, and an exciting future in which more people can live without pain.
Dr. Kerner is a Board certified orthopaedic surgeon at Hampton Roads Orthopaedics Spine & Sports Medicine. He specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, motion-preserving surgery and disc replacement.
Dr. Kapteyn is a Board certified physician in both physical medicine and rehabilitation, and pain medicine at Hampton Roads Orthopaedics Spine & Sports Medicine. He specializes in sports medicine, minimally invasive spine procedures, peripheral nerve stimulation, ultrasound-guided tenotomy and more.
