Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for intractable complex regional pain syndrome type I pain. Long-term data are scarce on effectiveness, degree of pain relief, predictors, and complications. ⋯ SCS provides an effective long-term pain treatment for 63% (95%CI: 41-85) of implanted patients. Forty-one percent (95%CI: 27-55) of SCS treated patients have at least 30% pain reduction at measurement end point. The number of reinterventions after implantation due to equipment-related problems, battery changes, and complications is 122 over 12 years of follow-up. Sixty-one percent (N = 51) of the patients had at least one reintervention. Mean pain relief of at least 50% (visual analog scale) one week after the test stimulation is associated with long-term treatment success.
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Letter Case Reports
C2 subcutaneous stimulation for failed back surgery syndrome: a case report.
Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a term embracing a constellation of conditions that describes persistent or recurring low back pain, with or without sciatica following one or more spine surgeries. It has been shown in animals that electrical stimulation of the high cervical C2 area can suppress pain stimuli derived from the L5-S1 dermatome. It is unknown whether C2 electrical stimulation in humans can be used to treat pain derived from the L5-S1 area, and a case is reported in which subcutaneous C2 is applied to treat FBSS. ⋯ The burst design is capable of both suppressing the least and worst pain effectively, and she has remained almost pain-free for over three years.
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Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is commonly used to treat lower urinary tract dysfunctions. This study evaluated the efficacy of a novel externally applied stimulator in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). ⋯ NMES is frequently used to promote muscle strength and coordination. Studies have shown NMES to be effective in decreasing symptoms associated with SUI; however, few, if any, have used it as a primary treatment modality. The novel device in this study was shown to be effective in improving muscle strength, reducing or ablating the symptoms associated with SUI, and in eliciting PFM contractions. The device is noninvasive and can be used as a home treatment.
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is increasingly gaining widespread use as a treatment for chronic pain. A widely used electronic registry could play a pivotal role in improving this complex and cost-intensive treatment. We aimed to construct a comprehensive, universally available data base for SCS. ⋯ We believe that the data base described in this article offers a powerful and versatile data collection tool suited for both clinicians and researchers in the field. The basic data base structure is immediately available on a no-cost basis, and we invite our colleagues to make use of the data base as part of the efforts to further the field of neuromodulation.