Flipping the Off-Switch on Pain
Multi-disciplinary treatments for chronic pain
Two years ago, Janet Parran’s knee pain became so bad she would have preferred to lose her leg than live with the pain. “I thought I had a high tolerance for pain, but this pain was excruciating and continuous,” says Parran. “I could barely get across the room and hardly got two hours of sleep each night because the pain kept me awake.”
Parran was suffering from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as complex regional pain syndrome. RSD is a chronic neurological syndrome that causes severe burning pain, extreme sensitivity to touch and pathological changes to the bone and skin.
When the pain became unbearable, Parran was referred to the Center for Pain Management at The University of Toledo Medical Center. That’s where she met Joseph Atallah, MD, anesthesiologist, pain management specialist and chief of The University of Toledo’s Center for Pain Management.
Caring for the patient as a whole
“We take a multidisciplinary approach to pain management,” says Dr. Atallah. “Chronic pain can deplete a person’s quality of life and cause a vicious cycle of pain and sleep deprivation, which can lead to depression.” At UT Medical Center, pain management specialists work with physical therapists, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists and psychologists to break the cycle and get patients back to their daily activities. “Managing pain is a big part of care, but we also look at the whole person and manage other areas, like sleep disturbances and depression,” explains Dr. Atallah.
Parran is among millions of Americans who experience intolerable chronic pain. Fortunately, there are a number of pain-management methods available.
Below, Dr. Atallah outlines some of the most leading-edge and unique pain management techniques used at UT Medical Center.
Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) – or Dorsal Column Stimulator (DCS) is an implantable medical device that blocks pain receptors to the brain. An electric impulse generated by the device near the dorsal surface of the spinal cord provides a paresthesia – or a “tingling” sensation that alters the perception of pain by the patient. In Parran’s case, the wire blocks the pain signals coming from her knee, through her spine and into her brain.
According to Dr. Atallah, a pain medicine specialist or surgeon implants the spinal cord stimulator lead into the spine and a pulse generator or RF receiver in the abdomen or buttocks. A wire harness connects the two.
Parran’s implantation was done in December 2007, and she reports that the procedure has completely changed her life. Entertainer Jerry Lewis and amputee-turned-racecar-driver Michael Roman join Parran as spinal cord stimulator success cases.
Interspinal morphine pumps – are commonly used for patients with cancer. A device implanted in the spine releases medication that works on the receptors causing the pain. Much like a time-released pill, the medication in the device is slowly released over the next three to six months. After that time, doctors can easily refill the medication as needed.
Radio frequency ablation – is often used in people who had major spine surgery. The procedure uses radio frequency waves to destroy nerves that supply the facet joints that connect the spine. Patients often feel significant relief after the procedure.
Specialists in a variety of medical disciplines at UT Medical Center help people living with chronic, debilitating pain. Parran is one person who has her life back. “There is help out there,” says Parran. “And fortunately, I found it.”
Does chronic pain make you feel helpless? If so, learn more about pain management at UT Medical Center by calling (877) 451-2299.
