Take Control of Chronic Pain
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Uncontrolled pain can be debilitating, impacting every aspect of a person’s life including family interaction, the ability to work or enjoy hobbies, and even mental well-being. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Pain is cited as the most common reason Americans access the health care system. It is a leading cause of disability and it is a major contributor to health care costs.
Common treatments for pain often come with limitations that don’t appeal to many patients:
- Ongoing use of medication, including opioids
- Destruction of nerve fibers (known as radiofrequency ablation)
- Invasive surgical procedures
- Permanently implanted neurostimulation systems
The Shannon Interventional Pain Management team now offers a new option to control chronic pain.
The SPRINT Peripheral Nerve Stimulation System is a minimally invasive, neurostimulation treatment that may offer pain relief to people who have been suffering with chronic pain in their back, shoulders, knees or are experiencing other nerve-related pain. This breakthrough, restorative treatment targets select nerves to reduce the pain you have lived with for far too long.
The SPRINT System sends mild electrical pulses (called peripheral nerve stimulation, or PNS) directly to the nerves, which may reduce pain signals and provide you with relief. You can perform most daily activities during the treatment. A tiny MicroLead™, not much larger than the size of a hair, is placed at the precise area to stimulate the targeted nerve. A small device sends gentle pulses through the MicroLead to stimulate the nerve. A simple handheld remote allows you to control the simulation level to find a setting that works best for you. After 60 days, the MicroLead is removed, and treatment is complete. The treatment is drug-free and requires no permanent implant. Studies have shown a majority of patients have seen sustained pain relief following the treatment, even up to 6 months to a year afterward.
Because it is a minimally-invasive treatment option, it can be introduced early in the treatment continuum, and often, earlier intervention leads to better outcomes. There is a huge unmet need for pain treatment options that do not depend on opioids or require permanent implants. With SPRINT PNS, there is now a minimally-invasive and effective option to offer this large patient population.
The SPRINT System is covered by Medicare. Many private insurance companies also provide coverage following prior authorization.