Back pain dramatically reduced through new device

A new device can significantly help reduce severe back and leg pain, says scientists and patients from the Pain Management and Neuromodulation Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

The new type of spinal cord stimulation involves small leads being implanted near the spinal cord that send high frequency electrical pulses, disrupting pain signals to the brain and thus reducing constant, severe back and leg pain. 

The current approach sees frequencies of about 50Hz stimulate the spinal cord but this causes tingling that some people find unbearable. The new technique uses higher frequencies of up to 10,000Hz – which can’t be felt.

“It also relieves back pain more effectively than conventional low frequency stimulation,” says Dr Adnan Al-Kaisy who led the study.

The device was tested in 82 people who scored their back pain an average of 8.4 out of 10. After six months the average score was reduced to 2.7 out of 10. Most patients reported over a 50% reduction in pain.

“These kinds of results are almost unheard of,” says Dr Thomas Smith, consultant in pain medicine. “Back pain can be debilitating, so being able to relieve people of constant pain makes a big difference to their lives.”

Case study

Charles Holleyman (aged 62 years) had the spinal cord leads fitted two years ago after back surgery failed to relieve his pain.

“For me, the implant’s been a huge success,” he says “I’m getting much more sleep and I’m no longer on any regular pain medication. The technology isn’t perfect. You have to adapt to it and recognise its limitations, but it’s a big improvement.

“Prior to the implant the crippling pain was affecting my working life ( I am registered disabled). But now I’ve had the implant, my students can’t tell I’m disabled.

“When you’re in constant pain, you’re bad-tempered and not yourself. My kids have noticed the difference and my wife’s happier.”