CBS News Features Dr. Ashraf Hanna using a Spinal Cord Stimulator as a Cutting-edge Treatment for Back Pain, Sciatica and Neuropathy

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Persistent back pain, sciatica and neuropathic pain that have failed all treatment modalities are a real problem facing millions of people each year. Fortunately, a treatment called a Spinal Cord Stimulator has given patients hope again as shown on a recent CBS News show on December 4^th, 2015.

The segment featured a patient whose life had been decimated because of constant, debilitating back pain. The patient, Miguel Hall, had tried many failed treatments and fell into deep depression. The story goes on to show how Spinal Cord Stimulation changed his life for the better and how that device could provide a window of hope for many chronic pain sufferers.

"The pain was crippling and I had to use a walker and a cane to get around. I had four surgeries to ease the pain but nothing worked. That's when Dr. Hanna suggested a Spinal Cord Stimulator implant. The procedure was very successful and I was able to walk and enjoy life again. Having the implant was the best decision of my life!" said Miguel.

Dr. Ashraf Hanna, a board certified physician and director of pain management at the Florida Spine Institute in Clearwater, Florida, treated the patient and spoke about the procedure during the show.

"I have been performing the Spinal Cord Stimulator implant procedure for 20 years at the Florida Spine Institute, and the technology is constantly improving. In general, our goal is to reduce the patient's pain medication and increase function. The beauty of this procedure is pain relief from using simple electrical stimulation. The Spinal Cord Stimulator implant is a very cutting edge treatment that has helped many patients by basically using a small, implantable device to replace pain with a more pleasant sensation," stated Dr. Hanna.

"The patient is first fitted with a five-day trial device to test effectiveness. We insert the wires through needles and connect this to an external pager-size device. The patient wears the stimulator for 5 days while doing everyday activities and we evaluate the results. If they experience 50 - 60% pain improvement, then we have a reasonable candidate for the permanent implant. Within a few weeks, we implant the stimulator under the skin including the small device, wires, and a small battery. The patient has an external controller that can be used to dial in the best programmable profile. We are able to reduce pain levels dramatically for many patients," stated Dr. Hanna.

Dr. Hanna continues: "The Florida Spine Institute offers multi-disciplinary treatment modalities from IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy for CRPS/RSD, Fibromyaglia and Lyme Disease, simple acupuncture, physical therapy, a comprehensive wellness program, medication management, and interventional pain management procedures. We can customize the right treatment for each patient, instead of being limited to only one minimally-invasive procedure like laser spine surgery." 

Related Links: http://www.floridaspineinstitute.com  http://www.nopainhanna.com 
http://www.spinalcordstimulatorinfo.com  https://youtu.be/vl1fnm_c8ag

SOURCE Florida Spine Institute

Related Links

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