Prof. Dr. Serbülent Gökhan Beyaz
Pain pacemakers are applied to patients with persistent and severe pain after open surgeries for herniated disc, cervical hernia and spinal stenosis, known as failed back and neck surgery syndrome, which is frequently applied in the world and in our country, and in patient groups with persistent and severe pain after spinal cord injury. Spinal cord stimulation is an attempt to suppress pain by applying a low voltage electric current to the spinal cord. For this purpose, an electrode placed in the epidural region is stimulated with electric current from an external source or a source placed under the skin. Thus, the aim is to mask the pain and change the signals that may cause pain before they reach the brain. It is also an important option against re-operation of patients. It has the advantage of being reversible compared to the techniques used in chronic pain treatment where pain transmission is physically interrupted. It is an FDA-approved treatment method that has been successfully applied in the United States for 40 years. It is an effective treatment method especially for patients who have had back surgery and whose pain does not go away or even worsens (failed back surgery syndrome). In addition, this treatment is used for diabetic neuropathy (chronic pain due to diabetes), vascular diseases such as burger (treatment of vascular occlusion due to smoking), phantom pain (the feeling that the amputated limb still hurts), failed lumbar surgery syndrome (those whose pain does not go away after lumbar hernia surgery), failed neck surgery syndrome (those whose pain does not go away after cervical hernia surgery) and patients with spinal cord paralysis whose pain continues. Thanks to the remote control, you can adjust the settings at any time and even switch off the device completely. It reduces the amount of medication used and therefore prevents the side effects of medication. Since the test and the permanent placement of the battery are performed under local anaesthesia, there is no risk of general anaesthesia.