FDA Approves Spinal Cord Stimulator That Eliminates Annoying Side Effects Of Previous Models
By Lynne Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The FDA had just approved the Senza Spinal Cord Stimulator which eliminates the down side of previous units.
For people with chronic back or leg pain, a spinal cord stimulator can make life bearable according to Dr. Chris Formal, Assistant Medical Director For Educational Programs at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.
He says the units are implanted into a patient's back, sending electrical charges to the spinal cord and reducing pain, but the units can be annoying.
"One of the problems is they cause paresthesias. These are funny feelings that you get when a nerve is stimulated. The new unit uses stimulation parameters that minimize the funny feeling effect that the other units can have."
He says the tingling sensations can be distracting and difficult to endure.
