Relief for Chronic Pain

For severe cases, the use of a neurostimulator and/or a pain pump can eliminate pain—and give you your life back.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 08/20/2009
In movies, a life-changing moment is often preceded by a dramatic slow-motion sequence or ominous music. In real life, such moments are most often unforeseen and unexceptional, like simply bending over to pick something up off the floor.

Such was the case for Chris Neiner of Middleburg Heights, whose downward reach for a cooking pan resulted in years of chronic pain in her back and legs.

“Something popped in my back,” Chris recalls. “It turned out that a disc ruptured and had been deteriorating.”

After two surgeries on her back to repair damaged discs, Chris continued to experience chronic pain so severe that she was often unable to walk. Although the discs were repaired, Chris had permanent damage to her nerves. A regimen of painkillers wasn’t effective enough to reduce the pain to the point where she could live a normal life.

“The pain was so bad,” she recalls. “I couldn’t take it anymore. It was so intense.”

Chronic pain, explains Bhupinder Sawhny, MD, neurosurgeon, of Southwest General Medical Group Inc., is generally defined as pain that persists for more than three to six months, usually with no bodily cause that can be corrected.

“Failed Back Syndrome is the most common cause of chronic pain,” Dr. Sawhny says. “Often the patient has had one or more surgeries on the spine, but the pain persists. Most often the pain is in the lower back and goes into the legs.”

Treatment, he says, begins with physical therapy and oral pain medication. But for severe cases, the use of a neurostimulator and/or a pain pump can restore normalcy to a patient’s life.

In 2000, Dr. Sawhny implanted a neurostimulator into Chris’ back. The neurostimulator is designed to mask pain by blocking pain signals with electrical impulses before they reach the brain. The pain is replaced with a more pleasant sensation. A remote control allows the patient to increase or decrease the strength of the electronic signal as needed.

“I had severe pain in my lower back and down into my legs,” Chris recalls. “The neurostimulator eliminated my leg pain, but I still had terrible pain in my lower back.”

So, in 2003 Dr. Sawhny supplemented the neurostimulator by implanting a pain pump. Instead of electrical impulses that interrupt the pain signals to your brain, the pain pump delivers pain medication directly to the fluid around the spinal cord, interrupting the pain signals to the brain.

The medication from the pain pump, because it is not ingested like oral painkillers, is not addictive.
Dr. Sawhny explains that the neurostimulator is most beneficial for relief of pain in specific locations. The pain pump, however, is appropriate for general pain, making it an option for terminal cancer patients, as well, he says.

“The pain pump is marvelous,” Chris raves. “It has relieved all of the pain from by back and legs. So much so, that last month Dr. Sawhny removed the neurostimulator—I only have the pain pump now. Occasionally on a bad day, I take Tylenol with codeine, but normally I don’t have any pain.”

The pain pump is refilled every six months, she says.

Dr. Sawhny says that although implantation of neurostimulators and pain pumps is only a small portion of his surgical work, it is among the most gratifying work he does.

“When I started out, pain pills were the only option for chronic pain patients,” Dr. Sawhny says. “These therapies have allowed more patients to go back to work and live reasonably normal lives. For many people, it allows them to remain independent and look after themselves.” Chris agrees.

“I just wish more people knew about this,” she says. “Before the pump, I was unable to walk, and when I did walk it was with a walker or a cane. It changed my lifestyle.”


Bhupinder S. Sawhny, M.D., is a board-certified neurosurgeon on the Medical Staff at Southwest General whose practice is dedicated to cranial surgery, spine surgery and peripheral nerve surgery. Dr. Sawhny has more than 20 years of experience in caring for patients. To schedule an appointment, call Health Connections at 440-816-5050.  

Email This Story To A Friend

Your Friend's Email Address:

Your Name:

Your Email Address: