British Doctors Conducted First Implants of New Device That Could Do Away With Surgery for Back Pain

Doctors at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, conducted the first implants of the Nevro spinal cord simulator in over 100 patients, which works by sending a high-frequency electrical pulse through the spine, thereby preventing the need for a surgery, the Dail Mail reported. The device is less invasive than surgery and cheaper. The US-made Nevro is 200 times more powerful than current NHS spinal cord stimulators that use an electrical pulse to combat the pain.

Cannabis makes pain more bearable instead of reducing it, said scientists.

They also said that they used to talk to the patient in the middle of the operation to make sure where they were feeling the tingling sensations. With the Nevro device, they can sleep.

Patients have a wire that is connected to a battery pack and inserted into their epidural space. If the electrical current that is emitted stops their back pain, they will have this wire removed and it will replaced by the full Nevro implant.

The 15,000-pound implant is switched on using a remote control and patients can use it for up to two hours at a time.

The procedure will not work for everyone, however, one in three won't be suitable because previous surgeries have complicated their condition, or their pain is too widespread.

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Of those who do have Nevro implants, half will have a successful result.

Source-ANI