News
REVOLUTIONARY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY COMES TO FRANKLIN, MA
More than 33 million Americans deal with an overactive bladder, which prevents them from enjoying long term activities such as hiking, golfing and many others. Now, a new revolutionary technology for overactive bladder syndrome (OBS) is being introduced in Franklin, MA.
Medtronic, developer of the pacemaker, has created a solution for OBS called InterStim. InterStim is usually performed after fluid changes, diet adjustments, physical therapy, medications or kegel exercises don’t bring relief.
InterStim Therapy works with the sacral nerves located near the tailbone. Sacral nerves control the bladder and muscles related to urinary function by taking signals from the brain. If communication is not correct, the nerves don’t get the message to the bladder causing it to not function properly. InterStim stimulates the nerves to correct communication and mitigate incontinence, improve urinary retention and minimize urgency-frequency symptoms.
This high tech solution even allows the patient to do a trial and determine if InterStim is the best solution for their OBS. “A trial is a quick minimally invasive procedure during which a thin flexible wire is inserted into the sacral nerve area and attached to a trial stimulator which the patient wears on their waist band”, explains Dr. Boris Shwartzman of The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center.
InterStim is covered by Medicare as well as private insurance companies. If a patient is considering InterStim therapy, they have the opportunity to speak to a volunteer Patient Ambasador- someone who has received InterStim Therapy and has volunteered to speak to other potential patients.
A nurse who received InterStim Therapy in 2005 states, “ I researched InterStim Therapy. It took me 18 months to decide to do it, but with the trial assessment, I felt like there was nothing to lose. Plus, during the test, they are not doing a large incision. It’s just a little poke.” -Nurse Beckie H., Received InterStim Therapy in 2005
Do You Suffer from Lower Back Pain?
If you’re experiencing lower back pain that is detracting from your daily activities, you are not alone. Back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old, and affects about 75-85% of all people at some point in their life, according to the National Institutes of Health.
There are various causes of back pain that range from strenuous activity to poor muscle tone to a slipped disc. Whatever the cause, lower back pain is a major concern and those affected often seek various solutions that will allow them to get back to their normal lives.
At the Franklin Pain and Wellness Center, your pain physician will work with your primary care physician and coordinate full diagnostic testing in order to pinpoint the exact cause of back pain.Then, an individualized pain management regimen is prescribed..
To learn more about conditions of back pain and procedures performed at The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center, please click on the links or just visit our website. We welcome you to schedule your appointment.