Implanted Cushion Provides Relief From Back Pain

A new arthritis treatment being tried in the UK may provide relief order cialis from spinal arthritis pain. Surgeons implant a small, gel-filled cushion or pillow into the back, helping to relieve patients’ pain.

Spinal arthritis is one of the many reasons people suffer from back pain. This form of arthritis results from the degeneration of the cartilage between the vertebrae. Sometimes, this pressure impacts the nerves extending through the spinal column, causing numbness, weakness, and pain.

Spinal arthritis most commonly affects people over 55 years of age. The condition can be made worse by repetitive stress on the vertebral joints and by obesity. Estimates suggest that over 8.5 million people in the UK suffer from spinal arthritis. While many can continue normal life activities, others are severely impacted by the pain.

Since spinal arthritis is largely incurable, treatment has historically been limited to painkillers (including NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and behavioral changes to limit back stress. These osteoarthritis treatment options have had mixed results.

In England, a new treatment is being tried. Surgeons implant a small, gel filled cushion to relieve symptoms.

Although not yet approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, England’s NICE (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence) has approved the device, known as the “Device for Intervertebral Assisted Motion” or “DIAM” Implant. The implant is a small pillow filled with gel, with an outer mesh made of polyester. The implant stabilizes and cushions the patient’s spinal joint. The DIAM implant is placed between the patient’s spinous processes. These are the bony parts of the vertebrae that protrude from your back (you can feel them by running your finger down your spine).

The DIAM implant was developed by Medtronic, a United States medical product manufacturer. To date, research shows that not only does the implant work as a shock absorber, but it restores the natural working of the joint and eases pain. Medtronic studied 68 recipients of the implant, who ranged in ages between 23 and 75 years old. Joint mobility increased by an average of 64% and pain decreased by an average of 71%. All of the patients in the study improved. Age did not seem to affect the improvement.

Surgery is usually accomplished on an outpatient basis in a procedure taking approximately 45 minutes. The surgery is conducted with the implant recipient lying on his or her stomach. The surgeon makes a small cut along the back of the spine, and then retracts the muscle and tissue to access the spine. The area is cleaned by the surgeon removing any required material, including buy Acai online any bony overgrowths caused by the arthritis. The DIAM implant is placed between two spinous processes (those bumps again), and it is then tied off to adjacent vertebrae to stabilize the implant. The incision is closed with a few stitches.

Patients usually go home the same day, soon after the general anesthesia has worn off. Although in some cases the patient gets additional physical therapy to develop additional core strength, most of the time, the surgery requires no further rehabilitation.

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This post was written by assistant on September 11, 2011

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