DRG: Life-Changing Technology for Chronic Pain

DRG therapy may be the key to easing daily tasks for those with chronic pain. Living with chronic pain affects not just your body but also your mind. It can make getting around and getting along equally difficult.

But with innovation in health technology comes hope. Abbott has developed a new device found to be more effective than traditional therapy at relieving chronic pain.

Traditionally, doctors have prescribed medications to treat chronic pain, including opioids, which can lead to addiction and overdose. Researchers turned their attention to the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), a bundle of nerves located on the outside of the spinal cord.

The DRG was once thought to have no connection to pain, but researchers now know that this nerve bundle plays a key role in nerve pain for CRPS I and II patients. According to a 2017 study published in Pain, stimulating the DRG helps relieve pain more effectively than spinal cord stimulation.

To help people with chronic pain finally find relief and live healthier, fuller lives, Abbott launched the Proclaim™ DRG Neurostimulation System. This DRG stimulation therapy involves surgically placing a stimulator that targets the dorsal root ganglion to relieve pain of the lower limbs due to CRPS. Individuals have a hand-held iPod controller that changes the stimulation settings within prescribed limits.

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[RosalindPeters]

I had my first anniversary a couple of weeks ago of having the SCS put in (for the second time - got an infection in the first one and had to have it explanted, so it’s not all been smooth sailing!). It’s not been a fairy godmother in terms of eradicating my pain, but it’s enabled me to get off zombifying medication and as a result has given me a whole new life back. I was functionally disabled for years previously, unable to work or travel much and every part of my life was suffering. Now I have a job I love, a social life, and am able to take care of my pets and my environment way better than I ever did before. If you’re nervous about the implant, please hear me when I say it doesn’t have to achieve 100% pain relief to change your life ❤

[franciscovz]

Hace 08 años me dispararon por la espalda, uno de los proyectiles roso y corto un nervioso de mi columnna, desperté del coma y ya no sentía mis piernas con el tiempo empecé a sentir, fueron 08 años de dolor y estos 02 últimos el infierno. Me operaron hace 04 días, y qué decir? La señora del vídeo lo dijo por mí. Obvio estoy muy dolorido por los cortes, pero el dolor bajo de 500% a unos 100%. Estoy feliz claro, pronto dejaré la medicación, podré salir sin problemas ni sufrimiento. No duden ni teman prueben sin miedo que esta tecnología ayuda. Y hay que agradecer siempre a estos profesionales.💪🏻👦🏻🖐🏻👍🏻🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷

[BillMeyerComm]

I am getting my implanted tomorrow morning... I'm so excited, and scared at the same time. Scared it will fall short of expectations because that's all I've known for over 10 years of chronic back pain and the battle with pain meds. But, I'm holding out hope one last time...

[billiebryant]

i am crying just watching. The chance to get a break from pain.

[sammy_reads]

Is a SCS going to help me for my CRPS in lower limbs or do I need the DRG Implant

[philbrick]

I wonder if this would help with my pain. I had my esophagus removed for a rare disease called achalasia and my vagus nerve and thoracic nerve were cut. I have extreme burning in my upper right chest and every breath I take hurts like mad. If I cough, sneeze, yawn etc it fee like everything in my chest wall is ripping apart. I live on opioids and not sure how much more I can take of living with pain.

[ritaduarte]

Does this help folks with pain due to autoimmune diseases, such as Lupus and RA?

[Alex-mrns]

Is the device effective in dealing with Brachial Neuralgia?

[stoner]

Neck/ back pain ???? Does this work for that would be my question 🙋‍♂️

[MarkGreaves]

Would this work with Chronic Testicular Pain?

[silentstorm]

Anyone can help I appreciate it. I had an ICD implant in 2014 schedule for DRG trial both doctors know their expertise - but both don't know about each specific procedure I am worried. There telling me I have to be off eliquis for 13 days(was 8 originally Afraid about another clot and if there's a conflict with having both at once Thanks

[lidijacvetic]

Dear Abbot team, I'm a young scientist and actress from Serbia looking for pain solution. I had two spine surgeries on same level (L5/S1). Unfortunately surgeons made damage to my S1 and S2 nerve roots ! Every time was worst than before. I can not even breathe with this terrible pain from my hip to toes. Please can we make a contact, so I can inform would dorsal root stimulator can be a helpful solution for me ? Thank you. Lydia 🙏🌸💙

[suhaal]

Hi there I had 4 back surgery l4 l5 l5 s1 all Surrey field I have pain in my both legs I can’t sleep I am in allot of pain dose this helps

[arjun]

Can this applicable For knee asteoartiritis pain

[lindag]

I had it done May 17th
Scarey to hear such bad results. Hope my result is better & that I can have the cervical one done in September.
Anyone have success? Please let me know.
I do agree that Abbot doesn't follow up very well & they want to proceed very slowly. I increased mine by 3 points & will probably do another 3 by Monday.

[loribrazer]

The trial was put in 4 days ago. My leg is so stiff. Dr says this is from the procedure. So how do I know if its helping? Is this common?

[neenamiller]

The doctors didn't show me how to use it all at In Anchorage Alaska. Just told me to go to Youtube. Zip.

[derekcoe]

Ruined my life. Have been bed bound since.

Was done by a dr who sits on their neuromodulation board.

Reps ghosted me immediately after surgery.

Upon hearing at first post op (8 weeks) that my pain was worse and Abbott reps were non responsive, surgeon curtly told me it wasnt their job to respond to me, there was nothing further he could do and never spoke to me again.

Reached out to corporate asking if they would assist with the search for a Dr to remove it by providing data on doctors that had performed the most explants. They refused, pointed me to the generic list on their website and said one is as good as the next.

Reached out to 2 of those providers who both said if another surgeon implanted it, they wouldnt touch it.

22 months of immeasurable pain and no closer to having it removed

[buckshot]

Yeah I believed all this from the other brand six years ago blah blah blah.