About Neurostimulators and Drug Pumps

People with complex regional pain syndrome can find answers. Our neurostimulators and drug pumps have helped people like you for more than 30 years. These implantable devices interrupt pain signals so they don’t reach your brain. Relief is possible.

What Are They?

Medtronic Pain Therapies – neurostimulators and drug pumps – are surgically placed devices that interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain. Neurostimulators work by sending mild electrical impulses to the epidural space near the spine. These impulses replace pain with a tingling sensation.

Drug pumps (also called "intrathecal drug delivery systems") deliver pain medication directly to the fluid around the spinal cord, providing pain relief with a small fraction of the medication that would be needed if taken orally.
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Our Drug Pumps and Neurostimulators for Pain

Drug pumps and neurostimulators are implanted in the abdomen.
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Benefits and Risks

People who have success with our Pain Therapies typically report significant pain relief, reduction in oral medications, and improvement in their ability to go about day-to-day activities.^1-11
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Questions and Answers

Get answers to frequently asked questions about neurostimulators and drug pumps.
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Personal Stories

Read about the experiences of people who have received our products and therapies. You’ll learn first-hand what life was like for these particular patients, both before and after receiving their device therapy.
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References

North R, Kidd D, Zuhurak, M, et al. Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic, Intractable Pain: Experience Over Two Decades. Neurosurgery 1993;32 384-395.
Kumar K, Toth C, Nath R, et al. Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation for Treatment of Chronic Pain—Some Predictors of Success. A 15-Year Experience. Surg Neurol 1998;50:110-121.
De La Porte C, Van de Kelft E. Spinal Cord Stimulation in Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. Pain 1993;52:55-61.
Devulder J, De Laat M, Van Bastalaere M, et al. Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Valuable Treatment for Chronic Failed Back Surgery Patients. J Pain Symptom Manage 1997;13:296-301.
Burchiel K, Anderson V, et al. Prospective, Multicenter Study of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Relief of Chronic Back and Extremity Pain. Spine 1996;21:2786-2794.
Turner J, Loeser J, Bell K. Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Literature Synthesis. Neurosurgery 1995;37:1088-1096.
Onofrio BM, Yaksh TL. Long-Term Pain Relief Produced by Intrathecal Infusion in 53 Patients. J Neurosurg 1990; 72: 200-209.
Winkelmuller M, Winkelmuller W. Long-Term Effects of Continuous Intrathecal Opioid Treatment in Chronic Pain of Nonmalignant Etiology. J Neurosurg 1996; 85: 458-467.
Paice JA, Penn RD, Shott S. Intraspinal Morphine for Chronic Pain: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study. J Pain Symptom Manage 1996; 11(2): 71-80.
Lamer TJ. Treatment of Cancer-Related Pain: When Orally Administered Medications Fail. Mayo Clin Proc 1994; 69:473-480.
Portenoy RK. Management of Common Opioid Side Effects During Long-Term Therapy of Cancer Pain. Ann Acad Med 1994; 23:160-170.

Next: What Is a Neurostimulator?

Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.

Last updated: 2 Oct 2009