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Is Interstim for pain control??
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Many patients keep asking the same question... is Interstim successful in treating pain control??
The answer to this question is complex. At no time has Interstim ever been approved for pain control by the FDA. Rather, it was originally approved for patients who struggled with incontinence. That definition was then later expanded to included patients with frequency & urgency. If you review the Interstim website (http://www.interstim.com), you'll see absolutely NO reference to pain control. If you go to the FDA website and search for Interstim (http://www.fda.gov), you'll see NO reference to pain control.
Why is this impression out??? Rarely, very rarely, we have heard from a patient or two that it helped with pain. In ten years, I can think of just one patient who felt that it was very successful for them. For the vast majority, we simply haven't seen any consistent pain resolution or control. In fact, for some, the procedure and device itself created more pain.
If a sales representative from Medtronic suggests to you that it is helpful for pain relief, please ASK for evidence proving that. Ask for a research study. If a physician suggests that it can help with pain, please ask if you can talk, personally, with those patients who have seen an improvement.
Remember our Oxford Scale for Rating the Quality of Information that you might receive. An "F" ... the worst score of all... is from someone trying to sell you something. We have to remember that they may be biased to "sell" a device and create a sale. In fact, just a few years ago, Medtronic announced that it was under investigation by the Department of Justice for paying kickbacks to physicians for doing spinal implant surgery. While this was not the Interstim division, it certainly suggests caution.
Jill
Many patients keep asking the same question... is Interstim successful in treating pain control??
The answer to this question is complex. At no time has Interstim ever been approved for pain control by the FDA. Rather, it was originally approved for patients who struggled with incontinence. That definition was then later expanded to included patients with frequency & urgency. If you review the Interstim website (http://www.interstim.com), you'll see absolutely NO reference to pain control. If you go to the FDA website and search for Interstim (http://www.fda.gov), you'll see NO reference to pain control.
Why is this impression out??? Rarely, very rarely, we have heard from a patient or two that it helped with pain. In ten years, I can think of just one patient who felt that it was very successful for them. For the vast majority, we simply haven't seen any consistent pain resolution or control. In fact, for some, the procedure and device itself created more pain.
If a sales representative from Medtronic suggests to you that it is helpful for pain relief, please ASK for evidence proving that. Ask for a research study. If a physician suggests that it can help with pain, please ask if you can talk, personally, with those patients who have seen an improvement.
Remember our Oxford Scale for Rating the Quality of Information that you might receive. An "F" ... the worst score of all... is from someone trying to sell you something. We have to remember that they may be biased to "sell" a device and create a sale. In fact, just a few years ago, Medtronic announced that it was under investigation by the Department of Justice for paying kickbacks to physicians for doing spinal implant surgery. While this was not the Interstim division, it certainly suggests caution.
Jill
, lots of reading and snuggling with the pets
!
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