First Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant Placed in Northern California by Dr. Goldthwaite Brings Pain Relief and Reduces Opioid U...
September 11 2017 - 8:00AM
Noel Goldthwaite, MD, senior surgeon and founding member at
SpineCare Medical Group, Inc., is the first physician in northern
California to implant Nuvectra’s Algovita® Spinal Cord Stimulation
System, which successfully treated a local injured veteran’s
chronic pain and led to his significant reduction in opioid use.
The Nuvectra Algovita SCS System is a powerful and versatile spinal
cord stimulation system that includes the smallest patient
controller on the market. Algovita is FDA approved as a treatment
for chronic, intractable pain.
“Following injuries sustained in the line of duty,
this particular patient had multiple surgeries that led to
unmanaged and intense chronic back pain prior to the placement of
Algovita,” Dr. Goldthwaite explains. “The smaller volume paddle
lead and ability to steer it using a stylet eased the navigation of
significant scar tissue during the procedure. These features
allowed me to place the paddle and stimulation exactly where the
patient needed it, which helped to alleviate his pain right from
the start. Furthermore, after the procedure, the Algovita system
differs from other SCS systems in its easy to use keychain patient
controller that allows the patient, in conjunction with our medical
staff, to customize the amplitude, frequency, and pulse width of
the stimulation and toggle between therapy settings. The results
have been outstanding! When he initially came to see me, he was
severely depressed and in a wheelchair due to his pain. Now he
walks into my office upright with a smile on his face and a sparkle
in his eye – he’s a totally different person.”
Chronic pain affects over 100 million Americans
according to the Institute of Medicine, more than diabetes, cancer,
and heart disease combined. Chronic pain is difficult to treat, but
one potential treatment option is spinal cord stimulation, or SCS.
SCS works by masking or interrupting pain signals as they travel up
the spinal cord to the brain. A small, rechargeable battery is
implanted under the patient’s skin and connected to thin wires,
called leads, which stimulate the nerves sending pain signals. The
stimulation “overrides” the pain signals, and instead of feeling
pain, patients may feel a tingling sensation known as
paresthesia.
Dr. Goldthwaite also discussed the opioid
dependency epidemic occurring among our veterans, stating that,
“SCS is a powerful non-drug tool that can be used to control pain
relief for these patients. Non-drug pain control helps them
function, focus, and sleep better and more effectively deal with
other related conditions, including PTSD.”
Algovita gave near immediate pain relief to this
patient, enabling him to reduce his opioid usage by over 90% in the
6 months since his surgery, which he had become dependent on to
keep the pain at bay. Now, he leads what he calls a life of
conscious living, being able to enjoy time with his family and help
other veterans who have returned from active duty.
The Algovita SCS System was designed to help
physicians improve their outcomes and better manage their patients’
pain today and into the future. Algovita offers a number of unique
features not available with other systems on the market. With the
broadest range of capabilities and fine-tuned control, Algovita
provides physicians with the tools to address the individual and
changing nature of pain. In addition, Algovita’s leads cover the
longest span of the spinal nerves, allowing for additional coverage
options as pain moves and changes. As the only stretchable leads on
the market, Algovita’s leads are designed to bend and stretch with
body movement to help sustain the therapy long-term. Since pain can
change throughout the day and with different activities, Algovita
also features a small, wireless, key-fob patient controller so
stimulation can be easily and discreetly managed.
For more information about Nuvectra and the
Algovita Spinal Cord Stimulation system, visit
www.nuvectramed.com.
About Dr. Goldthwaite
Dr. Noel Goldthwaite was a founding member of
SpineCare Medical Group in 1988. He has performed more than
12,000 spinal operations including more than 350 spinal cord
stimulator system implantations and revisions both for the lumbar
spine and the cervical spine. He lectures and teaches
nationally and internationally. He has a special interest in
treating patients who have already had unsuccessful spine
surgeries. He understands very well that inadequately treated
spine problems, especially failed surgeries with chronic pain, are
devastating for the patient, the patient's family, the patient's
friends, and for society. He is prepared to address all those
issues.
About Nuvectra Corporation
Nuvectra (NASDAQ:NVTR) is a neurostimulation company committed
to helping physicians improve the lives of people with chronic
neurological conditions. The Algovita Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
System is our first commercial offering and is CE marked and FDA
approved for the treatment of chronic pain of the trunk and/or
limbs. Our innovative technology platform also has capabilities
under development to support other neurological indications such as
sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for the treatment of overactive
bladder, and deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of
Parkinson’s Disease. In addition, our NeuroNexus subsidiary
designs, manufactures, and markets leading-edge neural-interface
technologies for the neuroscience clinical research market. Visit
the Nuvectra website at www.nuvectramed.com.
Company Contacts:
Nuvectra Corporation
Jennifer Armstrong, Media Relations
(214) 474-3110
jarmstrong@nuvectramed.com
Media Contact:
The Ruth Group
Cari Randall, Vice President
(646) 536-7002
crandall@theruthgroup.com
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