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Suggest Treatment For Nerve Damage In Abdomen Caused By Liposuction
Question: Hi doctor I had liposuction 5 years ago and I developed nerve damage in my abdominal area, I had seen many doctors and took several medications starting with lyrica with no relief whatsoever, day by day fells worse ,pain specialist wants to try spinal cord stimulator but I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do ,any advice?
Brief Answer:
It is a valid alternative
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about your long standing problems. I know how chronic neuropathy can affect people's life.
Spinal cord stimulation is a recognized and accepted therapeutic option for chronic pain. Of course it is used as a last option, you do not mention what other drugs you've tried and failed other than Pregabalin, but since you were followed for a long time by a pain specialist I am assuming medication options have been exhausted. In that case spinal cord stimulation is a valid alternative.
Of course you should have realistic expectations. It doesn't work for everyone. It leads to improvement in only 50-70% of patients. Also in those improved ones, improvement doesn't mean eradication of the symptoms necessarily, it is defined as reduction of pain by at least 50% so you might still require medication after, but hopefully in lower doses and better efficacy. As for complications of surgery they are rare and usually reversible.
So the final decision is up to you, depends on how much the symptoms are affecting your quality of life. If they are then as I said it is a valid therapy.
It is a valid alternative
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about your long standing problems. I know how chronic neuropathy can affect people's life.
Spinal cord stimulation is a recognized and accepted therapeutic option for chronic pain. Of course it is used as a last option, you do not mention what other drugs you've tried and failed other than Pregabalin, but since you were followed for a long time by a pain specialist I am assuming medication options have been exhausted. In that case spinal cord stimulation is a valid alternative.
Of course you should have realistic expectations. It doesn't work for everyone. It leads to improvement in only 50-70% of patients. Also in those improved ones, improvement doesn't mean eradication of the symptoms necessarily, it is defined as reduction of pain by at least 50% so you might still require medication after, but hopefully in lower doses and better efficacy. As for complications of surgery they are rare and usually reversible.
So the final decision is up to you, depends on how much the symptoms are affecting your quality of life. If they are then as I said it is a valid therapy.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks Doctor for your answer, question is the SC S works for the abdominal area as well for the back?
Brief Answer:
It should
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for bringing that up, you make a very good question.
It is true that commonly spinal cord stimulation is used in chronic back problems, because your type of nerve damage is not a common one as a result there aren’t specific studies and percentages for that localization. However that is only because the condition is rare, not because there is any contraindication to prevent it. The principle of spinal cord stimulation is the same whether it is for abdominal or back area.
The stimulation itself does not address the cause, it merely alleviates the pain by reducing its transmission, merely alters the perception of pain. So that action on pain perception is the same, whether the peripheral source is in the back or in the abdomen, it acts on a higher spinal level containing perception pathways from all sources.
I hope to have been of help.
It should
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for bringing that up, you make a very good question.
It is true that commonly spinal cord stimulation is used in chronic back problems, because your type of nerve damage is not a common one as a result there aren’t specific studies and percentages for that localization. However that is only because the condition is rare, not because there is any contraindication to prevent it. The principle of spinal cord stimulation is the same whether it is for abdominal or back area.
The stimulation itself does not address the cause, it merely alleviates the pain by reducing its transmission, merely alters the perception of pain. So that action on pain perception is the same, whether the peripheral source is in the back or in the abdomen, it acts on a higher spinal level containing perception pathways from all sources.
I hope to have been of help.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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