Spinal Cord Stimulators for Chronic Back Pain Win FDA Approval On May 16, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved spinal cord stimulation (SCS) devices from the pharmaceutical company Abbott to treat chronic back pain in people who have not had or are not eligible to receive back surgery, per a press release from Abbott . Approval was granted after a six-month study of 200 participants showed that spinal cord stimulation provided significant relief and improvements in pain, function, quality of life, and mental health.Those enrolled in the trial had experienced an average of nearly 13 years of disabling chronic back pain. Participants were not eligible for corrective back operations because they were either medically frail or they had numerous degenerative changes in their spine, none of which were severe enough to qualify for corrective surgery but are nonetheless causing significant symptoms. After half a year, 85 percent of those implanted with Abbott’s SCS d
Best Home Remedies for Back Pain: Advice From a Physical Therapist Low back pain is one of the most common and debilitating health conditions in the United States, making millions of people unable to work or enjoy everyday activities. Back pain is also the third most common reason people visit their doctor, according to the American Chiropractic Association , and in many cases, that’s a wise move. If you’re not sure about the severity of your back pain, you’ve had pain for more than a month, your pain is worsening over time, or you’re developing new neurologic symptoms such as numbness or weakness in any part of your body, it is best to see your healthcare professional. A doctor or physical therapist can sometimes detect certain patterns that are causing or contributing to the pain, says Ian Stephens , an orthopedic physical therapist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “Sometimes we can identify a theme in certain tasks, postures, or positions that consistently flare up a person’