Neurology & Neurosurgery

Pain

The neurological team at UI Health take a comprehensive approach to the treatment of pain, offering a wide range of procedures and individually tailored treatments.

Our record of success in using advanced neuromodulation techniques and uniquely sophisticated surgical procedures provides hope to many people with pain syndromes that haven't responded to more traditional therapies.

Pain Treatment Expertise

UI Health's team of pain management doctors includes leading experts in the treatment of:

• Cancer pain
• Stroke pain
• Chronic trigeminal pain
• Chronic leg and back pain
• Complex pain syndromes
• Nerve pain, including sciatica
• Neuropathic pain

Advanced Therapies for Pain Relief
Many of our pain treatment techniques fall under the category of surgical neuromodulation. Neuromodulation treatments target the nervous system itself, usually by using implantable devices to stimulate a nerve or set of nerves to modify (modulate) nervous system activity. Our neuromodulation treatments include:

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS): SCS delivers low-level electrical currents to nerves along the spinal column to interrupt pain signals to the brain and modifies the pain to a gentler tingling sensation, called "paresthesia." Dr. Konstantin Slavin is the principal Investigator for three multicenter trials examining the role of SCS in the treatment of chronic back and leg pain.

Deep-brain stimulation (DBS): DBS sends electrical currents to the deep structures of the brain. Deep-brain stimulation traditionally has been used to treat pain, but it also has been shown to be an effective treatment for tremors and movement disorders associated with Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and multiple sclerosis, in addition to psychiatric conditions.

Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS): PNS is used to treat multiple neuropathic pain conditions. A small electrode delivers electrical impulses to nerves located outside of the brain or spinal cord (central nervous system). PNS can be used to treat complex regional pain syndromes, back pain, and migraine headaches.

Implantable drug-delivery devices: These devices are surgically implanted pumps that deliver pain medication to a specific target — often the central nervous system. Implantable pumps can be used to treat failed back syndrome and cancer pain.

Rhizotomy: Rhizotomy is a non-neuromodulation technique that can be used to treat trigeminal neuralgia. A rhizotomy works by damaging the nerves involved in causing pain. Stereotactic radiosurgery is one type of rhizotomy.

Schedule a Pain Treatment Consultation

To request an appointment, call the Neurology Clinic at 312.355.0510.