An Innovative Approach To Treating Back Pain.

Nearly 80 percent of Americans will experience an episode of low back pain. For most patients, these episodes will resolve in a few weeks. However, in many cases, these short-term episodes evolve into persistent, recurring pain, thought to be caused by increased sensitization of the nerve cells that transmit pain signals. As a result, many patients progress to more debilitating, chronic pain that can persist for months or even years. Treatment options for these patients are limited, often involving strong pain medications or invasive approaches such as spinal injections, or surgery, and are frequently ineffective.

Now there's a much less invasive treatment option—Percutaneous Neuromodulation Therapy, or PNT. Using innovative technology, PNT delivers electrical stimulation directly to the deep tissues near the spine in order to reach the nerve pathways that can affect the pain. It is believed that this type of stimulation modulates—that is, alters—the "hypersensitivity" of the nerve cells that give rise to persistent pain.


PNT—A Scientific Approach To Managing Pain.

At the onset, low back pain is typically a symptom of an underlying injury. Scientists now know that an acute injury can trigger changes in the pain-transmitting nerve cells, resulting in a kind of hypersensitivity which amplifies pain and suffering well beyond the initial injury itself. Once this occurs, normal daily activities such as walking, standing, or sitting can result in debilitating pain that continues to reinforce the hypersensitivity, locking the patient into a vicious cycle.1,2

Significant progress is now being made in understanding the mechanisms that result in severe and persistent pain, offering insight into new treatment approaches. Researchers believe that the electrical stimulation delivered through peripheral nerves modifies the hypersensitivity of the nerve cells that transmit pain signals and are responsible for persistent pain.3 For many patients, the result of a course of PNT is significant relief.

The Vertis PNT™ System is an FDA-cleared medical device. Clinical studies have shown that a wide range of patients experience significant benefit from a course of PNT.4, 5

1 Ren K Dubner R. Central nervous system plasticity and persistent pain. Journal of   Orofacial Pain. 1999
2 Woolf CJ, Salter MW. Neuronal Plasticity: Increasing the Gain in Pain. Science.
   2000
3 Hanai F. Effect of electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves on neuropathic pain.
  Spine. 2000
4 Seroussi R, Gliner BE, Steinintz E, Schmitt S, Gamburd R, Firlik AD. Effectiveness
   of Percutaneous Neuromodulation Therapy for Patients with Chronic and Severe
   Low Back Pain. Accepted for publication, Pain Practice, Volume 3, Issue 1, March
   2003.
5 Borg-Stein J, Seroussi RG, Schmitt S, et al. Safety and efficacy of percutaneous   neuromodulation therapy in the management of subacute radiating low back pain.
  Pending publication. 2001.

Caution: Federal law (USA) restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.