The RSDSA is the largest support group for CRPS/RSD in the United States. On April 19th, 2016, they published an article written by Dr. Hunter on the new DRG Stimulation Device by St. Jude Medical. Read the article Currently, the only device capable of DRG Stimulation is called the Axium™ which is available exclusively through St. Jude Medical™.
First DRG Stimulator Implant in the Country Performed in New York City! On April 8th, 2016, the Ainsworth Institute made medical history: Drs. Hunter and Lee implanted the very first DRG Stimulator in the entire country - right here in New York. The procedure took record time and the patient was discharged home just a few hours after the procedure was completed. The patient had been living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) for years after a work-related accident. Her previous pain doctor implanted her a traditional spinal cord stimulator several years prior which helped control her pain to a modest degree; however she was living with constant pain and had trouble sitting down or even walking. In 2015, she was referred to the Ainsworth Institute to see if further treatment could be recommended for her. Luckily, our doctors are part of…
Laser spine surgery can be summed up in one word – hoax. There is a perception by the general public that lasers are modern or even futuristic. Dating back to the 1960’s people were obsessed with lasers. Whether it be Auric Goldfinger using it as a hi-tech weapon to try and kill James Bond in 1964 or Val Kilmer designing a prototype for the military in 1985 – the American public has viewed lasers as the penultimate in science and technology. It would only seem natural that if one were to “apply” lasers to medicine, the public would find that application equally as futuristic, regardless of whether that use was real or just more movie special effects. Dr. Theodore H. Mainan, the researcher who first constructed the optical laser in 1960, said it was “the solution in search of a…
The Ainsworth Institute is one of just 26 sites in the nation selected to start performing the cutting-edge technology! DRG Stimulation is a variation of traditional spinal cord stimulation. The difference is that the leads are a fraction of the size and are placed directly over the individual nerves of the spine, more specifically, the small structures that house the neurons themselves - the Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG). The ACCURATE study (an FDA-approved clinical trial performed by leading pain physicians in the United States) was completed in 2015 and the results were presented at the North American Neuromodulation Society meeting in the same year. The results were impressive to say the least! It showed DRG was superior in almost way to traditional stimulation with better success rates and better overall pain relief. Dr. Hunter has been selected as one of the…
As of 2014, pain relievers are the 2nd most commonly abused drugs in the United States with 4.3 million Americans using them for nonmedical reasons.[1] The number of those using pain relievers for nonmedical reasons has remained relatively unchanged from 2002 to 2014, however the number of deaths from prescription drugs, namely opioids, is up 3-fold since 2001.[2] At a time where opioids appear to be causing more problems than they solve, the medical profession is in desperate need of something new. Enter ziconotide. This unique medication is created from a toxin naturally made by the Cone snail (a ω-conotoxin peptide).[3] The molecule is a calcium channel blocker that works by infused into the cerebrospinal fluid to inhibit the release of glutamate, CGRP and substance P in the brain and spinal cord to provide pain relief [4],[5]; the best part…
Dr. Hunter just performed the first Invisible Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) Trial in the state of New York! The Invisible Trial system was developed by St Jude Medical and presents a major leap forward for the technology. This device interfaces with Apple devices allowing patients the ability to control their pain relief with the touch of a finger. What's even more impressive is the trial is totally wireless! Read more about the Invisible Trial System...
Drs. Hunter and Lee presented at the joint meeting of the New York and New Jersey Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (NYSIPP & NJSIPP). Dr. Hunter lectured on the use of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for Pelvic Pain. Dr. Lee was chosen to train physicians on the use of Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of joint pain.
The Ainsworth Institute is proud to announce is has joined the CREATE-1 Study: CRPS Treatment Evaluation 1 Study - sponsored by Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. This is an FDA approved trial studying the effects of a new groundbreaking oral medication to treat CRPS. Enrollment will start shortly.
The opioid epidemic is just that...an epidemic - it's widespread and affects everyone. Here are some interesting statistics. The United States comprises only 4.6% of the world's population but we consume 80% of the world's opioids. The United States consumes 99% of the world's Vicodin. We spend $300,000,000,000 (that's billion) on pain-related medical costs each year, much of that is on medications. According to the CDC, in 2013, nearly 2 million Americans abused prescription drugs. [1] Each day, 7000 people are treated in Emergency Rooms across the United States for overdose or complications related to prescription drugs. Abuse Deterrent Formulations (ADF) are a good attempt to help curb the epidemic, but since insurance companies charge patients an arm and a leg for them over generics, addicts have a valid reason to ask for something that's cheaper and abusable. More importantly, these ADFs are only one…
Constipation is defined as infrequent bowel movements or the passage of hard stools, causing discomfort. In patients taking opioids for pain, Opioid Induced Constipation is a frequent occurrence. While there are many effective medications on the market for treating Opioid Induced Constipation, you may want to try some of these helpful recipies first. How to prevent constipation: Below is a list of ways to avoid constipation. Start with #1 and move down the numerical steps until bowel movements are soft and regular. 1. Drink 8-10 glasses of fluid per day, including fruit juices. Eat a high fiber diet including raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and whole grains. Fiber is important. Cereals such as Quaker Oatmeal Squares are high in fiber. In addition, try the juice recipe below: Juice recipe: 1 oz prune juice 1 oz apricot nectar 1 oz…