A minimally-invasive Intracept treatment in Baltimore is a great option to treat back pain . WBAL TV Baltimore

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A brand new treatment for back pain is now available in Baltimore which has an excellent chance of success, and does not require massive surgery.Eight from 10 Americans suffer from back pain, and it is the main reason for disabilities worldwide.Jimmie Wiggins is one the Dr. Thomas Lee’s Intracept successes. When he walks through the halls, one might not be aware that Wiggins had suffered from crippling back pain for the last 23 years. “It’s been extremely awful, really terrible. (It) prevented me from doing lots of things,” he said. “It’s nice to be pain-free … taking a walk and running, jogging. I returned back to the way I did in the past. “Intracept is a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure where surgeons insert instruments into the vertebrae , and then is able to burn or ablate the nerves in the spine which shut off the pain signal sent to the brain. Lee compares it to blocking numbers on a cell phone. “You receive spam calls or calls that you don’t want to receive; you try to stop those calls from arriving. This is basically stopping calls from entering your phone. The phone is working and functional however, you’re turning that signal off. In other words you’re trying to turn out the signal that causes pain” explained Lee the doctor from Sinai Rehabilitation Center. Sinai Rehabilitation Center.Patients such as Wiggins will see improvements in between two and four weeks. Lee stated that studies have shown that five years after the Intracept procedure about one third of patients are pain-free , and about half experience more than 75 percent relief.But Lee said there is an exact set of criteria to determine patients who qualify to receive Intracept. Lee is very selective about whom he treats using Intracept. “The patient you’re discussing is those who have suffered from persistent low back pain that lasts for at least six months, who have failed treatment options for at minimum six month and exhibit modic changes observed on an MRI,” Lee said.An MRI of Wiggins’ spine showed white markings that signify modic changes. “Those are signs that there’s inflammation, nerve irritation, or swelling that could cause pain” Lee said.Wiggins said that on Monday his back was 100% pain-free. He can now take his dog for a walk, Chance. “(You are able to) return back to the things you did previously, cutting grass and brushing leaves. I do all of it today. What do I have to say?” Wiggins declared. “I’m enjoying my life without pain. “So to date, Lee had completed his procedure for 10 people and stated that the procedure was successful in all of the results.

A brand new treatment for back pain is being offered in Baltimore with high rates of success and doesn’t require major surgery.

A majority of Americans suffer from back discomfort, which has become the main cause of disability across the globe.

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Jimmie Wiggins is one of Jimmie Wiggins is among Dr. Thomas Lee’s Intracept treatment successes. When he walks through the hallway one wouldn’t know Wiggins was suffering from chronic back discomfort for over 23 years.

“It’s been very awful, really terrible. (It) kept me from doing lots of things,” he said. “It’s nice to be pain-free … taking a walk or running, jogging, exercise. I took a step back to the things I did in the past.”

Intracept is a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure that the surgeon inserts an instrument in the vertebrae and then is able to burn or ablate the nerves inside the spine and shuts off nerve signals that signal pain to the brain. Lee compares it to blocking the numbers on a cell phone.

“You receive unwanted callers or calls that are not yours, you attempt to block those calls from being received. In essence, you’re keeping those calls from entering your phone. The phone is working and functioning however, you’re turning that signal off. That’s why, in essence you’re trying to turn out the signal that causes pain.” explained Lee an acupuncturist in Sinai Rehabilitation Centre. Sinai Rehabilitation Center.

Patients such as Wiggins will see improvements in about two to four weeks. Lee claimed that research shows that five years after the Intracept procedure about one third of patients are pain-free , and nearly half of them have greater than 75% pain relief.

However, Lee stated that there are an exact set of criteria to determine those who are eligible to receive Intracept. Lee is extremely selective in whom he treats with Intracept.

“The patient you’re referring to is those who have suffered from chronic low back pain that lasts for at least six months, who have failed alternative treatments at least for six month and are experiencing the modic changes which are evident on an MRI,” Lee said.

A MRI of Wiggins’ spine showed white marks that indicate modifications in the spine.

“Those are indicators the presence of an inflammation nerve inflammation, or swelling that could cause pain.” Lee said.

Wiggins reported that, at the time of writing the day before, he was completely pain-free and able to finally take his dog for a walk, Chance.

“(You could) return back to the things you used to do: cutting grass and brushing leaves. I’m just doing it all right now. So, what do I do?” Wiggins stated. “I’m living without pain.”

So so far, Lee has completed the procedure on 10 patients, and said he’s pleased with their outcomes.