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Key Takeaways
Lower back pain is a silent affliction that most people experience.
And of those, 7% will develop chronic low back pain (CLBP).
Treatments for CLBP include physical therapy, stretching and cortisol shots to reduce pain and inflammation.
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But these treatments arent 100% effective, and many people dont have access to them.
In special circumstances, neurostimulation is now approved as a treatment for chronic lower back pain.
Developed by Mainstay Medical, ReActiv8 is an implantable neurostimulation system that improves CLBP associated with multifidus muscle dysfunction.
(Well explain what this means in just a bit.)
Results from theclinical trialsare not currently available to the public.
With lower back implant devices such as ReActiv8, these people have hopes of living pain-free lives once again.
Experts say this impaired control is one of the key underlying causes of CLBP.
This drives a snowball effect where more weakness leads to greater pain."
The immobility and pain of chronic low back pain forces many people into disability and isolation.
ReActiv8 is proven to offer relief in these cases.
But How Exactly Does It Help With Pain?
Who Is Eligible for the Implant?
Does It Work for All Back Pain?
The short answer is no.
According to Onaitis, the pain has to be associated with multifidus muscle dysfunction.
(He mentioned that this disclaimer is printed clearly on the product labeling.)
But experts say that electro-stimulation therapy via ReActiv8 could theoretically have broader applications.
Hall H, McIntosh G.Low back pain (chronic).BMJ Clin Evid.
