Every so often we hear of a product that we believe is going to be the next big thing when it comes to medical technology. We were big believers of the Cartiva implant, and now Silverman Ankle & Foot is one of the foremost experts on the subject in the Twin Cities. Dr. Silverman has performed numerous Cartiva implant operations, and patients are thriving with the new technique.
The newest medical advancement we believe is poised to take off in the new year is called Stimwave. Stimwave is a tiny device that is implanted near a nerve that is causing problems. Stimulating these damaged nerves can sometimes help to drown out or disrupt the flow of pain signals, so for patients with nerve compression, stimulation therapy is often a helpful option. TENS units are a similar product that often help to electrically stimulate nerves in the back to drown out back pain, but they work with patches placed outside the body.
Stimwave, on the other hand, is a microdevice that is implanted into the body using a small needle. Once in position, the patient takes the control pod and can deliver on-demand electrical stimulation to the area. You may notice a small tingling, or you may not notice a sensation at all, but the electrical stimulation will disrupt the pain signals that are being sent from that nerve. Essentially, you can drown out pain with the push of a button as needed.
On-Demand Pain Control
The device could be revolutionary for patients who deal with chronic nerve pain, because with the push of a button, Stimwave can drown out pain. In fact, Stimwave has even created an app so you can provide stimulation from other devices, like your phone, iPad or smartwatch. No more carrying around a big TENS unit, because if you’re carrying your smartphone, you can fight back against pain at a moment’s notice.
We were approached by a representative from Stimwave, and we were blown away by its capabilities. It’s something I hope to be able to offer the right patients who walk through my door in the future. For more information, check out Sitmwave’s website or their page about how the device works. I expect we’ll be hearing more about this product in the not so distant future!
