Chronic lower back pain can have many causes, but rehabilitation is possible. The experts from Mainstay Medical explain about the ReActiv8® system
What are the common causes of chronic lower back pain?
Mechanical chronic low back pain often results from an injury or stress on the tissues surrounding the spine – this can include soft tissues, muscle, bone, and joints. Often this pain is due to impaired muscular control and inhibition of the multifidus muscle, which is the largest stabilizing muscle in the low back.
When this dysfunction occurs, there can be a resulting lack of spinal stability causing uncontrolled loading and pain. Watch the video below to learn more about neuromuscular control, proprioception, and the role of the multifidus muscle.
Why is the multifidus muscle important?
The multifidus muscle is the key stabilizing muscle in the lower back. Even a single injury to the low back can cause impaired muscle control of the multifidus. This lack of muscular control can impact the spine’s functional stability, leaving the spine susceptible to further injury and overloading.
Fortunately, research has shown that if multifidus control and lumbar spinal stability can be rehabilitated – functional stability in the spine can be restored, and low back pain can be decreased over time.
This is exactly what the ReActiv8® system was designed to do.
MRI imaging, alongside clinical history and physical testing, can identify multifidus dysfunction.
How does ReActiv8® work?
ReActiv8® is designed to restore the body’s natural ability to maintain spinal stability, improving function and decreasing chronic low back pain.
ReActic8® therapy is simple: using a remote control, the patient activates a 30-minute therapy session twice a day, which allows the system to contract and relax the multifidus muscle. The patient can complete these sessions in the morning and at night, while resting in bed or on the couch.
The system is programmed to be as comfortable as possible – patients often report their sessions to feel like a pleasant muscle contraction or a deep tissue massage.
When does ReActiv8® start to work?
The majority of patients begin to feel improvement in their ability to function and perform activities with improved confidence anywhere between 2-4 months but it can take longer in some patients. Patients generally report their back pain beginning to decrease shortly after they notice an improvement in function. The data suggests that therapeutic improvements seen in function and pain are durable and continue to accrue over time.
How invasive is the ReActiv8® procedure?
ReActiv8® is implanted underneath the skin during a minimally invasive, outpatient day case procedure.
The generator is connected to two tiny leads, which are positioned to stimulate the nerves that control the multifidus muscle.
While any implant requires a surgical procedure, one important foundational concept behind ReActiv8® is that it is reversible and does not change the anatomy of the spine.
What is the recovery from the procedure?
During follow-up appointments with a treating physician, the patient will have their wound checked, sutures removed, and the system will be activated. (On average about 10-14 days following implant)
It is important to limit strenuous activity in the first 4-6 weeks to allow the system to heal.
How effective can ReActiv8® be in reducing pain, improving function and reducing use of opioids?
A clinical study was carried out with 204 patients implanted with ReActiv8® across 24 sites in the US, Australia, and Europe with long term follow-up of these patients over five years. Data shows that patients experience progressive long-term improvements in pain and function.
- 9 out of 10 patients were “Definitely satisfied” with ReActiv8®
- 8 out of 10 patients reported substantial (>50%) improvements in pain and/or function
- 7 out of 10 patients voluntarily eliminated or reduced their opioid intake
How can I tell if ReActiv8® is right for me?
ReActiv8 is for patients with disabling, musculoskeletal, chronic low back pain who do not have an indication for lumbar spine surgery and have not had spine surgery in the past.
Typically, patients have had debilitating low back pain for at least a year or more. Patients will have had an insufficient response to pain medication, physical therapy, and various other interventional treatments.
For these patients, ReActiv8® may offer a highly effective solution designed to restore functional stability and reduce pain.
Please visit our website www.lowbackpainrecovery.com/uk/ and complete the eligibility questionnaire to see if ReActiv8 may be the right option for you.
How much does ReActiv8® cost and is it available on the NHS?
ReActiv8® is readily available on the NHS free of charge.
More than 2,000 patients have been implanted with ReActiv8® across The United Kingdom, Australia, United States & Germany to date.
Where can I find out more about ReActiv8® and Mainstay Medical?
Please visit our website www.lowbackpainrecovery.com/uk/
Alternatively, if you have additional questions or would like more information please email: ukinfo@mainstaymedical.com
Intended Use: The ReActiv8® System is indicated for bilateral stimulation of the medial branch of the dorsal ramus as an aid in the management of mechanical chronic low back pain associated with multifidus muscle dysfunction, in adults who have failed therapy including pain medications and physical therapy and are not candidates for spine surgery.
References: 620219 Rev. A.
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