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Navigating pain

Your pain is personal. It affects every part of your life — relationships, hobbies, jobs, everything that makes you you. You’re in the right place to learn about the different types of pain, different treatment options available, and how to find which solution may be right for you. The goal? To get you back to being yourself again.

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Types of pain

Pain is more than a physical sensation – it’s an experience that colors your whole life. Get to know common causes of pain, pain symptoms and how to describe them, how pain can affect you, and much more.

Learn about types of pain
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Types of pain doctors

The type and severity of your pain may guide which kind of healthcare professional should help manage it. Let’s look at some of the different doctors you might see and how they could help you find relief.

Learn about types of pain doctors
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The path to pain relief

Finding relief from chronic pain is a journey. You may need to try different tests, types of doctors, treatment options, and coping strategies along the way. The more you know, the better you can navigate to relief.

Explore the path to relief
A doctor discussion guide with pain assessment questions and a body map. Doctor Discussion Guide

Get your Doctor Discussion Guide

Get the most out of your doctor visit. Download and print this handy guide to help you prepare, ask the right questions, and provide the information your doctor needs to help you find the right solution.

Download the Guide
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Caring for someone with chronic pain

Supporting a loved one or friend struggling with chronic pain can be a challenge. You might feel helpless, confused, or frustrated. But your help and encouragement can make all the difference. Find tips on how to care for your loved one — and for yourself. 

Get caregiver support

Coping strategies for pain

When you’re living with pain, you need ways to cope. There are strategies to help make life easier, and they’re different from medical treatment. They might include tweaks to your routine, tools that make life easier, rest, exercise, or time with friends.

Get coping strategies for pain
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How can a pain specialist help me?

Pain management specialists are doctors who specialize in all kinds of pain. They work with your healthcare team to make sure you have the highest quality of life. Your doctor will create a treatment plan based on your type of pain, how severe it is, and how you respond to pain treatment. Learn about other types of pain doctors.

Find a pain specialist near you.

REAL SUCCESS STORIES

Michael’s story: The Intracept™ Procedure

“I can pretty much do anything that I want to do.”

REAL SUCCESS STORIES

Chris’s story: Spinal Cord Stimulation

“For the first time in two and a half years, I wasn’t hurting.”

REAL SUCCESS STORIES

Arlene’s story: Spinal Cord Stimulation

“One of my favorite things is being able to take the burden off my family.”

The patient quotes in this material describe real personal experiences. Individual results may vary. Patients can experience different levels of pain management and different changes in their activities and use of medications. Consult with your physician to determine if you are a candidate for this procedure and what you may gain from the therapy.

Take your next step toward pain relief

treatment options just for you

Take the Personal Pain Assessment

Answer a few questions about your symptoms. It should take less than five minutes, and you’ll get information about solutions that might work for you.

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Have you been suffering from pain for more than 6 months?

§The physician locator tool identifies pain management specialists in your area who have met certain qualifying criteria and are experienced with one or more of Boston Scientific pain management therapies. All treatment options should be discussed thoroughly with a pain management specialist.

Indications for Use: The Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) Systems* are indicated as an aid in the management of chronic intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs including unilateral or bilateral pain associated with the following: Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Types I and II, Intractable low back pain and leg pain, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy of the lower extremities, Radicular pain syndrome, Radiculopathies resulting in pain secondary to failed back syndrome or herniated disc, Epidural fibrosis, Degenerative disc disease (herniated disc pain refractory to conservative and surgical interventions), Arachnoiditis, Multiple back surgeries.

The Boston Scientific Spectra WaveWriter™, WaveWriter Alpha™ and WaveWriter Alpha™ Prime SCS Systems are also indicated as an aid in the management of chronic intractable unilateral or bilateral low back and leg pain without prior back surgery.

*The Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) Systems include the following: Precision™ System, Precision Spectra™ System, Precision Novi™ System, Precision Montage™ MRI System, Spectra WaveWriter™ System, WaveWriter Alpha™ System, WaveWriter Alpha™ Prime System.

Note: CRPS I was previously referred to as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and CRPS II was previously referred to as causalgia.

The mySCS™ Go Therapy Controller is intended to communicate with and control the compatible Boston Scientific Stimulator.

Contraindications: The Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator systems are not for patients who are unable to operate the system, have failed trial stimulation by failing to receive effective pain relief, are poor surgical candidates, or are pregnant.

Warnings: With all medical procedures, there are risks associated with the procedure and the use of the device. Patients implanted with Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator systems without ImageReady™ MRI Technology should not be exposed to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Exposure to MRI may result in dislodgement of the stimulator or leads, heating of the stimulator, severe damage to the stimulator electronics and an uncomfortable or jolting sensation. As a Spinal Cord Stimulation patient, you should not have diathermy as either a treatment for a medical condition or as part of a surgical procedure. Strong electromagnetic fields, such as power generators or theft detection systems, can potentially turn the stimulator off, or cause uncomfortable jolting stimulation. The system should not be charged while sleeping. The Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator system may interfere with the operation of implanted sensing stimulators such as pacemakers or implanted cardiac defibrillators. Advise your physician that you have a Spinal Cord Stimulator before going through with other implantable device therapies so that medical decisions can be made and appropriate safety measures taken. Patients using therapy that generates paresthesia should not operate motorized vehicles such as automobiles or potentially dangerous machinery and equipment with the stimulation on. Stimulation must be turned off first in such cases. For therapy that does not generate paresthesia (i.e. subperception therapy) it is less likely that sudden stimulation changes resulting in distraction could occur while having stimulation on when operating moving vehicles, machinery, and equipment.

Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks, precautions, and benefits associated with the use of the device and what indicates, and contraindicates, certain patients– as well as the risks and precautions for the procedure. For complete indications for use, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and side effects, call 866.360.4747 or visit Pain.com.

Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

Indications for use: The Intracept™ Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System is indicated for patients who have had chronic low back pain for at least six months, who have tried conservative care for at least six months, and whose MRI shows features consistent with Modic changes – indicating damage at the vertebral endplates has led to inflammation. Not every patient who meets these criteria is a candidate for the Intracept Procedure, however – in fact, there are specific characteristics indicating a patient should not be considered for the procedure.

Contraindications: Patients who are pregnant. Patients with weakened cardiac or pulmonary function, having an active implanted electronic medical device in the body (such as a pacemaker or defibrillator), being diagnosed with a systemic or local infection, or having an anatomy that could be damaged unintentionally while ablating the basivertebral nerve (based on your physicians’ clinical review). Patients who are skeletally immature – which generally means individuals under the age of 18 are not candidates.

Warnings: There are also certain risks and precautions regarding the procedure which you should be aware of before proceeding. With all medical procedures, there are risks and precautions associated with the procedure and the use of the device, talk with your doctor about what indicates, and contraindicates, certain patients for the Intracept Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System. For complete indications for use, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and side effects visit www.relievant.com/intracept/.
Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

Indications for Use: The Boston Scientific Radiofrequency Generators, associated Radiofrequency Lesion Probes and RF Cannula are indicated for use in procedures to create radiofrequency lesions for the treatment of pain or for lesioning nerve tissue for functional neurosurgical procedures. The Boston Scientific RF Injection Electrodes are used for percutaneous nerve blocks with local anesthetic solution for radiofrequency lesioning of peripheral nerve tissue only. The Boston Scientific LCED and Stereotactic TCD Electrodes are indicated for use in radiofrequency (RF) heat lesioning of nervous tissue including the Central Nervous System.

Warnings: With all medical procedures, there are risks associated with the procedure and the use of the device. The Boston Scientific RF devices may cause interference with active devices such as neurostimulators, cardiac pacemakers, and defibrillators. Interference may affect the action of these active devices or may damage them. Talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks, precautions, and benefits associated with the use of the Boston Scientific Radiofrequency Generators, associated Radiofrequency Lesion Probes and RF Cannula and what indicates, and contraindicates, certain patients– as well as the risks and precautions for the procedure. For appropriate guidance, consult the instructions for use for these active devices.

Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

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