Fresh Approach To Pain Relief

New Treatment Helps Ease The Pain — Without Medication

(CBS)  For golf pro Bob Kameronitz, a nagging back ache was par for the course.

"All of a sudden one day I was out here on the golf course and then I had some pain down my leg," Kameronitz said.

Like 20 million Americans, he has pain caused by osteoarthritis - a wearing away of the tissue around joints, usually treated with surgery or medications, reports CBS News correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook.

"I don't like to take drugs, drugs are not a part of my life," he said.

Kim Paul feels the same way.

"No mother on narcotics can be a good mother," she said.

She didn’t like the "spacey" feeling she got from painkillers for her chronic back pain.

A few months ago they began a new, non-invasive treatment using deep-nerve stimulation called Biowave. Preliminary research found the deep wave reduced pain quickly and significantly. Although relief faded, one week later half the patients were using less pain medication.

"Until now we really didn't really have any good options," Dr. Johnny Benjamin explained. "It was basically good luck and here is a fistful of pain medications and all the side effects and addiction that comes with it."

Benjamin has used it on more than 100 patients and says it’s more effective than other devices he’s tried.

"This is one thing that gives us an option to try to help millions of people," he said.

Patches with electrodes are attached to the pain site. Each has more than a thousand tiny needles that carry electrical currents. Those electrical waves penetrate the nerves and seem to interrupt pain signals - blocking them before they reach the brain.

"A great deal of pain is perception. So if you can block or jam that wave going to the brain then you can trick the body into not feeling that pain nearly as much," Benjamin said.

Each 30-minute, in-office application costs about $300, which is sometimes offset by insurance. Patients get six treatments - one every day or two.

"It's kind of a tingling feeling like little needles going in," Kameronitz said. "And you control the intensity by the dial here."

This treatment doesn’t heal the joint, and we still don’t know whether it works over the long term. But it appears to be safe for people who’d try anything to make the pain go away.

If you have arthritis - there are 5,000 treatments. Why so many different treatments?

"Because there is no golden bullet," said Dr. Peter McCann. "There is not one that works."

"I really don't have time to stop for surgery, so this has been really good for me," Paul said.

[zookeeper121]

While I am thrilled for Ms. Paul that she has found a non-narcotic treatment for her problems, I am horrified that CBS saw fit to broadcast her narrow-minded and ignorant judgment that women on narcotics are not good mothers. This blanket statement is simply unfair and untrue. Before I sought treatment from a pain management doctor, I could not even get out of bed most mornings. Now I am able to get up and cook, do homework with my daughter, work at a responsible and respected career, make fun memories with my family--was I a better mother when I laid in a dark room and cried all day, simply because I didn''t have narcotics in my blood? Of course not. Even with the narcotic medications I take (under a licensed doctor''s supervision, I might add), I will never know what it is like to run in the park with her or walk on my own two feet with her through Disneyland. Sometimes I feel guilty and angry and cheated, but I am NOT a bad parent because of it. How dare Ms. Paul condemn me without having walked a mile in my shoes? As others have pointed out, she had choices--I don''t have any choices or potential cures. Narcotics are the only treatment I have been offered.

And shame on you, CBS, for airing such garbage. I dare you to allow airtime for someone to accuse Elizabeth Edwards or Dana Reeve of being bad mothers because pain pushed them to seek relief.

[computernew]

I agree wholeheartedly with Bob Boden. I suffered with leg pain, back pain, and pain in my fingers. I had successful acupuncture treatments. I also went to a Chinese herbal doctor for numbness in my right hand and arm. The herbs worked wonders. I now have minor pain flare-ups. I use a very effective cream called Corium 21. It is an aloe skin healing cream. It works wonders for pain, burns, and itchy skin. I would highly recommend that any chronic pain sufferer contact a licensed acupuncturist, a chiropractor, and a Chinese herbal doctor. Corium 21 can be purchased by going to website www.aloeveracream.com, or by calling 1-877-wellskin.

[tashababy71]

I am very upset by this segment. I am a 35 year old mother of two. Before I became a patient under a pain management team, I was pretty much bedridden. I coudnt stand long enough to cook dinner, couldnt concentrate long enough to help with homework. Being in pain 24/7 takes a toll on your mind and your body. Having the pain under control, gives you your life back. So how dare anyone say that taking Narcotics makes you a bad mother, without letting the other side of the coin put in their opinion too.

[paininmass]

As a chronic pain sufferer I applaud any treatment that alleviates the constant, daily pain for anyone they may work for. Anyone who does not suffer with pain that is always there, never quits, and wears you down will never understand. To completely eliminate it is the goal of everyone who has daily pain, but unfortunately, due to the cause, or the damage, it may not be possible. Tens, "Biowave", Epidurals, Nerve Blocks, etc, etc, have permanent success in some, limited in others, and no effect in still others. There are successes and horror stories for every treatment and situation. Sometimes meds are all that is available, and because of stupid comments as the one made in this article it causes us added frustration and stress. We not only have to fight with our drs to be listened to and taken seriously, we have to deal with the narrow-mindedness of others. Meds do not make us "not good" to put our effort into anything, or leave us constantly "spacey". For a lot of us it helps us stay functional, and for others it helps others endure yet another day of pain.
I''m glad Paul found a temporary fix for his pain so he can put off surgery until he has time, but for a doctor to claim that no other treatment but his works leaves me scratching my head and wondering if Dr Benjamin can cure chronic pain then why isn''t he being utilized in curing cancer, leukemia, diabetes, etc, etc. He seems to have the answer, in fact, the only answers.

[Netterz]

One thing I havent seen mentioned is the proven FACT-TRUE chronics rarely ever suffer from addiction. The only addiction I suffer from is to have less pain & life with some quality. Diabetics need insulin, Asthmatics need inhalers. The disease we have requires narcotics in the same principle. This ''woman'' who made the obviously idiotic statement is NOT a chronic & WASNT able to function on narcotics because she really didnt need them. If she has to think about making time for the surgery? Shes NOT a chronic if she had a choice. I have had 14 surgeries, which at the time, state of the art surgeries, all but 3 failed. If I wasnt on meds I would be bedridden. I wouldnt be able to get out of bed, live a somewhat normal life go places and do things with my family & friends. I have permanent nerve damage from shattered bones in my neck and lower lumbar, to the left side of my body. Without narcotics, I would be immobile and sick to my stomach with horrid pain. People like THAT ''mother'' & the recreational drug users are the problem with narcotic use. If used the way your pain management provider prescribes, also what they were designed for, there is little problems. Add to my condition, CANCER sufferer now as well, tell me that I can not function as a mother, F/T care provider to my parents, still managing to take care of it ALL. People shouldnt comment on things they dont suffer from.

[nedlebob]

Re: Biowave Pain Management. As an acupuncturist, I have been doing electro-acupuncture for over 10 years. I place needles close to nerves and connect a microcurrent-generator at various points to change the pain conduction of the area, call the blood to work on the problem (because you blood is what heals you)and stimulate the immune system. Similar technology, good results for alot less money- I charge fifty dollars or less an hour. Why doesn''t medicare recognise our art as an effective inexpensive way to help our aging population? Sincerely, Bob Boden(nedlebob)LAC. Coquille,OR.

[nedlebob]

Re: Biowave Pain Management. As an acupuncturist, I have been doing electro-acupuncture for over 10 years. I place needles close to nerves and connect a microcurrent-generator at various points to change the pain conduction of the area, call the blood to work on the problem (because you blood is what heals you)and stimulate the immune system. Similar technology, good results for alot less money- I charge fifty dollars or less an hour. Why doesn''t medicare recognise our art as an effective inexpensive way to help our aging population? Sincerely, Bob Boden(nedlebob)LAC. Coquille,OR.

[nedlebob]

Re: Biowave Pain Management. As an acupuncturist, I have been doing electro-acupuncture for over 10 years. I place needles close to nerves and connect a microcurrent-generator at various points to change the pain conduction of the area, call the blood to work on the problem (because you blood is what heals you)and stimulate the immune system. Similar technology, good results for alot less money- I charge fifty dollars or less an hour. Why doesn''t medicare recognise our art as an effective inexpensive way to help our aging population? Sincerely, Bob Boden(nedlebob)LAC. Coquille,OR.

[nedlebob]

Re: Biowave Pain Management. As an acupuncturist, I have been doing electro-acupuncture for over 10 years. I place needles close to nerves and connect a microcurrent-generator at various points to change the pain conduction of the area, call the blood to work on the problem (because you blood is what heals you)and stimulate the immune system. Similar technology, good results for alot less money- I charge fifty dollars or less an hour. Why doesn''t medicare recognise our art as an effective inexpensive way to help our aging population? Sincerely, Bob Boden(nedlebob)LAC. Coquille,OR.

[siscokid61]

After reading all the comments, I''m convinced that the News Media let us see and hear exactly what they wanted us to see and hear. The American People are not as ignorant as the media people think we are. Thanks for restoring my faith in people...real people...who live in pain every day, and are not ashamed of it. Us Boomers may be slowing down, but don''t count us out. AND we are not giving all our money to doctors who have a "miracle cure" and want to charge us an arm and a leg for it (no pun intended). So we are living longer and better. Mos of our parents didn''t live long enough to have ailments like we have now. At least if they did, they didn''t complain about it, it was just considered getting old. I know one thing...if I can feel pain, it means that I am alive. And for that I am thankful.

[siscokid61]

I just got thru one the worst bouts with my back that I have ever had. I have arthiris in both hips with bone spurs, that causes bursitis. Along with that I have scoliosis, which has caused a twisted, and compressed disc, which caused intense sciatica pain. The pain was so intense I couldn''t walk. I went to orthopaedic doctor who sent me to 6 sessions of physical therapy. He also prescribed a non narcotic pain reliever. Whoopee! NO Change. The pills did nothing. Someone advised me to see a chiropracter. I thought they were all quacks, but I went to one that was recommended by a co-worker. He put me on a decompression table and muscle stim therapy. First month I was going three times a week, then down to two, now I''m just going for maintenance. It has worked wonders. Like I said, it was my first real bad bout. I''m hoping now that I know what I did (moved furniture) to make it flare up, that I can maintaine a relatively pain free life. I take two Aleve a day, and it seems to take care of it. The bursitis still bothers me, but the back and leg pain is gone. I would recommend a good chiropracter to anyone who asks...especially one who uses the decompression table therapy.

[rstanley0453]

I''d like to add one more comment - true chronic pain patients are not addicts. There is a Dr. Jennifer P Schneider - why don''t you interview her? She can set you straight. We are no more addicts than the diabetic who takes insulin every day, or the person who takes meds for the blood pressure. Addiction is a mental need for the narcotics - chronic pain is totally different. So don''t anyone call us addicts. Check with an authority on the subject. I gave you her name.

[rstanley0453]

How dare you take someone who is obviously NOT a chronic pain individual and make her state someone on narcotics could not be a good mother. Let me tell you about chronic intractable pain. I have severe degenerative disk disease with facet joint syndrome and osteoarthritis. The facet joints hold the discs together, except mine tear. Then my discs deteriorate. She didn''t have "time" for surgery - she''s not a chronic painer. When you go for back surgery its because you have no choice, not because of time. You should interview REAL chronic pain patients. Your richy rich friends were a sad choice - they were not true chronic painers. Next time get your story straight. I''m not loopy on my meds. But I have some quality of life which I''m entitled to. I didn''t ask for this disease but I have to live with it. That doesn''t make me a bad person or a bad mother. You can ask my daughter.

[njgranny]

If you have never, ever lived with chronic intractable pain, you have no idea. It has wrecked havoc on all parts on my life. I have tried every treatment, surgery, epidurals, physical therapy, you name it, I''ve tried it. I have Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. Something went wrong with the surgery and a nerve or maybe more have been permentally damaged. I take non-narcotic pain med,use relaxation techniques and use Vicodin when all else fails. There are two sides to every story. Why only present one?

[litchfieldtax]

Just out of hospital yesterday after my 10th surgery for a seriously injured leg. I''ve tried them all and I''m getting sick and and tired of being sick and tired from paid - Dilaudid, Oxycodone, Vicadin, Morphine, Tramadol - all at some hefty prices. Sorry I missed the TV report but can probably see it here online. I look forward to trying out something that might work and is beneficial to the ''sick'' healthcare system here in the U.S.

Mike In CT

[tnt1954]

and god forbid, you should get hooked on narcotics
on your death bed.

[tnt1954]

with all the returning soldiers seeking ''relief'',
i remember how so many people became morphine
addicts after the civil war. part of the introductory
unit in elementary school. they didn''t have all
those d.a.r.e. officers when i was in school.
it was in health class, or they had an assembly
showed movies on the course of heroin addiction.
most kids laughed like heck at it. i didn''t
think it was funny. i thought it was awful what
the subject of the movie went through. most of
my friends were dead by 25 or gone beyond recall
from narcotics, so i know where these people are
coming from. being a narcotics addict is total
pain itself. you''re always ''sick'' unless you
can get ''well''. being hooked on cigarettes myself,
three packs a day is hellish. for over 40 years.
quitting is absolutely impossible. cold turkey
is unbearable, you just don''t know. there are
functional addicts. it''s like refusing to give
a dying in horrible pain person heroin, because
god forbid they should not ''die sober''.

[X5CAT]

To hear such an idiotic statement makes me want to scream. I have Degenerative Rhemotoid Arthritis. I have had 44 joint replacement surgeries and i need 2 more as i write this. I live in extreme pain and I was a good mother and have had to survive off of pain meds for the past twenty years or so. I have been thru all types of treatment, including the TENS unit, in fact i have one now and it stopped working for me about 15 surgeries ago.

For many these type of treatments work, but for many of us they stop working as our bodies are eaten up by our diseases! To have someone on a show and call it "newsworthy" is plain wrong!

x5cat

[fodereettirn]

Well said, grizmt1! It looks like I omitted a few sentences from my post while I was trying to shorten it (taking out punctuation and all!) to 1500 words. I also realize the media will only report bits and pieces of what the interviewee says, but Kim Paul''s attitude reeked of disdain for MOTHERS on narcotics. Again, she is the type of person who is scaring people away from appropriate pain relief--and scaring physicians from prescribing appropriate pain medications ("Try some ibuprofen...."{sure!}). I am off my soap box now and going to bed. I wonder if CBS or their contributors read these boards?

[grizmt1]

Kim Paul''s statement was a complete insult to what I am guessing is thousands of mothers everywhere that by some unfortunate accident or procedure are on chronic pain medications. I happen to be one of both. I am a GOOD mother and a chronic pain sufferer who HAS to be on narcotics. In fact, before I was on my medications I considered myself to be infact a less than good mother due to the pain. I would suffer from irritability and such horrible pain that I was not able to spend the time I do now, with my children, since I spent most of my time in bed or by myself so my children would not see "mommy hurting". I hope Kim''s statement was said either out of nervousness or because she is uninformed, if she truely meant it then I could honestly say that it was a very ignorant statement. SO Ms. Paul, if you are able to have chronic intractable pain and not use narcotics and also be ''Mom of the Year'' then I quess Kuddos go out to you!
From a GREAT Mom, a better Wife, and a Good Nurse!