DRG Stimulation

If you suffer from chronic pain in your lower body including the foot, knee, hip, or groin area and you’ve been unable to find relief, you might benefit from DRG stimulation at Downtown Pain Physicians. Our physicians at both NYC area locations are experts in the treatment of pain and are very skilled in using DRG stimulation to directly stimulate the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and prompt significant pain relief in patients.

Schedule a consultation with our pain relief specialists today and we’ll discuss your treatment options and listen to your history of pain and other symptoms you are experiencing. If you decide to proceed with treatment, we will use our state-of-the-art equipment to pinpoint your diagnosis and begin to explore possible treatment options best suited to your condition. One of those options might be DRG stimulation. Let’s take a deeper look and discover what DRG stimulation is, how it can help you overcome your pain, and what to expect from this treatment.

What Are Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG)

Before we begin to define what DRG stimulation is and how it works, it makes sense to take a couple of steps backwards and look at the dorsal root itself and what its purpose is. Dorsal simply refers to something related to the back or upper side, in this case, the back of your spine.

Everyone has many dorsal nerve roots in their body that work to carry sensory information to the brain from other parts of the body. More specifically, they carry signals from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system.

To illustrate the role of your dorsal nerve roots, imagine you touch a hot stove with your hand. Your nerves at the tips of your fingers immediately send the “Ouch! This is hot!” message up to your dorsal root which then tells your brain that you are in danger and touching something hot. This happens so quickly and automatically that you’re not aware that it’s happening, which is a good thing, or you could be seriously injured.

That’s the dorsal root, but what about the ganglia? Ganglion is the singular, ganglia is the plural, either way these are areas where clusters of nerve cells are found. Sometimes called the spinal ganglion, they assist in the relay of information from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system.

What’s most beneficial and very fascinating about the DRG is that, although they house many different nerves, each one along the spinal column regulates nerves associated to its specific region of the body. It’s fairly easy for a trained specialist to determine which DRG is involved, based on pain symptoms, especially when the patient is experiencing chronic, isolated pain in the lower extremities.

What Is DRG Stimulation Therapy

DRG stimulation therapy focuses on where the dorsal nerve cluster comes together in the ganglia. Mild electrical pulses are sent to prespecified regions and can target parts of the body where the pain is located. These pulses interrupt the pain messages between the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. In effect, they scramble them, so your brain isn’t being told that you have pain.

Because the ganglia are easily accessible and predefined with the areas they connect, DRG stimulation can be very effective. Traditional spinal cord stimulation is fairly similar to DRG, but some types of pain and certain conditions don’t respond as well to traditional treatments as the more localized and specialized approach that DRG offers. The patient is also often pleased with the idea of only the targeted area being affected by the electronic stimulation.

How Does DRG Stimulation Work

Understanding DRG stimulation is a little easier when you understand the mechanics behind it and what’s happening within and even outside of the body. DRG stimulation requires surgery to place leads in the body on the targeted DRG. These electrical leads are insulated wires that carry the electrical pulse from a generator right to the DRG. The implantable pulse generator is usually situated in the body in the upper buttock or lower back region. In some cases, it’s placed in the abdominal wall.

The final key piece of equipment in DRG stimulation is a handheld device that the patient carries with them to control their stimulation. During episodes of pain, the stimulator can be “turned up” so the pain signals are blocked. The stimulator can be turned off completely if you’re not suffering pain at the moment. Some patients even have the ability to switch from one DRG to another if there are multiple regions involved in their chronic pain.

Do I Need DRG Stimulation

It’s best to consult with one of our pain specialists at Downtown Pain Physicians first before making any decisions. While this is an extremely effective form of therapy, it might not be the best one for you or our situation. Weighing all options when it comes to chronic pain is a key part of a responsible and effective treatment plan.

That said, DRG stimulation therapy might be right for you if you have:

• Chronic pain lasting more than six months
• Pain that is located in the lower part of the body (foot, knee, hip, or groin)
• Pain that consistently appears in the same part(s) of the body and doesn’t radiate or move
• Little or no relief from other, less aggressive pain management therapies
• You’re interested in a reversible treatment option
• You want to try to avoid spine surgery

If you have all of the above qualifications, DRG stimulation therapy might be a great option for you and give you relief from your chronic pain. To explore this option further, connect with our Downtown Pain Physicians offices if you live in the greater New York area for an appointment.

Meet Your Doctors

Dr. Raj Raval, M.D.

Top-Rated Interventional Pain and Musculoskeletal Medicine Specialist
Dr. Raj Raval is an Interventional Pain & Musculoskeletal Medicine Specialist. As part of the best rated team of pain management doctors in New York City, he uses the most effective pain management and pain control treatment options using the latest technologies available.

Dr. Raj Raval, M.D.

• Board certified
• Interventional Pain & Musculoskeletal Medicine Specialist
• Member of: AAPMR, Spine Intervention Society (SIS), North American Spine Society, American Society of Interventional Pain

Dr. Daniel P. Spunberg, M.D.

High-Ranking Specialist in Interventional Pain and Musculoskeletal Medicine
Dr. Daniel Spunberg is a triple board-certified physician in the specialties of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, and Sports Medicine. Using the latest technology and modern state-of-the art care, he is a well-respected part of our team of pain management doctors in New York City. Working closely with his patients, he prides himself on developing rapport to help individuals find the pain solutions they seek.

Dr. Daniel P. Spunberg, M.D.

• Board certified
• Interventional Pain & Musculoskeletal Medicine Specialist
• Member of: AAPMR, AMA, Spine Intervention Society (SIS), North American Spine Society, NY State Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Our Facilities Are State of the Art

Not only do we have the best doctors around, but we also believe we have one of the best facilities. Where you receive your care and the tools the doctor has at their disposal can mean a lot when it comes to a successful treatment plan. We’re quite proud of our well-appointed and modern facility, it makes the experience more comfortable for our patients and supplies our doctors with the equipment they need.

Our pain facilities are in Brooklyn and Manhattan and conveniently located for residents in Downtown Brooklyn, Lower, Midtown and upper East Side of Manhattan, the East Village, Greenwich Village, or Murphy Hill.

Our quality of care is considered among the finest in the country and with the technology and expertise to back it up, our patients find the relief they are seeking. Connect with one of our offices today to take the first step toward relieving neuropathic symptoms.

What Our Patients Have to Say

We know we have the best doctors and facility around, and our patients agree.

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  Excellent doctor. Nice staff. Felt very thorough, patient, and good bedside manner. Highly recommend.

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  Absolutely amazing from the minute you walk through the door until you leave. Doctor Raval was very informative, listened to everything we had to say and explained and did everything step by step. Made my mother very comfortable. Was very I chose to take my mom to see him.

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  “PHENOMENAL”

  I wish I could give Dr. Raval 10 stars. He has been absolutely PHENOMENAL helping me with a herniated disc. He calmed my anxiety, he follows through immediately and has been fantastic through it all. His entire staff is the same.

What to Expect at Downtown Pain Physicians NYC

At your first visit to either of our offices, you can expect a thorough health examination and history so your doctor can get a good idea of your health concerns. There may be x-rays or an ultrasound evaluation necessary at your appointment to gain deeper understanding of your symptoms.

After a diagnosis is discovered, your doctor will have a thorough discussion of treatment options with you to make sure you know what steps are possible and you can make an informed decision. You’ll also receive a detailed recovery plan, so you never have to question what to do next.

We want your visit to our offices to be as pleasant as possible from the moment you walk through our doors. Individual attention is part of the fabric of our practice and it’s a critical component of an effective treatment plan. Whether you’re suffering with chronic lower body pain or any other type of pain, we’re here to help you find pain relief and get back to living your life.