The Neuromodulation clinic is a multidisciplinary team that assesses and manages patients needing an Intratechal Baclofen pump (ITBP) or Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) to manage an existing condition. Our mission is to treat your pain and help you rejoin your community. The clinic is located in the Neuroscience Ambulatory Centre.
Care We Provide
Spinal Cord Stimulator
A spinal cord stimulator is an electronic device implanted in the body to alleviate your pain. The stimulator is designed to rest internally without being cosmetically noticeable. Those who pass the trial stage of implantation with a spinal cord stimulator are expected to return to normal life with greatly reduced pain. In addition, these devices have proven to be effective in minimizing the amount of oral or patch medication received required prior to implantation.
Patients with chronic pain may benefit from spinal cord stimulator implantation. A successful implantation is linked to spinal cord response to the electrical impulses of the device. Some examples of chronic pain syndromes that spinal cord stimulators have proven to address:
- Failed back surgery syndrome
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Phantom limb pain syndrome
- Cardiovascular angina
- Post-herpetic neuralgia
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Brachial plexus neuritis
- Lumbosacral plexus neuritis
- Post-traumatic nerve root injury
Intrathecal Baclofen Pump
Baclofen is a medication used to help relieve spasms, pain and tightness of muscles. This medication can help those with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and other nerve and muscle conditions. It can be taken as a pill (oral medication) or delivered in a liquid form into the spinal fluid using catheter and a baclofen pump (Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy).
Many people can control their spasms well enough with oral medication, but some find that this treatment does not work well enough or that they have intolerable side effects. Consider Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy if you are not getting enough relief from other treatments for spasms, you are struggling with side effects from the oral medication, such as drowsiness, confusion, weakness and nausea.
If Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy is chosen, surgery is required to implant the baclofen pump under the skin of the abdomen and keep the pump full of baclofen at all times.
If these treatments are right for you, we will give you information on specific devices, their management and the procedure to implant the device.
Team Members
Neuromodulation is a complex treatment with many healthcare professionals contributing to care. These healthcare professionals include:
- Pain specialist doctors (Anesthesiology)
- Physical medicine doctors (Physiatrists)
- Neuro/spine Surgeon
- Doctors in training (Residents and Clinical Fellows)
- Nurses
- Physiotherapists
- Neuropsychologists
- Clerks/Secretaries
- Vendor/Product specialists and technicians
Referral Process
A physician referral is required to be seen by the Neuromodulation team for consideration of a Spinal Cord Stimulator or an Intrathecal Baclofen Pump. For patients with existing devices, we will be more than happy to help you. Please have your family doctor complete a referral to our program.
