What is DRG?
Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) stimulation is an advanced therapy designed to relieve chronic nerve pain by targeting the specific nerves responsible for sending pain signals. This minimally invasive procedure involves placing small electrodes near the dorsal root ganglion, a cluster of nerve cells located just outside the spinal cord that regulates pain sensations. The electrodes deliver mild electrical pulses that control the pain signals before they reach the brain, effectively reducing or even blocking the sensation of pain. This targeted approach allows for more precise pain control, especially in hard-to-treat areas like the foot, knee, or groin.
The patient undergoes a 5 to 6-day trial of the therapy before we determine if it’s a good long-term strategy for them. We implant temporary leads and allow the patient to go home and see if it makes an impact on their function. If we find the trial successful, we make plans for a permanent implantation in the future.
What makes it good:
- Provides highly targeted pain relief
- Effective for hard-to-treat pain such as in the foot, knee, groin, or pelvic region
- Trial period available to test effectiveness before permanent implantation
- Minimally invasive
- low recovery time
- Improves daily function and quality of life
- Offers adjustable stimulation settings to match the patient’s unique pain patterns
- Includes a trial phase to test effectiveness before committing to permanent implantation
What conditions does it treat:
- Pelvic and groin pain
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Chronic post-surgical pain
- Peripheral causalgia
- Focal neuropathic pain in areas not well managed by traditional spinal cord stimulation
- Pain after nerve trauma or crush injuries
- Chronic knee pain following total knee replacement
Procedure Information
If you are living with chronic pain, seek help from St. Louis Pain Consultants.
We want to help remind you what life without pain feels like.
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