Brenda’s journey to less pain

For Brenda Smith, severe back pain got in the way of her favorite activities. Even preparing meals for her family became a challenge.

“I love standing up to do prep work,” Brenda said. “I felt like I had to sit down all the time to help manage the pain.”

Looking for a solution, Brenda talked with her doctor about a nerve stimulation treatment called SPRINT. This short-term treatment can help provide long-lasting relief for different types of pain.

A tiny wire is placed near the nerve causing pain, helping reduce pain signals sent to the brain and replacing them with calming signals.

SPRINT can help treat different types of pain, including:

• Back pain
• Head and neck pain
• Joint pain
• Nerve pain
• Pain after surgery
• Pain after losing a limb

The treatment doesn’t involve surgery, medication or a permanent implant.

“We recommend the procedure when patients have exhausted other pain management options,” said Anna Carpenter, M.D., Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Interventional Pain Medicine Physician at the Genesis Interventional Pain Management Clinic. “Brenda was looking for a way to find lasting relief and improve her daily function.”

Anna Carpenter, M.D. Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Interventional Pain Medicine Physician Genesis Interventional Pain Management Clinic

The treatment includes three parts:

• A thin wire, twice the size of a human hair, is placed under the skin near the nerve causing pain. It sends electrical signals to that nerve to help reduce pain.
• A small battery is attached to the skin with a removable sticky pad that is placed on the skin. It sends signals through the wire.
• Patients can easily control the strength of the signals with a wireless remote.

An optional phone app helps patients learn more about their treatment. The treatment continues for 60 days, and most patients can continue their usual daily activities.

“During treatment, the brain learns to respond differently to pain signals,” said Dr. Carpenter. “After the wire is removed, many patients continue to feel lasting relief.”

Brenda had the wire and device removed and continues to experience the benefits. She encourages others to talk with their doctor about SPRINT.

“When the treatment began in Dr. Carpenter’s office, I noticed a difference right away. After treatment, I still feel great.” -Brenda Smith

Brenda is back to cooking and enjoying activities with her family.

Brenda Smith returned to her kitchen after finding relief from back pain with the SPRINT procedure. 

Brenda now prepares meals for her family while standing comfortably. 

“The process was simple to understand, and the remote was easy to use,” Brenda said. I don’t have to sit down as often. The pain is gone. I feel more like myself, and I’m glad I had the procedure. The only thing I had to lose was the pain.”