Brunswick woman free of debilitating back pain after receiving spinal stimulation device

A Brunswick woman says she is able to live her life free of back pain after years of sleepless nights with ice packs strapped to her body.

She says it's all thanks to a spinal cord treatment she received at the Spine Center of Southeast Georgia. 

Mary Lou Hagey has been using the Nevro HFX spinal cord high-frequency stimulation device for four years.

The pacemaker like device is inserted into the fat of the patient's back and is on 24/7 to stop the pain.

Hagey said the device addressed the pain in her back right away and has allowed her to spend time with her grandchildren and enjoy her life pain free.

"I'm 72. I still garden like I want to; I still do yoga; I still walk three miles a day. It keeps me pretty active." Hagey said. 

"We like to see improvement in their function can they stand longer walk longer be more active can they sleep better, and can we get that quality of life back that they lost that's what we're really looking to get." Spine Center of Southeast Georgia medical director, Dr. Chris Bovinet, said.

The treatment isn't a cure for everyone dealing with pain similar to Hagey's but is effective. 

In 2016 the National Library of Medicine published a study comparing high-frequency and low-frequency spinal cord stimulation devices. 

The devices were used to treat chronic back and leg pain over 24-months.

The study found more subjects had a greater degree of pain relief both for back and leg pain from the high-frequency stimulation device. 

Dr. Bovinet said the treatment has been effective for him and has helped give 19 of every 20 patients pain relief. 

He said the Spine Center of Southeast Georgia is one of the few centers in our area offering the treatment. 

Nevro HFX is covered by all major insurance plans, but out of pocket costs will depend on your individual insurance plan benefits.