I have been dealing with chronic nerve pain for the last 5 years. My pain specialist has recommended that I have the new Eon Mini procedure. I am wondering how much it actually costs since I will be paying for it on my own. Also, does anybody know if it is offered in other countries than the US. I know that other stimulation device surgeries can be done elsewhere for 80% cheaper than here. But I cannot find any information about the Eon specifically. thanks!

I had the Eon mini neurostimulator impanted in Sept. and am having trouble charging it when it is turned on. It feels like it is burning me from the inside out. Has anyone else experienced this? I have to turn the stimulator off to charge-- which takes about 1 1/2 hours every five days or so. The stimulator has changed my life for the better-- and my insurance company did cover the entire cost of the procedure. (Thankfully!)

Rush University Medical Center is arguing that spinal surgery may not always be worth the cost. They make some excellent points, but the perspective of the provider is not necessarily the only one to account for when making these judgments. I recently received the final bill for my disc replacement surgery, which took place as part of a trial. The cost, when all the expenses, including apparently vast bill-padding by the hospital, was approximately $145,000. Read the rest

Brain Blogger posts a scenario from the future, in which the injuries sustained by a football player are reversed using a mapping technology for brain activity that provides the starting point to reconnecting intention and physical action with implants not dissimilar to the ones described here:

A Canadian researcher has been working for 15 years on bionic implants that use electrical signals to command "lifeless" limbs to stand and walk.

The University of Alberta's Read the rest

A 66-year-old Air Force veteran, who was forced to retire for due to back and related medical reasons 15 years ago, has had his DDD-related pain "eliminated" by a spinal implant provided by Dr. Todd Warrick of Sumter, South Carolina's Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Amedica Corp., of Salt Lake City, announced that its Valeo ceramic spinal intervertebral spacers have received European CE mark approval for use in the thoracolumbar spine (upper back, below the neck, or cervical spine). It previously received US Food and Drug Administration in January. Read the rest

Scientific American has a comprehensive article on the state of science in spinal repair and regeneration. A worthwhile read as background for any back-related injuries, particularly severe injuries.

Centinal Spine, a Minneapolis-based seller of medical technologies, is beginning early-stage U.S. testing of its STALIF device for cervical and lumbar spinal fusions. The technology, developed by British medical device developer Surgicraft, is a 'fusion cage" that inserts between a single pair of vertebrae and screws in place to hold the bones in a fixed position. Read the rest

I find myself trying to explain how "minimally invasive" surgery for the spine can be, when I usually start by showing someone the scar on my throat, through which my spine was repaired. The problem with most surgeries of the back is that the spine is well protected by the body, surrounded by organs and dense muscle. This description of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography used by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Spine Center explains how Read the rest

Zasona Pharma, Inc., a developer of pharmaceuticals in Fremont, Calif., reported that its transdermal patch technology treatment for osteoporosis produced a statistically significant increase in lumbar spine and hip bone density when used to deliver Read the rest