Independence Back Institute
2800 Ashton Drive
Suite 100
Wilmington, NC 28412
Office: 910-794-8892
Fax: 910-794-8895

IBI News

Dr. Wall Featured In WECT News Story: Neurostimulators

Neurostimulators, also called spinal cord stimulators are an advanced FDA approved reversible method of pain control. They are used to treat a number of conditions including Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Post Laminectomy Syndrome, Diabetic Neuropathy and other forms of chronic neuropathic pain.

The stimulator is a wire that goes into the epidural space of the spine. When the lead is on or active, low intensity electrical impulses trigger nerve fibers selectively along the spinal cord. When theses fibers are stimulated, they diminish or block the pain message traveling to the brain. When this happens, the painful sensation is replaced with a soothing tingling sensation.

WECT News featured a story, “It’s the kind of pain that makes you want to scream” by Casey Roman. The story featured a current patient of Dr. Wall’s who has had great success in using a spinal cord stimulator to relieve her chronic back pain.

“The minute he put it in, it was like a miracle!” said Joyce.

“I’ve had patients that we’ve put this in and literally start to cry when they get up because their pain is so much better,” said Dr. Wall.

To read the WECT article visit: http://www.wect.com/story/13705642/the-kind-of-pain-that-makes-you-want-to-scream

To learn more about stimulators: http://www.independenceback.com/FAQs/What-is-Spinal-Cord-Stimulation.aspx or contact our offices at 910-794-8892.

Dr. John Liguori featured speaker at NHRMC’s “Live & Learn” back pain seminars

New Hanover Regional Medical Center has Dr. Liguori as their keynote speaker for all three of their “Live & Learn” back pain seminars.

John Liguori, MD, MS, FAAPM&R is one of our providers, but he also the Medical Director of New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Liguori is board certified in Pain Management & Rehabilitation and a board examiner for the specialty. He is a member of
the North American Spine Society and is board certified by the American Academy of Pain Management. From seeing patients with chronic pain in our offices, to working with patients that just experienced a traumatic spinal injury at the hospital, Dr. Liguori has the experience and knowledge.

To learn more about upcoming seminars at NHRMC: www.nhrmc.org or 910.343.7000.

Ken Barrow, PAC travels to Haiti

In late August, Ken Barrow, PAC had the opportunity to join a group of 22 dedicated volunteers, both medical and contractors and construction personnel to travel to Haiti. They were on a mission for the people of Haiti to meet desperate healthcare and shelter needs following the tragic earthquake. Once they arrived, it was very apparent that the degree of poverty certainly preceded the natural disaster.

As Kenny describes, “The medical experience was very primitive and overwhelming because of the lack of basic diagnostic tools that we take for granted in our country.” The medical teams consisted of one provider, two nurses, a pharmacist, two translators and a Haitian trained physician.

Each day mobile clinics were set up in different locations. Combined, the teams treated a little over 1700 patients that week.

Fortunately, through donations and collections they were able to carry a reasonably large quantity of much needed basic pharmaceuticals. The most commonly treated conditions were anemia, malnutrition, parasitosis, skin infections (including impetigo, scabies, and tinea capitus/corporis), fever related to malaria and typhoid, HTN and DM.

Simultaneously the construction teams built 20 temporary 12 x12 “homes” with a 2×4 frame, tin roof, and plywood cots to sleep between 6-8 Haitians.

For Kenny, “the experience was physically demanding, emotionally heart wrenching, and unexplainably rewarding.”

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

It is hard to believe the holidays are already here again!

We would like to take the moment to THANK every one of you that have supported Independence Back Institute throughout this year. It has been our pleasure interacting with all our patients and working with so many wonderful offices and nurses and providers.

From our entire family here at Independence Back Institute, we would like to wish you and your family a very safe & Happy Holiday season! …and a Happy New Year!

We look forward to continuing to work with you and your staff in 2011!

Happy Hollidays

Independence Back Institute