FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 37
health
One man’s search for relief from
painful diabetic neuropathy
Th e pain was so bad, James Smith
couldn’t sleep. With what felt like a thousand
bees stinging his legs, he spent hours
at the computer searching for: “Treatment
options for painful diabetic neuropathy
(PDN).”
“When I couldn’t sleep, I’d fi nd myself
searching online,” said Smith. “I wanted
to try something safe to control my
pain, and preferably not a drug. Every
day I wished I could live my life the way
I used to.”
Since his diabetes diagnosis, Smith’s
numbers were under control, but this was
diff erent - the newly developed leg pain
made normal activities like walking, gardening,
sitting and sleeping almost intolerable.
Something had to change. Th en, a
Facebook ad for a clinical trial led him to
HFX for PDN,* a new device to help treat
painful diabetic neuropathy.
In July 2021, Nevro became the fi rst
company to receive FDA approval of a
spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system for
the treatment of PDN. Th e approval of
HFX for PDN (which includes all Nevro
Senza Systems) followed the successful
completion of the randomized clinical
trial in which Smith participated. Th is was
the largest-scale study to date by a company
establishing evidence for the safety and
effi cacy of SCS to treat PDN.
“I was not very hopeful when I fi rst
enrolled in the clinical trial. I was in so
much pain, doing basic things felt impossible,”
said Smith. “My doctor told me
we’d know soon aft er my initial test with
the technology if I’d be a candidate for
the implant. Th en I was amazed by how
quickly I felt relief. Th is device changed
my life.”
Diabetes and painful
diabetic neuropathy
About 10.5% of the U.S. population, or
34.2 million people, have diabetes. While
there are many complications associated
with the condition, diabetic neuropathy is
the most prevalent and chronic complication.
PDN most oft en damages nerves in
legs and feet.
Although each person may experience
it diff erently, the symptoms of PDN are
oft en worse at night, and may include:
• Tingling, burning or freezing sensation
• Sharp stabbing, shooting pains or
cramps
• Hypersensitivity to touch - even a bedsheet’s
weight can be painful
• A deep, persistent ache
As reported in an FDA patient panel,
people with PDN oft en have trouble
achieving pain relief. Once diagnosed,
it is typical to try standard treatment
options such as physical therapy, injections,
over-the-counter medications and
prescription medications including opioids.
Opioids are used to manage chronic
pain in the U.S., but their addiction potential
can lead to long-term dependence and
show little evidence of improving function.
In academic and medical communities,
opioids are referenced as a last resort
for treating PDN.
Prior to learning about the new treatment,
Smith’s chronic pain meant missing
out on participating in his daughter’s
wedding. Standing and participating in
a ceremony may not seem daunting for
some, but people living with PDN oft en
miss life’s most precious moments. New
options for patients were needed.
New treatment, new day
Nevro’s HFX for PDN provides an alternative
to conventional therapies, using
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS): mild electrical
pulses to disrupt pain signals before
they reach the brain.
HFX for PDN is currently the only SCS
system with an FDA indication to treat
PDN. Unlike other systems, its proprietary,
high-frequency 10 kHz waveform
doesn’t rely on an uncomfortable tingling
sensation (known as paresthesia) to override
pain. By “tricking” the brain, patients
experience pain relief - allowing them to
pursue activities they enjoy and live independently.
Rather than long-term therapy and
unwanted side eff ects, HFX for PDN provides
an exciting new option through a
quick, minimally invasive procedure to
implant a small device under the skin near
the spine.
Care improvement
For doctors and patients, HFX for PDN
provides versatility for optimal chronic
pain relief. Th e HFX system now delivers
more versatility, without in-person visits,
and patients can access innovative technologies,
advanced therapies and patient
support through a dedicated HFX Coach.
“Our PDN study showed that HFX and
10 kHz Th erapy can help so many people
suff ering from PDN,” said Dr. Cong Yu of
Swedish Pain Services in Seattle. “HFX for
PDN can reduce patients’ medication use,
likely preventing deterioration of their
pain condition.”
To learn more about new treatments
for painful diabetic neuropathy, visit
HFXForPDN.com.
*HFX is a comprehensive solution that
includes a Senza spinal cord stimulation
system and support services for the treatment
of chronic pain. HFX for PDN means
that a patient has been implanted with a
Senza System and programmed to include
a frequency of 10 kHz.
— Courtesy of BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
/HFXForPDN.com
