What conditions do you treat?

NTI specializes in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), essentially pain or numbness of the feet arising from diabetes. For many patients this pain can be debilitating. Numbness can be even worse, as it often creates balance problems leading to painful falls, which may in turn cause significant injuries to the knees, hips, or even head.

NTI also specializes in the use of spinal cord stimulators for the treatment of other chronic pain. The most common use case, aside from PDN, is failed back surgery. For patients who continue to suffer from chronic back pain after prior surgical treatments, SCS may be an option to alleviate that pain and help the patient resume somewhat more normal activity.

Who is a good candidate for NTI?

Patients suffering from painful diabetic neuropathy who have tried and failed conservative treatments may be candidates for a stimulator procedure. Conservative measures that should be tried first include:

OTC medications, typically NSAIDs
Prescription medications, including at least one of pregabalin (Lyrica) or gabapentin (Neurontin). These prescription drugs may have highly desirable side effects.
Topical agents such as lidocaine or capsaicin
Physical Therapy

What kind of treatments does NTI offer?

Our most common treatment uses spinal cord stimulator technology to eliminate the pain and restore nerve function in the feet. While SCS has been used for decades, this is a new and exciting evolution of the technology. The FDA recently approved this application and it is covered by Medicare. For many sufferers of diabetic foot pain, this is a revolutionary, effective, and affordable way to address a problem that they have dealt with for months or even years.

How does the treatment work?

There are two parts to the treatment. If you are determined to be a good candidate after our extensive screening process, then you will be scheduled for a trial procedure. The trial procedure involves wearing the stimulation device on a belt, with almost-imperceptible wires inserted subcutaneously in the mid-back. If the trial produces the results we are looking for, you will proceed to the permanent implant. In this procedure, a tiny battery is implanted in the fatty tissue of the back just over your hips and the filament-type wires are surgically implanted in your back. This is an outpatient procedure where patients leave the facility within a couple hours post-operatively. It is actually a very simple procedure, akin to the SCS procedures that have been performed for decades, but less invasive and with newer tech.

What are the benefits of this treatment?

Our treatments have been engineered specifically for PDN and so they are highly targeted and extremely effective. There are a number of benefits:

• Virtually eliminates diabetic foot pain
• High-frequency stimulation does not produce paresthesia (tingling/buzzing sensation, common in SCS, that some patients find unpleasant)
• Studies indicate this high-frequency stimulation may actually regenerate damaged nerves
• Can be performed relatively early, before too much nerve damage occurs
• Permanent treatment that only needs to be done one time
• Minimally invasive, outpatient procedure
• Medicare approved and covered procedure
• Low cost to patient
• FDA approved for treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy – we use the only stimulator device with this approval

Why should I consider treatment with Neuropathy Treatment Institute?

In addition to the many benefits of our treatments, NTI provides a guided, concierge experience for the patient at no additional cost. Patients can be evaluated, for the most part, from the comforts of their own home. Your dedicated Patient Care Manager and the rest of our team will handle collection of your medical records, getting insurance approvals, helping you understand any costs you might incur, scheduling appointments, and providing all the information you need to make the right decision for your health.

Is this covered by insurance?

Almost everything we do is covered by insurance, including Medicare. This is in contrast to many other treatments offered for PDN. Again, we use the only neurostimulator device approved by the FDA for this application. We believe in full cost transparency at NTI, and we will make sure your procedures are approved and that you understand your financial responsibilities before we do anything. Remember, your concierge experience and pre-surgical evaluation are completely free, so we encourage you to call today!

How does the process work?

We make the process as simple as possible for our patients. Your Patient Care Manager will be with you every step of the way, holding your hand and making sure you understand what’s next. While every patient journey is different, the basic steps are as follows:

• Screening – fill out our new patient paperwork and consent forms so we can collect your medical records, then determine if you may be a candidate for a procedure
• Insurance – we will verify your benefits to confirm coverage and provide pricing information
• Consult – you will visit with the doctor who will perform your surgery. You can come into the office or do a virtual visit if you prefer
• Trial Procedure – if you are a good candidate and wish to proceed, we will get approval from your insurance and confirm costs. We will also conduct a deep review of your medical history to ensure your procedure is safe, and get you scheduled for the trial as soon as you are cleared.
• Permanent Implant – if the trial is successful and you wish to proceed with the permanent implant, we will repeat the steps from the trial. Once insurance authorizes and you are cleared for surgery, we will schedule you for your same-day surgery and get you on the road to recovery!