Two pain specialists discuss the latest research in spinal cord stimulation, and how it can be used to treat chronic pain.  Kris Ferguson, MD welcomes Dr. Warren M. Grill, professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke.  Some patient testimonials from spinal cord stimulator implants are nothing short of miraculous.  For those suffering from chronic pain, listening to this episode is a must!  What exactly is neuromodulation?  And do you ever wonder why rubbing a painful area makes it feel better?   

Warren M. Grill is Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke, where he studies electrical stimulation of the nervous system to restore function to individuals with neurological impairment or injury.  Having won numerous awards and accolades, he is the 2018 winner of the Capers & Marion McDonald Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research, and in 2014 he won the Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award. 

Dr. Grill's Current projects include:

• understanding the mechanisms of and developing advanced approaches to deep brain stimulation to treat movement disorders,

• developing novel approaches to peripheral nerve electrical stimulation for restoration of bladder function, 

• understanding the mechanisms of and developing advanced approaches to spinal cord stimulation to treat chronic pain,

• understanding and controlling the cellular effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation, and

• design of novel electrodes and waveforms for selective stimulation of the nervous system.