Pain Management & Neuromodulation

Pro. Tufo specialises in pain management and neuromodulation treatments that can change the way your nervous system, which can relieve pain, restore bowel and bladder control, control tremors, and help in other ways. If you experience pain or loss of function because of problems with your nervous system (neurological issues), Prof. Tufo may be able to help. 

Millions of people are living with neurological disorders that arise from the abnormal firing of the nervous system circuits. These disorders can cause a wide range of debilitating symptoms, including chronic pain and movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Tourette syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Neuromodulation is a series of techniques that act directly on your nervous system. Changing how your nerves carry information to and from the brain can decrease pain and increase mobility. Prof Tufo uses electrical currents and medications to treat nervous system problems and to manage pain.

Neuromodulation therapies are a new field of treatment that involves stimulating parts of the nervous system to alter or reset the abnormal circuitry. By implanting devices in the affected area of the body, we can use electricity to alter the problematic circuitry,  much in the same way that a pacemaker controls abnormal heart rhythms.

The field of neuromodulation is constantly growing, and  Prof. Tufo is heavily involved in conducting research to help further its development and are committed to developing bold, new approaches for treatment and pain management.

Neuromodulation is particularly appropriate for people with neurological conditions and refractory psychiatric disorders. Using minimally invasive techniques, such as electrical stimulation or medication, to do what other treatment approaches cannot do, including:

• Major Depression

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD) 

• Tourette’s Disorder

• Chronic Pain

Pain Management

A Functional Neurosurgeon is able to treat pain using the latest pain treatments and state-of-the-art medical technology.

The most commonly treated conditions that cause pain are:

Pain Treatment 

Living with pain, you understand how debilitating it can be. From making it difficult to work to keep you from enjoying family and social events, there may be times you feel desperate for relief. A Functional neurosurgeon can provide pain treatment for:

Acute pain – pain that usually comes on suddenly and is caused by something specific. It is sharp in quality. Acute pain usually doesn’t last longer than six months. It goes away when there is no longer an underlying cause for the pain.

The primary aim of acute pain management^* is to provide treatment that reduces the patient’s pain, with minimal adverse effects, while allowing them to maintain function. A secondary aim is to prevent acute pain from progressing to chronic pain.

Chronic pain – pain that is pain that persists longer than 12 weeks. While the original source of the pain may be known, such as a sprain or injury, sometimes the body doesn’t turn off the pain messages to the brain even when the original source is gone. In a case such as this, your doctor may diagnose you with neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is defined as a “complex, chronic pain state” resulting from a malfunction of the nervous system following an injury or illness. This type of pain is described as a sharp, intense or shooting pain. Due to its complexity, neuropathic pain is difficult to treat and often doesn’t respond well to standard pain medication.

Pain is an individual experience, so what works for one person may not work for another. Diagnosing the cause of your pain can be a challenge. It’s important to work closely with your Functional Neurosurgeon to identify your condition and find the pain treatment or combination of pain treatments that work for you.

Treatments for pain management can include: