New Implant Offers Hope for Easing Rheumatoid Arthritis

[Sedalia Dave]

Interesting.

 

New Implant Offers Hope for Easing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Quote

 

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a medical device that offers new hope to patients incapacitated by rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic condition that afflicts 1.5 million Americans and is often resistant to treatment.

 

The condition is usually managed with medications. The device represents a radical departure from standard care, tapping the power of the brain and nervous system to tamp down the uncontrolled inflammation that leads to the debilitating autoimmune disease.

 

The SetPoint System is an inch-long device that is surgically implanted into the neck, where it sits in a pod wrapped around the vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body. The device electrically stimulates the nerve for one minute each day.

 

The stimulation can turn off crippling inflammation and “reset” the immune system, research has shown. Most drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis suppress the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to serious infections.

 

On a recent episode of the American College of Rheumatology podcast, the SetPoint implant was described as representing a “true paradigm shift” in treatment of the disease, which until now has relied almost entirely on an evolving set of pharmaceutical interventions, from gold salts to powerful agents called biologics.

 

 

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

Now THAT is INTERESTING!

[Calamity Kris]

I wonder if that would work for my autoimmune disease?  I will certainly look into that.

[Rye Miles #13621]

Interesting but not sure if I want something planted in my neck! 🙄

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

I’m wondering at what stage of the disease they implant it. At first sign, or does it have to develop more? Is it suitable for juvenile arthritis?  Side effects - especially long term use?  Many questions….

[Pat Riot]

That you @Sedalia Dave

I sent that link along with a couple of others I found to my wife so she could send them to family that has RA. 

[Sedalia Dave]

7 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

I’m wondering at what stage of the disease they implant it. At first sign, or does it have to develop more? Is it suitable for juvenile arthritis?  Side effects - especially long term use?  Many questions….

 

I wonder the same thing.  Right now it is way too early to tell.

 

I do know that for those that suffer from chronic pain, an implanted nerve stimulation devices (TENS unit) are a God send to those that have them. If I had to choose between an implant or slowly poisoning myself with narcotic pain pills I'd choose the implant every time.  

[Calamity Kris]

2 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

I wonder the same thing.  Right now it is way too early to tell.

 

I do know that for those that suffer from chronic pain, an implanted nerve stimulation devices (TENS unit) are a God send to those that have them. If I had to choose between an implant or slowly poisoning myself with narcotic pain pills I'd choose the implant every time.  

 

I have the same questions.  Unfortunately, the high doses of antinflamatories I have to take are tearing up my stomach and digestive tract.  I know I can't continue like this so I'm looking for other options.