HealthLinksSC.com | 47 decompressive surgery can use a small endoscopic camera to visualize the pathology of the affected area, allowing a minimally invasive approach instead of traditional surgery.” Dr. Nemeth also mentioned new wearable ultrasound devices known as sustained acoustic medicine devices (SAM). Early studies suggest that these patches provide “low intensity, long-duration daily ultrasound treatment that can reduce the need for pain medication and surgery in select patients.” Applicable to soft tissue injuries, treatment expands the blood vessels at the injury site to increase blood flow and promote faster healing. In his practice, Dr. Nemeth recommends activities and pain coping strategies that will diminish the focus on chronic pain. “While we have many pharmacologic, invasive and minimally invasive treatments available to help our patients, no treatment program is more beneficial than a monitored exercise program with a heavy emphasis on strengthening,” he concluded. While back complaints are one of the most common physical complaints, especially for aging Americans, a healthy, active lifestyle that involves movement and strength training can ward off many chronic pain problems. When issues do arise, the current advancement of medical technology is improving treatment outcomes and offering more options to Lowcountry pain specialists such as Dr. Gardner and Dr. Nemeth. These stimulators are not short-term fixes. Our 80% success rate is the result of using all the information available, doing preliminary testing and expecting some trial and error. There will always be patients who need pain medications, but technology is helping us move away from opioid use by focusing on pain intervention. “ “ CHRONIC PAIN DEVICES By the Numbers From 2016 to 2019, connected wearable devices increased by 325 MILLION to 722 MILLION 30% of middle-income households used fitness trackers in the United States in 2020. 52% of those people neglected to use them on a daily basis. Tucked into this 52% of people are 10% who have stopped using their device altogether.* 21% OF PEOPLE in the United States have purchased wearable devices.* The percentage of the world population that owned a wearable device in 2020 was 22% *Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Initiative (HRI), 2020 Survey
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