Drug free medical treatment

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A drug free option for pain is now available in Connecticut.

A nerve injury can be extremely painful. At times medication and other treatments can not bring relief. Now there's a new option that's non-invasive and drug free.

Michelle Lyster tore a tendon in her right ankle, but after surgery she developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy. "Which causes severe burning pain, hypersensitivity," Lyster said.

Doctors could do little for her excruciating pain.

"I've been on a cane or crutches for the entire six years," Lyster said.

Now a new electrical stimulation therapy offered at the Pain Treatment Center at Hartford Hospital is easing much of Lyster's pain.

"The sensitivity is really down," she said.

Dr. Jonathan Kost says it sends a no-pain message through electrodes.

"Electrodes are essentially placed in the vicinity of the nerve injury," said Dr. Kost. "This new device resets the pain signal of how it's being sent eventually into the spinal cord and up to the brain as not being as painful as it was prior to the treatment."

"It feels like a bee stinging," Lyster said, "but it's not painful and then it gets to a point where it's more of a vibrating type of stimulation."

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Drug free medical treatment