More than 35% of adults in the United States suffer from leg pain at some point in any given year. When this pain is chronic, it becomes life-altering. You may find it difficult to walk, work, sleep, or even enjoy time with your family.
If you’ve tried physical therapy, medications, injections, or even surgery with limited relief, it may be time to explore a more targeted solution.
Ioannis Skaribas, MD, DABA, FASA, of Expert Pain in Houston, Texas, provides Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) therapy. This innovative treatment offers relief if you’re living with nerve-related leg pain that hasn’t responded to traditional methods.
But when should you consider DRG therapy? Read on to learn more.
DRG therapy is a form of neuromodulation, similar to spinal cord stimulation, but offers greater precision.
DRG involves implanting a small device that delivers electrical pulses directly to the dorsal root ganglion — a cluster of nerve cells located along the spine that help transmit pain signals. By targeting specific DRGs linked to the affected area (such as the legs), Dr. Skarabis uses the therapy to interrupt or modulate pain signals before they reach the brain.
DRG therapy is especially effective if you have focal nerve pain in the lower body, like the groin, knee, foot, ankle, or lower leg.
One of the most common conditions treated with DRG therapy is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). This chronic pain condition often follows injury or surgery and involves severe, burning pain and hypersensitivity.
DRG therapy has shown better results when compared to traditional spinal cord stimulation in patients with CRPS affecting the lower limbs.
So, how do you know when to take the next step? Dr. Skarabis may recommend DRG therapy if:
DRG therapy addresses pain that’s confined to a specific area, especially if the pain follows a nerve distribution pattern. Tingling, burning, numbness, or hypersensitivity in a focused region of the leg can be a clue.
If you’ve tried physical therapy, medications (like gabapentin or opioids), nerve blocks, or other interventions without lasting relief, it may be time to explore advanced options like DRG therapy.
When pain interferes with walking, working, sleeping, or basic daily tasks, it’s worth asking your pain specialist about DRG therapy. It may be an option when other, simpler therapies are ineffective.
DRG therapy is FDA-approved for CRPS, and it’s also being used to treat nerve pain after surgeries like hernia repairs, knee replacements, or spinal procedures.
One of the best features of DRG therapy is that you can try it before committing to a permanent implant.
During the trial phase, Dr. Skarabis places temporary leads and connects them to an external device to test how well the therapy relieves your pain.
If you experience significant pain relief, Dr. Skarabis recommends you move forward with the permanent system. DRG therapy offers a highly targeted, clinically proven option if you haven’t found relief through other treatments.
If you're experiencing persistent, localized leg pain and are curious about whether DRG therapy is right for you, the team at Expert Pain is here to help.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment so we can go over your options and create a personalized plan to get you back to a high quality of life.
