A case of potential treatment of remote pain after sacral nerve stimulation for chronic urinary retention.
OBJECTIVE
A case is presented in which a 58-year-old man developed a potential unintended and durable treatment of pain at remote sites (cervical region and low back) after sacral nerve stimulation for chronic urinary retention.


METHODS
Proper placement of the electrodes in the S3 foramen was confirmed by physiological response and fluoroscopy.


RESULTS
Potential causality was shown by recurrent pain with the stimulators turned off and abatement of pain with the stimulators turned on.


CONCLUSIONS
The current case presents a potential example of neurological crosstalk and highlights the inherent complexity in human neural physiology. Further research may reveal novel treatment strategies for patients with voiding dysfunction and chronic pain syndromes.
Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Jennifer R
JR
Hoyt
Samuel P
SP
Robinson
Laura R
LR
Carucci
Adam P
AP
Klausner
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012447:Sacrum / Q000294:innervation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*