Page 45 - PCH Magazine Issue Jan export v3

GA TE CONTROL THEORY

operative pain treatment. It can improve When an injury occurs signals
quality of life and sleep. It also reduces the need for are carried by small or large nerve fibers. Small
pain management treatments such as medications nerve fibers typically pass through the gate wheras
and physical therapy. large nerve fibers are usually blocked. The signals

Ideas of electrical pulses to stop pain didn’t come are transfered to the spinal cord which brings it up
about until around 1965, when Ronald Melzack and to the brain. Before they reach the brain the fibers

Patrick Wall came up with the Gate Control theory. pass through the “nerve gate”. This gate is located
Gate Control theory is a theory that states in the dorsal horn of the body’s spinal cord. It
that a pleasant sensation can overpower and decides if the pain signal will pass to the brain or
minimize painful sensations. In other words it not.

states that a more pleasant sensation can essentially The first spinal cord stimulator was created
distract your body from the pain you feel. There are by C. Norman Shealy and the first device used to
two parts to this theory closed Gate and open gate. treat a patient was in 1967. Since then we have made
Closed gate is when the transmission cell is great advancements in the procedure for spinal cord

blocked decreasing the sensation of pain. Open gate stimulators. Developments in the technology used
is when the tranmission cell are passed and sensation during the procedure such are xrays and MRIs has
of pain occurs. There are some componenets of this greatly influenced how it is done. Doctors can now
theory that do not properly explain pain occurance more accurately pinpoint where to place the lead
and therefor it remains just a theory. However, it is wires in the spine. Machines like MRIs and Xrays
one of the more accurate pain perception theories have become important parts fo the procedure.

involving psycology that we are aware of and still in
use today.

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