Since last June, Dr. Richard Bundschu, an interventional pain management specialist at Coastal Orthopedics Sports Medicine & Pain Management, has participated as a principal investigator for a new study examining the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulators in treating neck and upper extremity pain. The stimulators, manufactured by the California-based company Nevro, have previously been used to treat chronic pain in the lower back, torso and legs when pain medications, injections and physical therapy are ineffective. The neck stimulator resembles a pacemaker. A battery is installed above the hip and below the rib cage and electrodes are placed in the neck. An electric current is applied to the spinal nerves, which disrupts the flow of pain signals that travel to the brain.