Loading Page
Dr. Michael A. Abdou, MD, DABA is an alternative medicine practitioner in Lumberton, NC specializing in complementary and alternative medicine and general practice. He graduated from Cairo University, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine in 1997 and has 28 years of experience. Dr. Michael A. Abdou, MD, DABA is affiliated with UNC Health, UNC PHYSICIANS NETWORK LLC and UNC Health Southeastern UNC Health Medical Group.
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
If conservative treatment options and other spine surgeries have failed to provide someone pain relief, they may be a candidate for spinal cord stimulation. Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment for chronic back or leg pain. A spinal cord stimulator, which is surgically implanted underneath the skin (subcutaneously), can deliver electrical pulses to the area of pain. These pulses will reach the brain before the pain signals can, so instead of pain, patients will experience a tingling sensation.
To determine if spinal cord stimulation may benefit someone, they will first undergo a trial period. During this period, a temporary electrode lead is placed subcutaneously above the spinal cord, and it is connected to an external stimulator that they will carry with them. The procedure is typically completed within an hour, and patients may return home the same day. After a few days or weeks, the trial stimulator will be assessed for effectiveness. If the trial is unsuccessful, patients may undergo a second trial period, or the leads will be removed, and other treatment options will be considered. If, instead, a patient's pain is relieved during the trial, they will undergo surgery for implantation of a permanent stimulator and leads.
The components of a spinal cord stimulation system include the stimulator, the leads, and the wire that connects the two. Implantation of permanent leads may be percutaneous (through the skin) or involve a surgical incision. The spinal cord stimulator is implanted subcutaneously in the abdomen or buttock. The stimulator is battery-powered and may be rechargeable. If the battery is not rechargeable, it will last around 2-5 years, and a patient will need surgery to replace it.Their doctor will program the neurostimulator following the procedure.
After spinal cord stimulator surgery, patients may be released from the hospital the same day or the next one. In the weeks following the operation, patients will need to work with their doctors to find the optimal settings for their neurostimulator. Activities such as driving, twisting, bending, raising one's arms, sleeping on one's stomach, or lifting heavy objects should be limited.
Dr. Michael A. Abdou, MD, DABA graduated from Cairo University, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine in 1997. He completed residency at Cairo University Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Anesthesiology, Board Certified and has a state license in North Carolina.
Medical School: Cairo University, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine (1997)
Residency: Cairo University Affiliated Hospitals (2003)
Board Certification: Anesthesiology, Board Certified
Licensed In: North Carolina
Dr. Michael A. Abdou, MD, DABA is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Michael A. Abdou, MD, DABA appears to accept the following insurance providers: WellCare, AmeriHealth Caritas, Aetna, Humana, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), MedCost, UnitedHealthcare, Carolina Complete Health, Liberty Advantage, Contigo Health, Veterans Affairs, WellCare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage, United Healthcare, TRICARE, Medicaid, CHAMPVA, Centene, Group Health Plan (GHP), MedCost PPO, FirstCarolinaCare Insurance Company Group Health Plans, North Carolina State Health Plan, Atlantic (Packaging) Corporation, Inc. (administered by Lucent Health), BCBSNC Blue Home with UNC Health Alliance (Blue Home with Novant Health is out of network), FirstCarolinaCare FirstMedicare Direct, Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN+) (Tier 2), BCBSNC Group Health Plans (except for Blue High Performance Network (BlueHPN)), Aetna Whole Health (Tier 2), Meritain Health, an Aetna Company, Longevity Health Plan I-SNP, Contigo Health Plan (WakeMed employees only) and Veterans Affairs Community Care Network.
According to our sources, Dr. Michael A. Abdou, MD, DABA accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Michael A. Abdou, MD, DABA does not have any reviews yet, be the first to leave a review of Dr. Michael A. Abdou, MD, DABA here: Leave a Review
Dr. Michael Abdou's specialties are general practice and complementary and alternative medicine. Areas of expertise for Dr. Abdou include nerve block, pain management, and minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD). He is affiliated with UNC Health. Dr. Abdou most likely takes BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue California, as well as other insurance carriers. UNC Health reports that he is accepting new patients at his office in Lumberton, NC. He graduated from Cairo University, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine. For his professional training, Dr. Abdou completed residency programs at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, George Washington University Medical Center, and a hospital affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College.
