Intrathecal Drug Delivery (IDD)

Welcome to this section of NTAC's website for those living with chronic pain and those that care for them. 

What is IDD?

Intrathecal Drug Delivery (IDD) delivers pain medicine directly to the space around the spinal cord. The systems ensure pain medication is administered precisely to the area where it can be most effective and provide needed relief to many patients with serious chronic pain.

Chronic pain is a largely under-treated and misunderstood disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is defined as moderate to severe pain that persists longer than would generally be expected for recovery to a specific disease, injury or surgery. According to the National Institutes of Health, 90 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic pain. The American Pain Foundation estimates that chronic pain costs approximately $100 billion per year in lost work time and health care expenses.

That is why NTAC and its coalition members are dedicated to promoting appropriate access to neuromodulation therapies, including IDD, that help people living in chronic pain live fuller, more productive lives. 

Click on the links in this section to learn more about IDD and to become an advocate for patient access!