NEW YORK, New York, September 8, 2008 (NBC) -- Millions of people suffer from chronic back pain and it can be miserable. But there's a new option for patients who've tried everything and are still suffering.
 
Former flight attendant, Erika Lilja, is walking today, but until last July, it's something she struggled to do.

Seven years ago she injured her back and leg during turbulence in-flight. She tried physical therapy, acupuncture, even surgery, but things got worse.

"I had a very hard time going up and down the stairs, a hard time taking a bath, sitting on the toilet seat, sitting on my tailbone, I would have to use pillows," said Lilja.

She became depressed and desperate for relief. 

"I was the type of person, I didn't eat and I cried a lot, it was hard," Lilja said.

But that's all changed, thanks to the Restore Ultra.

It's a pacemaker, implanted into Lila’s back, that sends electrical signals to her spinal cord.

"When someone is in pain they are getting abnormal electrical signals from their nerves up to their brain, so the stimulator is replacing those abnormal pain signals with a pleasant signal," said neurosurgeon Dr. Alon Mogilner
 
The device is implanted during outpatient surgery. 

"Most patients, right after the surgery, have a little bit of soreness where we made the incision, but immediately their previous painful areas are feeling better," said Mogilner.

Patients control the device themselves, turning it on and off as needed and adjust the strength and type of pulsations.
 
Lilja says she's ready to make up for the seven years she lost to pain. 

"I feel like a whole different person and one day I will wear high heels again and go dancing," said Lilja.

Doctors are treating pain elsewhere in the body with the same device including headaches.

And this technology is being used to treat Parkinson’s disease and depression.