What is spinal cord stimulation?
Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment for chronic pain, such as leg and low back pain. Spinal cord stimulation works by preventing pain signals in your nerves from reaching your brain, which is where pain signals are processed.
Spinal cord stimulators are small devices that come in several forms and work in different ways. The stimulator is implanted under your skin, where it emits slight electrical impulses to block or mask pain signals. Typically, spinal cord stimulators are implanted for a trial period to see if they give you sufficient pain relief.
Spinal cord stimulation is sometimes called a dimmer switch for pain. The treatment is considered a success if it reduces your pain symptoms by half.
What are the benefits of spinal cord stimulation?
Spinal cord stimulation can reduce your reliance on opioids and pain relievers. It offers other benefits, including:
- Better overall functioning
- Improved ability to get around and perform daily activities
- Less reliance on braces
- More restful sleep
The treatment can provide relief for a variety of pain-related conditions.
What does spinal cord stimulation treat?
Spinal cord stimulation can minimize and control ongoing pain when treatments, such as injections, physical therapy, pain medications, or other treatments, have failed to alleviate your symptoms. The team may recommend spinal cord stimulation for:
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Failed back surgery
- Sciatica
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Postherpetic neuralgia (Shingles pain)
- Limb ischemia
Spinal cord stimulators also may help with a variety of other conditions.
What are my options for spinal cord stimulators?
The team offers a selection of spinal cord stimulators. The goal is to match your condition to the type of stimulator that offers you the greatest degree of relief. They may discuss with you:
- Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation: outpatient treatment for complex regional pain syndrome and other painful conditions like post hernia surgery pain, endometriosis pain, and failed knee replacement surgery.
- Peripheral nerve stimulation: treatment involving the implantation of tiny electrodes to minimize pain caused by other conditions and many painful conditions of the nerves, joints, and spine.
- Spinal cord stimulators: treatment devices that come in wired and wireless versions
- In some cases, stimulators are not feasible (due to anatomy or other contraindications) or effective. In these cases intrathecal drug delivery systems can be very helpful, as with:
- baclofen for spasticity
- Ziconotide for nerve pain
- Morphine for cancer pain
If pain is affecting your quality of life and hasn’t responded to other treatments, perhaps it’s time to see if spinal cord stimulation is right for you. Call Enhance Center today to book a consultation.
