If you have chronic pain, and if back surgery and other treatments haven’t worked, spinal cord stimulation may be the next logical step to try.
According to research published in 2012, spinal cord stimulation “has been established as an effective treatment in a number of painful syndromes,” including failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and phantom limb pain.
What is spinal cord stimulation?
Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment that’s been around since the late 1960s, although the technology has improved a great deal since then. The treatment basically involves delivering electrical stimuli to nerves along the spinal column. This interferes with the body’s ability to send pain signals to the brain.
If your doctor decides spinal cord stimulation may be a good option for you, you’ll first have a trial implant to test whether it actually provides the relief you’re hoping for. If the results are good, the next step will be a permanent implant.
During the surgery, one or more insulated wire leads with electrodes on them are placed into the space surrounding the spinal cord (called the epidural space). An electrical pulse generator battery will be implanted under your skin, usually in the buttocks or abdomen. After surgery, you’ll be able to control the electrical pulses with an external wireless programmer.
What are the advantages of spinal cord stimulation?
- You may have enough pain relief that you can cut back on or even eliminate the use of potentially dangerous opioid medications.
- The hand-held controller lets you adjust the “dosage” as needed.
- Over the long term, spinal cord stimulation can be less expensive and provide a better quality of life than continued use of medications.
- It’s reversible. If you find the device isn’t working or is causing discomfort, it can be removed.
- It’s an outpatient procedure, so you’re usually able to go home the same day.
What are the disadvantages of spinal cord stimulation?
- It doesn’t always work. Some patients don’t get the relief they were hoping for.
- As with any surgery, recovery can be initially painful, and you’ll probably need pain medication. You’ll need to limit some activities for weeks or more after surgery.
- As with any medical procedure, there can be complications. The most common are movement of the leads, failed connections in the leads, and broken leads.
- With some types of implants, you won’t be able to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests.
For more information on spinal cord stimulation or to make an appointment with the doctors at NeuroMicroSpine, please call (850) 934-7545 or click here to request an appointment.
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The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.