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Is Spinal Cord Stimulation What You Need for Your Chronic Back Pain?

Is Spinal Cord Stimulation What You Need for Your Chronic Back Pain?

Spinal cord stimulation is in use for over 40 years and it is FDA-approved. And some more facts about spinal cord stimulation (SCS) are its reversible, non-drug therapy, it may result in a reduction of oral drugs and their side effects, covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and most worker's compensation programs, and new improvements in technology have dramatically improved patient outcomes.

What is spinal cord stimulation (SCS)?

Spinal cord stimulation is a technique that physicians use to treat chronic low back and leg pain in folks that are not surgical candidates but are still dealing with immense pain. What the procedure entails is going through a trial period, where a doctor place two percutaneous leads into the patient’s epidural space and the patient then goes home and trials the system for 4 to 5 days. If the patient ends up with a decrease in their pain, an increase in their activity level, and a decrease in their pain medication usage, they are deemed a candidate for the implant.

The implant is much like the trial but involves two very small incisions and the implementation of a battery that will stay in the patient or last for anywhere from 5 to 7 years, depending on the injury requirements that the patient uses for pain relief.

Who are the right candidates for spinal cord stimulation?

To be a candidate for a spinal cord stimulator the patient will need to fit the criteria of having either low back or reticular leg symptoms. They will also need to get clearance from a neuropsychologist. The neuropsychologist wants to make sure that the patient has undergone other treatment options from a psychological and pain standpoint, before moving to this intervention technique which includes two small incisions. Once the spinal cord stimulator is in place, the patient has multiple options to choose from. Some folks like to be more in control of their spinal cord stimulator settings and can therefore make changes to it as they see fit. Others like to take a more laid-back approach and kind of rely on the settings that are placed to help control their pain.

Aside from the general side effects of having two small incisions placed, there is a small risk of bleeding around the spinal cord or having an infection formed in and around the spinal cord. A physician tries to make sure that you are off all blood thinners and that you do not have an increased risk for infection prior to proceeding with the implantation. Recovery time after having a spinal cord stimulator implant is generally anywhere from a week to two weeks of Just mild soreness over the incision sites.

Also Read: How to Relieve Back Pain With Foot Therapy?

How is it placed?

The trial period is the first step of the spinal cord stimulation process. The person is sedated and given a local anesthetic. Next, thin wires with electrons attached-called leads-are inserted into the space surrounding the spinal cord via a thin hollow tube. The area where the leads are placed is called the epidural space. Next, the leads are attached to a generator outside the body, the patient is then awake and asked to give feedback on where the additional current is needed for pain control.

Then adjustments are made by the doctor to ease all the pain, and the person is again sedated. Next, the tube is extracted, and the leads are left in place. The person then tries spinal cord stimulation for several days, if the person decides that the trial has provided sufficient relief, the next step is to implant a permanent spinal cord stimulator. Permanent implantation is similar to the trial period process, but with some extra steps.

What is spinal cord stimulation (SCS)?

How do you know if the spinal cord stimulation trial working for you?

  • If you can feel 50% less pain after the implantation
  • If you can return to your day-to-day activities
  • If you’re able to relax and sleep
  • If your need for over-the-counter medication or painkillers is reduced

We can usually see the improvement in the first two or three days. So overall, even after having a couple of small incisions, the patient feels much better shortly thereafter surgery.

Also Read: 7 Things to Know About Spinal Stenosis

What types of back pain can be treated by spinal cord stimulation?

  • A chronic back pain that doesn’t go away even after surgery
  • Complex regional pain syndrome
  • Back pain or inflammation in the line of the spinal cord

To know what type of back pain you have, speak to your physician today or go to farmers branch pain management clinic and get a suitable treatment for your back pain.

What are the benefits of spinal cord stimulation?

  • It is a non-surgical and drug-free treatment
  • You can have a good sleep
  • You will be able to be active
  • It reduces the need for over-the-counter medications
  • You don't have to be dependent on anyone, you can handle things independently 
See https://specialtycareclinics.com/ or call (469) 545-9983 to book an appointment, if you are suffering from severe back pain and want to get rid of it to enjoy your life fully



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Location: Farmers Branch, TX, USA

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