Patients who experience chronic pain conditions and have found little to no success with other treatment methods may find Spinal Cord Stimulation a successful and long-term solution to reduce pain and increase mobility, helping return you to an active lifestyle.
Conditions Treated with Spinal Cord Stimulation can include:
- Chronic Back Pain
- Chronic Neck Pain
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Arachnoiditis
- Refractory Angina
- Complex regional pain syndrome
How does Spinal Cord Stimulation work?
Spinal Cord Stimulation (also known as Neurostimulation Therapy) works by delivering electrical pulses to the spinal cord through the use of a device implanted beneath the skin. These mild electrical impulses work to mask the pain signals sent to the brain.
What are the advantages to Spinal Cord Stimulation?
- Pain management
- Increased function
- Decreased dependence on opioids for pain relief
- Minimally invasive
- Reversible
Interested in Spinal Cord Stimulation for chronic pain?
Spinal Cord Stimulation will not be your physicians’ first suggestion to treat your chronic back pain, but if you have experienced chronic pain for more the 6 months it is often suggested when medications, injections, and surgeries have not proven successful.
What’s beneficial to spinal cord stimulation is that you can take it for a test drive with Spinal Cord Screening Tests. Patients are equipped with an external stimulator, so you can experience the effectiveness and sensations of the treatment before it is implanted.
After the test phase your doctor will work with you to discover if spinal cord stimulation is an appropriate next step through evaluations as well as your response to the temporary stimulation device.
What happens during Spinal Cord Stimulation surgery?
During surgery the pulse generator will be placed in the patient’s buttock or abdomen, and electrode leads will be placed on the spine. Once they have been successfully placed the patient is awakened to test the positioning of the leads for effective pain relief. The incisions are then closed.
The surgery generally lasts from 1 to 2 hours, with most patients able to return home the same day with instructions for use of their stimulator. Around 10 days after your surgery you will visit your surgeon to remove the sutures. Your activities will be restricted for up to 6 weeks. Specific conditions will be determined by your physician.
Spinal Cord Stimulation in Southwest Florida
Spinal Cord Stimulation Procedures at Neuroscience & Spine Associates are performed by Neurosurgeons specialized in Spine Care & Rehabilitation. We are Florida’s leading practitioners in neurology, neurosurgery, pain management, orthopedics, rehabilitation and diagnostics. Our combined resources and expertise, provide patients with the highest quality, most technologically advanced medical care.
Click Here To Learn More About Our Neurosurgeons
Sources:
Spine Health
Mayfield Clinic
