Traditional therapies and medicine are not always effective in controlling chronic pain and its excruciating side effects. While you may explore several options such as physical therapy, yoga, anti-inflammatory medications, or diet, they may not help you break the cycle of chronic pain.
This is where spinal cord stimulation can help. Using a stimulation device is a unique approach to treating chronic pains caused due to several medical conditions and accidents. The treatment will also allow you to try the device and experience its effects before going for the actual implant.
The best part is that it is entirely reversible, and you can stop, pause and even restart it according to your circumstances. If you want to learn more about how spinal cord stimulation can benefit you and what makes you a candidate for spinal cord stimulation, continue reading this article.
How Spinal Cord Stimulation Works
Pain in your spinal cord results from nerves recognizing any tissue damage from any region of your body. The damaged tissues send signals to your brain via the spinal cord, and this entire process takes just under a microsecond. Your brain receives the signal and registers the pain.
Spinal cord stimulation involves a stimulator, which disrupts the communication cycle between the damaged tissues and your brain. This way, the brain does not register any pain signals. Instead of feeling any pain, you may feel a tingling or fluttering sensation or not feel anything at all.
Modern stimulators use waveforms that continue to work in the background to block the pain while you do not experience any sensation whatsoever. Sometimes, you may even forget that you have had spinal cord stimulation.
In spinal cord stimulation, a doctor will implant a stimulator with electrical wires carefully placed on specific nerves in your spine. The stimulation will require electrical signals; therefore, it involves the implantation of a battery pack in your back as well.
You will get a remote control to adjust the stimulation level as per your convenience. You can even turn the stimulator on and off using a remote. According to a study, if you experience a 50% or more reduction in chronic pain, the treatment is successful, and you are a suitable candidate for spinal cord stimulation.
Are you a Candidate for Spinal Cord Stimulation?
The purpose of spinal cord stimulation can help to cure pain caused by several medical and physical conditions. If you suffer from any kind of chronic pains and wonder if you are a candidate for spinal cord stimulation, here are various conditions this treatment can help with.
Spinal cord stimulation is for you if:
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You suffer from chronic back pain, but this pain is not a mechanical, i.e. not caused by movement. This condition makes you eligible for spinal cord stimulation, whether or not you experience leg pain with back pain.
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You experience chronic neck pain but not due to any movement. This means you experience neck pain even when you are sitting still. Whether or not you feel any pain in your arm, you are a candidate for spinal cord stimulation.
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You have undergone back surgery, but the pain persists even when you are in a stationary position.
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You suffer from peripheral vascular disease.
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You suffer from peripheral neuropathy.
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You have a Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD).
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You have a medical condition known as Refractory Angina. This type of angina doesn’t shown any response to bypass, medications, or stenting.
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You suffer from chronic abdominal pain caused by abnormal nerve function.
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You have chronic pain due to inguinal hernia repair.
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You have arachnoiditis, which is a painful scarring or inflammation of the meninges, a protective layer on your spinal nerves.
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You had an unsuccessful back surgery.
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You experience chronic pain due to a recent or prior accident.
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You have phantom limb pain.
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You have chronic pancreatitis.
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You have visceral abdominal and pelvic pain.
The conditions mentioned above are just a few to mention. Spinal cord stimulation is a groundbreaking treatment helping people with several painful health conditions. So, if you experience constant pain in your body, consult your doctor to find out if you are a candidate for spinal cord stimulation.
If you fit the criteria to receive spinal cord stimulation, your doctor will probably recommend a trial period. The next step would be the screening process; at this stage, the doctor will observe if and how well spinal cord stimulation works to ease your chronic pain.
Consult with Spinal Cord Stimulation Specialist in LA
Are you a resident of Los Angeles or California and wondering if spinal cord stimulation is right for you? In that case, Spinal Cord Stimulator LA can help. In order to determine your eligibility, we are going to start the treatment by placing a temporary stimulator along with a battery pack attached to your spinal externally.
Chronic pains can be very disabling and sometimes even hamper your ability to move or carry out daily tasks. Spinal cord stimulation will help you experience instant long-term pain relief. Furthermore, if you are fed up with taking a concoction of medicines to experience some relief from chronic pain, spinal cord stimulation is worth looking into.
This trial period may last between one and two weeks for careful observation and monitoring of the effectiveness of the spinal cord stimulator. If the treatment manages to decrease your chronic pain by 50% or more, the doctor will consider you a candidate for spinal cord stimulation.
So, if you have had back surgery or an accident or suffer from a medical condition causing chronic pain, it is worth considering spinal cord stimulation. The Spinal Cord Stimulation device is FDA-approved and is becoming increasingly popular due to its instant effectiveness.
The best part is that even if you are already undergoing mental and physical therapy, you can incorporate spinal cord stimulation.
Interested in learning more or receiving Spinal Cord Stimulation in LA? Speak to Dr. Rogers Today.