Have you recently come across the term Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and wonder if it works? Then you are in the right place as this post will give you valuable information into what Spinal cord stimulation is and how it works. You will also learn about who can benefit from this treatment.
What is Spinal Cord Stimulation?
Spinal cord stimulation involves the use of stimulators consisting of thin wires known as electrodes. The device also has a small pacemaker-type battery known as a generator. The doctor places electrodes between your spinal cord and vertebrae or epidural space. The generator stays on your skin, usually near your abdomen or buttocks.
Spinal cord stimulators will allow patients in pain to send electrical pulses through your spinal cord using a remote control. In this process, the antennas and remote control stay outside your body.
According to a study, spinal cord stimulation has led to meaningful and statistically significant pain relief amongst 50% to 70% of patients. Another study proved that 84.3% of well-selected patients were satisfied after spinal cord implants and reported improvement in pain scores.
How does it Work?
While the exact science is still not entirely clear but it does work. However, some believe that the mechanism behind the spinal cord is that this treatment targets multiple groups of muscles directly from your spine and may even alter how your brain senses pain.
Traditional or older spinal cord stimulators tend to replace pain’s sensation with a feeling of light tingling known as paresthesia. However, if you are uncomfortable with paresthesia, you can opt for newer devices offering stimulation that you cannot feel. This is known as sub-perception stimulation.
If you are suffering from any chronic aches and pains, you can speak to a doctor offering spinal cord stimulation treatment. A doctor specializing in interventional pain management will be able to place a spinal cord stimulation device on you.
What Can SCS Treat?
Doctors use spinal cord stimulation mostly when a non-surgical pain treatment has failed to provide any or sufficient relief to a patient. The stimulators used can manage or treat different types of chronic aches and pains, including:
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Back pain – especially the pain in your back that continues ever after back surgery. This is also known as failed back surgery syndrome
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Any post-surgical pain
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Painful inflammation of your arachnoid, a very thin membrane covering your spinal cord and brain.
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Angina/heart pain that is untreatable by any other means
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Complex regional pain syndrome
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Pain due to any injury to your spinal cord
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Any nerve-related pain, including severe diabetic neuropathy as well as cancel-associated neuropathy from surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy
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Peripheral vascular disease
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Post-amputation pain
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Perineal pain
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Visceral abdominal pain
Spinal Cord Stimulation can also help improve your overall quality of sleep and life. Furthermore, it will also reduce your need to take painkillers constantly. The doctors will mostly use SCS in combination with any other pain management treatment. These can be medications, physical therapy, exercise, and relaxation methods.
Benefit of SCS
While benefits of spinal cord stimulation may vary from person to person, here are 6 major benefits that most patients will experience.
Adjustable Relief from Pain
Pain level varies from patient to patient. Even an individual can feel different intensities of pain at different times. Therefore, SCS hand-held controller has various pain adjustment options to address different levels of pain. If you suffer from chronic pain that comes and goes in different intensities, this adjustable pain relief procedure is for you.
Minimally Invasive
The spinal cord stimulation procedure is minimally invasive, requiring a single incision to implant a generator. Some smaller generators need a minor incision. The doctor will place the leads of the electrodes by using a hollow need instead of making any incision. The process is also fully and easily reversible. If it does not work for you or you no longer need it, you can ask the doctor to remove it.
Reduce Opioids or Keep you off them
The pain relief that you will experience with SCS may even allow you to reduce the number of opioids or other pain medicines you take. In some cases, you may not need painkillers at all. According to a study, more than a third of its patients reduced or gave up opioid medicines after receiving high-frequency SCS therapy.
It is a Targeted Treatment
Taking a concoction of medication can affect your entire body and experience side effects such as nausea, dizziness, or constipation. On the other hand, spinal cord stimulation will only target the area of pain, providing instant relief.
No or limited Side Effects
Spinal cord stimulation has so far none to very limited side effects.
It is Cost-Effective
Researchers believe that the cost of a spinal cord stimulation treatment is more favorable compared to other alternative or non-invasive treatment options.
Who May Benefit From Spinal Cord Stimulation
First, your doctor will ensure that spinal cord stimulation will really help your condition and that you will experience significant pain relief from chronic pain. In order to make such a recommendation, your pain specialist will most likely order psychological screening and imaging tests.
Some insurance providers require your psychological screening to make sure any mental disorders such as anxiety and depression are not worsening your condition. Patients who generally reap the most benefit from SCS are the ones who have failed to experience sufficient pain relief from less-invasive therapies, medication, or previous surgeries.
Patients with no psychiatric disorders also benefit from spinal cord stimulation better compared to those with mental health disorders as it decreases the effectiveness of SCS.
The Bottom Line
Spinal Cord Stimulation is definitely an effective treatment for chronic pain relief. However, it is important for you to remember that there is no miracle treatment for chronic pain, and doctors have to use a multi-modal treatment to maximize effect and pain relief.
Therefore, your doctor may use spinal cord stimulation along with other treatment plans. Patients incorporating physiotherapy and mental therapy in an SCS treatment plan tend to experience long-term pain relief than others.
Looking for a Spinal Cord Stimulation Treatment in LA? Speak to Dr. Rogers Today