While there are plenty of pain management treatments out there for treating chronic pain, SCS (spinal cord stimulation) is among the most common options out there. What’s more, spinal cord stimulator implants have gained a great deal of popularity, so much so, that it has quickly turned into a billion dollar industry. Many people believe that spinal cord stimulation is a viable alternative to opioid prescriptions, which is why they choose it for treating chronic pain.
In most cases, spinal cord stimulators are regarded as beneficial to people with spinal cord injuries. That said, this treatment method has its fair share of issues. Thousands of people across the globe have reported various spinal cord stimulator problems over the years. Believe it or not, there are even risks associated with the best spinal cord stimulator in the market and there can be situations when they cause more harm than good.
A Brief Look at Spinal Cord Stimulators
Spinal cord stimulator implants contain several items, including a controller remote, leads, extension wires and a generator implant. The generator is entered in the patient’s lower back through spinal cord stimulator surgery. After that, the spinal cord receives low levels of electrical currents with the help of leads and wires.
Patients can use the control for controlling the electrical currents. The belief is that the currents help disrupt the body’s pain signals, ensuring they don’t go to the brain.
Common Problems Associated with Spinal Cord Stimulation
Now that you know what spinal cord stimulators are and the job they do, let us talk about the various risks associated with it. It is worth knowing that more than 50,000 people get these implants to treat their spinal injury and many of them report positive results. Many cases have shown that these devices can help people with spinal cord injuries who lost their motor and sensory function.
Before we proceed with the various problems linked with spinal cord stimulation, let us talk about its various benefits. These include:
- Improvement in mental state
- Increased sexual desire
- Return of bowel and bladder function
- Improved motor control
Besides the various accolades that spinal cord stimulator implants get from researchers and medical professionals, there have also been some not so positive reports that indicate a wide range of problems.
Complications with Spinal Cord Stimulators
A variety of spinal cord stimulator issues have been reported during the past few years. A reputable report suggests that spinal cord stimulator implants are quite dangerous and account for several medical device injuries with over 80,000 instances flagged during the past decade.
The report mentioned above looked at most of the injuries related to medical devices from 2008 to 2017 and noted that most of the injuries happened because of spinal cord stimulation implants. Here are some of the complications people faced:
- Paraplegia
- Muscle weakness
- Spinal cord nerve damage
- Infection
- Burns or shocks
- Device malfunctions
It is worth keeping in mind that not everyone is a good spinal cord stimulator implant candidate as it doesn’t offer the desired results to everyone. Therefore, it would be best to consult with your physician and ask them whether the device would be a viable option. The only condition when this treatment is considered successful is if it reduces the pain by 50% at least. However, many people fail to reach that goal.
Now, let us look at the common problems people face with spinal cord stimulation:
Device Related Issues
Peripheral nerve field stimulation and spinal cord stimulation are generally considered safe. That said, there are some risks related to it, especially when it comes to the surgical procedures needed for long term therapy or the trial period. A study indicated that multiple participants of a research encountered device related issues. The most common problem was the unintentional movement of the leads, also known as migration. Other issues reported were lead breakage and failed lead connections.
While there have always been a few complications associated with implanted devices, they are slowly but surely disappearing with technological advancements.
Surgery is needed
Both the insertion and trial period associated with spinal cord stimulation devices (permanent) involve surgery and implant. Like with any procedure, you have to be ware of certain complications and risks like bleeding and infection.
Generally, the recovery period is around 6 to 8 weeks, during which some people experience intense pain for a few days following the permanent implantation or the trial period of the stimulation devices. More often than not, doctors prescribe medication for controlling the pain.
Less Serious Problems with Spinal Cord Stimulation
Fluctuations: There are certain unwanted changes linked with the stimulation, including a shocking or jolting feeling. If someone experiences these problems, they should turn the device off and contact their doctor.
Unresolved Pain: Spinal cord stimulation often interferes with the body’s pain signals. However, it doesn’t treat the condition. So, individuals using this form of therapy must continue to work with healthcare teams to alleviate the issue altogether.
The Pressure Can Take its Toll: Those making use of spinal cord stimulation must avoid participating in any activity that pressurizes their body. Swimming, scuba diving, contact sports etc must be avoided at all costs.
Electromagnetic Interference: Strong interference, like from an MRI or defibrillator in case the device someone is using isn’t MRI safe could possibly harm the generator, resulting in serious injury, burns or even death.
Getting pain relief with the help of spinal cord stimulation comes with a few drawbacks. It would be fair to say that it is a vastly different experience in comparison to pain killers and other techniques. Educating yourself about how spinal cord therapy works, its pros and cons can help you decide the best option to get relief from chronic pain in your limbs, neck or back.
Get a Professional to Check Your Condition
Despite the risks discussed in this piece, spinal cord stimulation is still safe if the devices are implanted by seasoned professionals. If you are a resident in Los Angeles or its vicinity and are considering spinal cord stimulation implants, we at DrRogers can help. Our experienced surgeons promise the best outcomes with world-class care.
Contact us today to speak to one of our team members and Request an appointment to visit our clinic.