These minimally invasive procedures such as spinal cord stimulation are growing in popularity. These treatments offer a promising path to pain-free living and good health as they are not requiring surgery.
The procedure of spinal cord stimulation involves the placement of a spinal stimulator in the patient. These small electronic devices can be controlled remotely via a computer. These devices can be used to prevent pain signals from reaching the brain and help relieve patients of unwelcome pain.
How does Spinal Cord Stimulation work?
The spinal cord stimulation device itself is simple. There are a few thin wires, called electrodes. These electrodes attach to a generator and are then placed between the spinal cord & vertebrae. The generator is typically placed in the lower abdomen.
After the device has been implanted, it emits small electric shocks into the spine. These shocks destabilize the spinal cord and stop pain signals from reaching the brain. Patients can experience a significant decrease in pain.
The mechanism of this device’s operation has not been fully explained by medical research. They speculate that spinal cord stimulators target a variety of muscle groups. The brain may be affected by the stimulation. These changes could lead to a long-term decrease in pain.
These devices replace the feeling of pain with a tingling sensation in most cases. This is called paresthesia. Some people may find the tingling uncomfortable at first. You may feel uncomfortable if this is you. Modern spinal stimulators can produce subtler sensations.
Who could benefit from Spinal Cord Stimulation
This can help you determine if spinal cord stimulation is right for you. The therapy is usually recommended for those who have tried all non-surgical pain relief options without success.
Spinal cord stimulation may be a good option if you don’t have enough pain relief from medication and are not suffering from psychiatric disorders or nervous system disorders.
These are just a few examples of conditions that spinal cord stimulation can help in a pain clinic.
- Back pain, even after surgery
- Heart pain
- Spinal cord injuries
- Arachnoiditis
- There are many sources of nerve pain
- Vascular disease
- Regional pain syndrome
- Post-amputation pain
- Visceral abdominal pain
This article was written by a medical professional at Florida Medical Pain Management. https://www.fmpm.com/ is proud to offer comprehensive pain management services to a diverse group of patients. Patients at Florida Medical Pain Management can get help managing hip, knee, leg, and neck pain. The practice also offers comprehensive arthritis management, along with treatments for auto accidents, sports, and work injuries.
