Guide To Spinal Cord Stimulation For Chronic Pain
By Neil P. Hines
Spine-related back pain is a problem for many people. It causes an interruption in performing even the simplest everyday tasks. These people suffer from chronic pain and struggle to find ways to successfully alleviate it. In these cases, spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain may be the answer.
Also called neurostimulation therapy, SCS has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration since 1989. Although SCS does not provide relief for every patient, there is a success rate of about 50% to 70%. Most patients have a noted reduction in the severity of pain experienced and increase in overall mobility and quality of life.
Neurostimulation is a term that is loosely used to describe SCS, but it is actually a category used to group two forms of neurostimulation. This group includes SCS and Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation (PNFS). Both of these neurostimulation treatments are similar because they rely on electrical stimulation to block the body's response to pain, but the mode of delivery is different. SCS uses very thin wires with electrical nodes on the tips. These wires are set in place by using a needle to insert them through the skin and close to the spinal column. A small incision is made in the abdomen or upper buttock are to insert a very thin generator under the skin. This generator sends the electric currents to the wires placed near the spinal column.
A remote control is used to operate the generator. It gives the patient the ability to cycle through the programmed settings and turn the system on and off. Settings are determined by the doctor based on the patient's pain, its primary location, and other needs.
There are certain conditions that are known to successfully benefit from this type of neurostimulation therapy. Patients that have previously had one or more back surgeries and still have pain are likely candidates. Chronic back pain without or including leg pain and chronic neck pain without or including arm pain may also be ideal cases. Other candidates include patients who suffer from peripheral neuropathy or vascular disease and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
There are also some patients who would not benefit from SCS therapy. Pregnant and nursing women are at the top of the list. People with systemic infections should avoid SCS. Additionally, patients who have any type of internal cardiac equipment cannot have SCS treatment. If a patient has experienced pain or discomfort from a TENS unit or did not respond to the trial stimulation by at least fifty percent.
When the doctor has suggested SCS, a temporary system is used to determine of the therapy will be successful. The wires are placed just under the skin and the temporary generator remains outside the body. It is already programmed with several settings that are used to determine which ones are the most effective. The whole trial stimulation period lasts about a week.
Also called neurostimulation therapy, SCS has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration since 1989. Although SCS does not provide relief for every patient, there is a success rate of about 50% to 70%. Most patients have a noted reduction in the severity of pain experienced and increase in overall mobility and quality of life.
Neurostimulation is a term that is loosely used to describe SCS, but it is actually a category used to group two forms of neurostimulation. This group includes SCS and Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation (PNFS). Both of these neurostimulation treatments are similar because they rely on electrical stimulation to block the body's response to pain, but the mode of delivery is different. SCS uses very thin wires with electrical nodes on the tips. These wires are set in place by using a needle to insert them through the skin and close to the spinal column. A small incision is made in the abdomen or upper buttock are to insert a very thin generator under the skin. This generator sends the electric currents to the wires placed near the spinal column.
A remote control is used to operate the generator. It gives the patient the ability to cycle through the programmed settings and turn the system on and off. Settings are determined by the doctor based on the patient's pain, its primary location, and other needs.
There are certain conditions that are known to successfully benefit from this type of neurostimulation therapy. Patients that have previously had one or more back surgeries and still have pain are likely candidates. Chronic back pain without or including leg pain and chronic neck pain without or including arm pain may also be ideal cases. Other candidates include patients who suffer from peripheral neuropathy or vascular disease and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
There are also some patients who would not benefit from SCS therapy. Pregnant and nursing women are at the top of the list. People with systemic infections should avoid SCS. Additionally, patients who have any type of internal cardiac equipment cannot have SCS treatment. If a patient has experienced pain or discomfort from a TENS unit or did not respond to the trial stimulation by at least fifty percent.
When the doctor has suggested SCS, a temporary system is used to determine of the therapy will be successful. The wires are placed just under the skin and the temporary generator remains outside the body. It is already programmed with several settings that are used to determine which ones are the most effective. The whole trial stimulation period lasts about a week.
About the Author:
Neil P. Hines is passionate about providing intelligent, unbiased and highly relevant medical information for people dealing with a wide range of pain conditions and related orthopedic needs, including back pain, knee pain, joint replacements, sports medicine, lumbar fusion and more. If you are interested in learning more about spinal cord doctors PA he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary Medical Center.