Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal Cord Stimulation is a type of treatment used when other more common forms have failed for chronic back pain. This is a two-part surgical procedure. First, the surgeon combines to two leads or wires that send electricity to the spinal cord or the injured nerves. Next, the surgeon puts in a small generator into the back or abdomen, under the skin’s surface.

This generator gives off a low electrical current through the device to the spinal cord. This will stop the painful sensations and replace it with a pleasant paresthesia in the injured area. As a result, it’s often described as having tiny bubbles popping on the skin. The patient is given a remote control allowing them to turn the stimulator on/off and control the stimulation intensity and its location (higher/lower/left/right).

Some of the reasons for needing this device include the feeling of pain after a laminectomy and the breaking down of disks in the back or radiculopathy (a compressed spine condition that brings on numbness and pain).

Radiculopathy– a secondary condition brought on by herniated disks.
Failed back syndrome – a word used to describe chronic back pain after back surgeries.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome– This pain can come about after trauma happens to a limb. Symptoms of this condition include an ongoing amount of pain as well as changes in temperature, color and/or expansion of the injured body parts.

The Two Types of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome are as follows:

1. Patients with CRPS are those who DO NOT have many nerve injuries.
2. Patients with CRPSII are those who DO have confirmed nerve injuries.

Peripheral Neuropathy– a disorder that arrives from a nerve injury. Consequently, it’s most commonly related to diabetes. Symptoms include weak, numb or painful limbs. Furthermore,  it can also affect other parts of the body.

• an electrode stops working/ the device breaks
• scar tissue forms around the electrode
• pain switches out of the scope of the device
• eveloping an infection
• spinal fluid leakage
• headache

Learn more about spinal cord stimulation and its advantages and disadvantages here.