![]() ![]() Refractory angina, which causes chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.Post-surgical pain, chronic pain that lasts more than three months after surgery.Peripheral vascular disease caused by an arm or leg injury, infection, or irregular muscle or ligament anatomy.Peripheral neuropathy, a constant burning pain of the legs.Phantom limb pain following an amputation.Nerve-related pain such as severe diabetic neuropathy and cancer-related neuropathy from radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy.Injuries to the spinal cord from a fall, motor vehicle accident, sports injury, and similar traumatic injuries.Heart pain (angina) that is untreatable by other means.Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a chronic, progressive disease characterized by severe pain and swelling.Chronic neck pain that can include arm pain. ![]() Back pain, especially back pain that continues after surgery (failed back surgery syndrome). ![]() Arachnoiditis, a painful inflammation of the arachnoid, a thin membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.Spinal cord stimulators are used to treat or manage different types of chronic pain, including: It is most often used after nonsurgical pain treatment options have failed to provide sufficient relief. Spinal cord stimulation is recommended for an increasing number of painful conditions. Conditions Treated with Spinal Cord Stimulation The generator is usually placed in the abdomen, upper buttocks, or upper chest. If successful, surgery is scheduled to implant the stimulator under the skin. If unsuccessful, the wires can easily be removed in the clinic without damage to the spinal cord or nerves. The trial is considered a success if there is a 50% or greater reduction in pain. The trial period can last up to 10 days, during which time the patient evaluates how well the device reduces pain. The wires are connected to an external stimulator that is carried outside the body, typically on a belt. The trial procedure typically requires only one incision to place flexible wires (electrodes) near the spine. Unlike many other treatments, a spinal cord stimulator can be used for a short, trial period before the patient commits to having the implant. If the person fits the criteria for spinal cord stimulation, the doctor will arrange a trial period to see how well the temporary therapy eases the individual’s pain. For those who are good candidates, most report at least a 50% reduction in pain, as well as a significant improvement in daily function. The patient experiences a reduction in pain because the stimulator’s electrical pulse interrupts the transmission of pain signals to the brain.Ĭareful screening is needed because spinal cord stimulation does not work for everyone. The feeling differs from patient to patient, but most describe it as a mild or pleasant tingling. The pulse from the stimulator interrupts the perception of pain, substituting it with a more pleasing sensation (paresthesia). The stimulator is similar to a cardiac pacemaker, leading some to call the device a “pacemaker for pain.” The technique is also called neurostimulation. The source of the pulse is a small device implanted near the spine. What is a Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant?Ī spinal cord stimulator is an implanted device that directs mild (low level) electrical pulses along implanted wires to an area near the spinal cord. Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant Resources.Who Can Benefit from a Spinal Cord Stimulation. ![]()
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