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Chronic pain can develop after an injury, and occurs when the pain lasts longer than it should. This kind of pain is different from other pain because it isn’t alerting the body to a new injury or pain, but is instead misfiring and sounding alarms for an injury that has already happened. This can be extremely exhausting and hard to deal with, which is why pain management is such an important element in helping people gain control over their lives again. Of these therapies, spinal cord stimulation is an option that can be used to disrupt these signals so the brain doesn’t receive them.
In this brief article, Orlando pain doctors share helpful answers to common questions about spinal cord stimulation as a long-term pain management solution.
In short, spinal cord stimulation uses electric impulses to disrupt and control pain. For a more specific description, we can look to Johns Hopkins Medicine, which describes the following about spinal cord stimulation:
“…consist of thin wires (the electrodes) and a small, pacemaker-like battery pack (the generator). The electrodes are placed between the spinal cord and the vertebrae (the epidural space), and the generator is placed under the skin, usually near the buttocks or abdomen. Spinal cord stimulators allow patients to send the electrical impulses using a remote control when they feel pain. Both the remote control and its antenna are outside the body.”
Spinal cord stimulation is usually used after nonsurgical pain treatment options have failed to provide sufficient relief. In essence, it helps scramble the pain signals and replaces them with either a more mild or virtually non-existent sensation. Spinal cord stimulation takes two steps to test and implant, and must be implanted by highly trained specialists
You may be a candidate for spinal cord stimulation if:
There are additional criteria you may meet to be a candidate for the procedure. Orlando pain management physicians will help you determine whether this might be a treatment option for you.
Spinal cord stimulation has a proven track record of helping those suffering from chronic pain. Published studies of spinal cord stimulation show good to excellent long-term relief in 50 to 80% of patients suffering from chronic pain.
There are several other types of treatment which may be available for your specific needs. However, it is important to speak with a pain management specialist who has extensive experience treating your specific type of pain. If you’re looking for Orlando pain management physicians, contact Neil Patel, MD to discuss your treatment options.
To learn more about pain management near you, please call (407) 606-6341 or fill out our contact form on our website.
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