Taking control of your pain through spinal cord stimulation

As published in SouthwestHealth

Spinal cord stimulation can help reduce chronic back pain. Good candidates include patients who have had a failed spinal surgery, severe nerve-related damage or numbness, or chronic pain syndrome.

We consider spinal cord stimulation a success if it reduces your pain by 50 percent or more. It probably won't eliminate all of your pain, but it can help you live a more comfortable, active life. Instead of pain, you might feel a tingling or warm sensation.

You would need to be examined and have your medical history reviewed to determine if you might benefit from spinal cord
stimulation.

You'll also participate in a three-to-seven-day trial first to help decide if spinal cord stimulation is right for you. In the trial, coated wire leads are placed through your skin into the area of the spine causing the problem, and you have a battery-operated remote control to activate the wires.

If the trial is successful, a more permanent surgical implantation of the wires and control will be scheduled.

More information about spinal cord stimulation

• How does spinal cord stimulation work?
• Am I a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation?
• Is there a way to test if spinal cord stimulation will work for me?
• How is long-term therapy different from the trial?
• Frequently asked questions about spinal cord stimulation