SPINAL CORD STIMULATION- Ask the Experts

Spinal cord stimulation uses a mild current to reduce or eliminate the sensation of pain from neuropathic pain pathways. This has the ability to change lives. Only a through discussion with your doctor can determine if this treatment is appropriate for you.

Best Candidates For Spinal Cord Stimulation?

Nevro, Boston and AMO produce products for spinal cord stimulation. These have similar features and are designed to address:

Nerve pain
numbness in the arms
numbness in the legs
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
Back pain that continues or worsens, even after surgery to correct it
Long-term (chronic) back pain, with or without arm or leg pain
Swelling (inflammation) of the lining of the brain and spinal cord

SCS is not a first line treatment and is offered after other treatments such as medicines and exerciseand physical therapy have failed to provide adequate pain relief.

Your Evaluation for Pain Relief Surgery

Before surgery, patients need to be evaluated by a specially trained physician. The physicians that generally perform this evaluation are trained in Anesthesiology with a Pain fellowship or Physical Medicine and Rehab or Orthopedic/Spine or Neurological Surgery/Spine care. In addition, an evaluation by a psychiatrist or psychologist is generally required for insurance coverage.

Prepare For The Procedure

Before surgery, patients need to tell their physician what medicines they are taking. These include medicines and supplements bought without a prescription.

A few days before the surgery, patients should:

Stop smoking. The recovery will be slower and possibly not as smooth if the patient continues smoking.
Stop taking blood thinners. These medications make it harder for the blood to clot. They include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).
Limit alcohol intake.

Ask their provider which medicines they should still take on the day of the surgery.

On the day of the surgery, patients should:

Avoid eating or drinking anything before the procedure.
Take permissible medicines with a small sip of water.
Bring their cane, walker, or wheelchair if they have one already.
Bring shoes with flat, non-skid soles.

What Happens During The Procedure

The first procedure will involve inserting a trial electrode to see if it helps ease pain.

The patient’s skin will be numbed with a local anesthetic.
Wires (leads) will be placed under the skin and stretched into the space above the spinal cord.
These wires will be connected to a small current generator outside of the body.

The procedure will last about one hour. The patient will be able to go home after the leads are placed.

If the treatment greatly reduces pain, the patient will be offered a permanent generator. The generator will be implanted a few weeks later.

The patient will be placed under general anesthesia.
The generator will be inserted under the skin of their abdomen or buttocks through a small surgical cut.
The procedure will take about 30 to 45 minutes.
After the permanent generator is inserted, the physician will close the surgical cut and cover it with a dressing.

The generator runs on batteries. The batteries may be rechargeable or last two to five years. The patient will need another surgery to replace the battery.

After The Procedure

The patient will be taken to the recovery area where they will wake up from the anesthesia. Staff will show patients how to care for their surgical site. Patients should avoid heavy lifting, bending, and twisting while the wound heals. Light exercise, such as walking, could aid recovery.

Risks of Spinal Cord Stimulation

Risks of surgery include:

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and spinal headaches
Nerve damage leading to paralysis, weakness, or pain
Infection of the battery or electrode site
Movement of or damage to the generator or leads that requires more surgery
Problems with the stimulator not working or working improperly
Collection of blood or fluid between the covering of the brain (dura) and the surface of the brain