Innovative Alternative For Unrelieved Chronic Pain

By Joshua A. Thomas, MD

Living with constant pain can have a debilitating effect on all aspects of life, interfering with work, sleep, relationships and simple daily activities. If you are living with chronic pain after undergoing interventional therapies and/or spine surgery, a sophisticated, non-pharmaceutical technique called spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be right for you.

Used successfully in thousands of people over the last two decades, SCS may be ideally suited to treat certain types of chronic pain, including many neuropathic pain conditions such as post-surgical back, leg, neck or arm pain (failed back surgery syndrome) and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a painful disease of the nervous system.

A Targeted Approach

Spinal cord stimulation works by targeting specific nerves along the spine with low-level electrical impulses. The stimulation interferes with the transmission of pain signals to the brain, substituting a more pleasing sensation called paresthesia. This feeling can differ from patient to patient, but is often described as a pleasant tingling. SCS requires a minor surgical procedure on an outpatient basis.

After an in-office trial to confirm the response is positive, a small device is implanted under the skin usually in the upper buttock or abdomen. Soft, thin wires with electrical leads on their tips are placed through a needle into the back, near the spinal column. A tiny, programmable generator emits electrical currents through the wires to the spinal column. If treatment is no longer needed, it can be removed easily.

Several Key Advantages

SCS allows you to be in control. Using a magnetic remote control, your can turn the current on and off, or adjust the intensity, rapidly responding to changes in the location or severity of the pain. Since the system is portable, SCS makes it possible to resume many normal daily activities at home and at work, as well as recreational activities such as swimming, traveling, biking and gardening. SCS also enables many people to reduce or eliminate the use of pain medications.

An Improved Lifestyle

SCS is not a cure, so eliminating all of your pain is unlikely. The goal of SCS is to decrease severe chronic pain to a more manageable level. There are many clinical studies corroborating the effectiveness of SCS therapy. The degree of pain relief varies from person to person, with most people reporting a 50-70% reduction in overall pain. They also report a significant increase in their ability to enjoy normal family and work activities again.

Reducing pain can have a positive effect on your mental outlook, decrease stress, and improve your overall quality of life. Talk to a board certified pain specialist to determine if SCS is right for you.