Chronic pain affects the quality of life. It interferes with your daily routine and social life. It can lead to feelings of depression, anger, lack of quality sleep, and anxiety.
The body transmits signals to the brain round the clock to help prevent injuries by alerting someone when something goes wrong in the body. Sadly, nerve damage can cause the brain to receive pain signals even without injury. This is where the spinal cord stimulation (SCS) comes in.
With spinal cord stimulation, pain is minimized by disrupting the signals so that the brain does not receive them. The device blocks nerve activity to reduce the pain sensation in the brain. To manage chronic pain and avoid using opium medication, a spinal cord stimulator may be the best option for you.
At Tarpon Interventional Pain & Spine Care, our team of medical specialists at West Plano and North Plano, Texas, are highly trained to help you deal with chronic pain. Read on to find out about spinal cord stimulation.
Causes and symptoms of chronic pain
Various reasons cause chronic pain. Medical conditions like arthritis, migraines and many other medical conditions cause a person to experience periods of acute pain. Chronic pain persists long after the usual recovery period and may occur continuously or on and off. Chronic pain can last for more than three months to several years.
Nerve injury may occur due to body trauma or illness. When this happens, nerves signal the brain that there is an injured part of the body. The brain translates these signals as pain.
Symptoms of chronic pain present themselves as shooting, sharp, throbbing pain depending on the cause of the pain. A person experiencing chronic pain may feel tired, moody, and unable to work properly and perform daily activities. When non-surgical therapies for pain relief fail to provide sufficient relief, spinal cord stimulation is used to manage the pain.
How a spinal cord stimulator works
The spinal cord stimulator is a device surgically implanted in the body to relieve and manage chronic pain. It is placed under the skin to send mild electric currents to the spinal cord. Several SCS devices mainly consist of three parts: the electrodes (thin wires), a generator (a small battery pack), and handheld remote control.
The electrodes are implanted between the spinal cord and the vertebrae while the generator is placed under the skin near the abdomen or buttocks. The patient uses a remote control to send electrical impulses to the spinal cord when they feel pain. The remote control and the antenna are outside the body.
When the SCS device is turned on, it delivers mild electrical impulses to the spinal cord to mask and modify pain signals reaching the brain. A patient can adjust the simulator to specific areas and pain levels depending on how the pain changes during the day. Pain relief varies for patients with 50 to 70% pain reduction.
The device is placed by neurologists and doctors who have specialized in pain management under the guidance of an X-ray and an ultrasound. Patients typically undergo a trial phase before the final implantation of the device. SCS improves the quality of life by enabling patients to sleep better and enjoy life without pain inhibition.
of spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
The simulator may not be ideal for everyone; however, it is suitable for patients with chronic pain. The pain is replaced with a mild tingling sensation. This makes patients feel better and catch up with their daily activities normally.
1. The spinal cord stimulation therapy is reversible, unlike most surgical procedures – The device can be turned off or removed without permanent change or damage to the spine.
2. SCS offers targeted pain relief – Unlike oral medication, which leaves undesirable side effects on the whole body. Spinal cord stimulation precisely targets the specific pain area.
3. Ability to test spinal cord stimulation before use – The trial phase minimizes uncertainty about the SCS device because a patient can test their response to it before undergoing surgery.
4. Adjustable pain relief – Patients can control the intensity of the stimulation depending on how much pain they are feeling. The handheld device also comes with different pain adjustment options.
5. Reduce or eliminate opium use – Patients with implanted spinal cord stimulation experience pain relief; therefore, they may take little to no medication.
6. Spinal cord stimulation is cost-effective – Other treatments for chronic pain relief are more expensive than the costs for spinal cord stimulation.
7. The ability to perform more activities is enhanced – Patients can resume activities that they had stopped due to pain. They can carry on with their daily chores without worrying about pain getting in their way.
Chronic pain is complex and requires medical attention. If you are suffering from chronic pain, contact us today at any of our offices at Tarpon Interventional Pain & Spine Care to find out if you are a suitable candidate for spinal cord stimulation.