How Spinal Cord Stimulation Alleviates Chronic Pain

Many medical conditions and injuries can result in chronic pain that doesn’t respond to other treatment options. Pain Management 360 offers spinal cord stimulation Huntington to alleviate frustrating chronic pain and restore your quality of life.

An overview of spinal cord stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation is a procedure that involves using implantable devices to transmit controlled levels of electric energy into the spine. The spinal cord stimulator can treat different forms of chronic pain resulting from various medical conditions. While there are few possible risks, these devices boast high success rates in treating chronic pain that doesn’t respond to other treatment options. During treatment, your provider implants the device into your spine to control your pain by regulating electrical stimulation. This minimally invasive procedure alters the transmission of pain signals into your brain, helping you avoid unnecessary surgery.

How a spinal cord stimulator treats chronic pain

You need to know some basics about your nervous system and the cause of your pain to comprehend how a spinal cord stimulator alleviates chronic pain. Pain is a protective response that alerts you when you are hurt and is a signature symptom of many injuries and medical conditions. Some conditions may result in excruciating pain that doesn’t improve with medication, making it difficult to work or sleep. Chronic pain can result in a few changes in your nervous system, which can exaggerate the pain or lead to the transmission of pain signals for things that don’t cause pain. Your nervous system is an intricate network that facilitates communication between different body parts and your brain. Spinal cord stimulations utilize controlled electrical currents to interfere with the transmission of specific pain signals from the target body part to the brain.

Medical conditions you can manage with spinal cord stimulation

You can develop chronic pain due to several factors, and while some may respond to treatment, others may not, leading to a miserable life. If you have sciatica, diabetic neuropathy, or complex regional pain syndrome, your provider may recommend spinal cord stimulation. You may benefit from this minimally invasive treatment if you also have failed back surgery syndrome. Medical experts are still researching other medical conditions that may improve with spinal cord stimulation. These conditions include traumatic brain injuries and cerebral palsy.

What spinal cord stimulation involves

During your appointment at Pain Management 360, your provider may educate you about the advantages and risks associated with the procedure to ensure you make an informed decision. During the treatment, your doctor administers an anesthetic to ensure you don’t experience any pain or discomfort. Afterward, they create a small incision, insert the device, and secure the sterile electrodes. The procedure usually lasts for about one hour or two.

After your treatment, you may need to remain at the facility for a few hours for monitoring. If there are no complications, your doctor may discharge you on the same day. It would help if you began experiencing chronic pain relief within a few weeks.

For more information about spinal cord stimulation, call the Pain Management 360 office or book your spot online.