A spinal cord stimulator is implanted to send low electricity into the spinal cord to ease the pain. It is placed after all nonsurgical pain treatment methods fail to provide relief. Spinal cord stimulation helps by preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. Spinal cord stimulation in Eugene helps people feel better by managing their pain and reducing the need for pain management drugs. Here is all you need to know about spinal cord stimulation.
What Is Spinal Cord Stimulation Used For?
It is used when nonsurgical pain treatment methods have refused to work. Spinal cord stimulators are used to manage different types of chronic pain, including:
· Post-surgical pain
· Heart pain
· Nerve-related pain, such as diabetic neuropathy
· Injuries in the spine
· Back pain
· Amputation pain
Spinal cord stimulation can reduce the need for pain management pills to improve your quality of life and sleep. It is used together with other pain treatments, such as physical therapy, medications, and relaxation.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery
Two procedures are needed to ensure the stimulator’s success. The procedures include spinal cord stimulator trial and spinal cord stimulator implantation.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial
The surgeon implants a temporary device to test it. Following fluoroscopy, which is a specific type of X-ray, your surgeon inserts electrodes in the epidural surface of the spine. The electrodes are placed considering the location of your pain.
This procedure requires one incision only in the lower back for electrodes to be placed. The generator is placed outside the body, especially on the belt. You will stay with the device for a week and evaluate its effectiveness. If you experience a 50 % pain reduction level, then the trial is considered a success. If the test is unsuccessful, your surgeon can easily remove the wires without damaging the spinal cord. And if successful, you will schedule a permanent surgery to implant the stimulator.
Permanent Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation
During this permanent implantation procedure, the battery or generator is placed under the skin, and sterile electrodes are used to replace trial electrodes. The electrodes are attached by the use of sutures to minimize movement. This procedure takes about 2 hours and is performed as an outpatient procedure.
Local anesthesia is administered, and your surgeon makes one incision on the lower abdomen to hold the generator and another incision along the spine to attach permanent electrodes. Fluoroscopy is used to determine where to place the electrodes. After the generator and electrodes are placed, your surgeon will close the incisions.
Spinal cord stimulators relieve a lot of pain, allowing patients to do more than they could before having the surgery. Finding a well-experienced doctor in placing the stimulator is significant given that this field is changing daily with new stimulators arriving on the market. Pacific Sports and Spine have specialists that are experienced in the procedures and are familiar with the latest devices and techniques. Contact them and book an appointment with them online today to learn more about spinal cord stimulators.
