Spinal cord stimulation is a pain relieving procedure that utilizes the administration of electric current pulses directly affecting the spinal cord by an implanted pulse generator.
This electric pulse interferes with the brains nerve impulse to your brain that relay pain.
Typically, before the permanent implant procedure (which is an outpatient procedure) is done, the doctor will give a "trial run" called a percutaneous stimulator, which is outside of the skin with the wire going into the skin and to the spinal cord, if this trial run is successful, the doctor will then implant the stimulator permanently.
The implant (stimulator) device is actually placed under the skin of the abdomen (tummy) or just above the buttock area and thin wire leads are run to the spinal cord to the points of attachment.
This procedure is typically performed with a local anesthetic and a sedative.
After the procedure is completed, the doctor or company representative will help you determine the most effective strength of pulse.
The patient will use it themselves at home and typically they will use it continuously once the appropriate setting is established for pain relief.
This type of treatment is usually done for patients that have had prior operations that were unsuccessful, or for patients with advanced nerve related pain and/or numbness, or for patients with long term pain.
This, as with other back pain treatments is questionable to its effectiveness, although there is evidence that it does help relieve pain from these conditions in approximately 50-65% of recipients of the treatment.
The effectiveness of the electrical stimulation seems to decrease over time as the body becomes accustomed to the electrical impulses.
This treatment, as with most others, does have some negative side effects.
Some of these side effects include fibrosis at the electrode site, pain out of reach from the stimulator, electrode or hardware equipment failure, infection, spinal fluid drainage, pounding headaches, advanced irritation of the bladder, and becoming desensitized to the device.
Another negative aspect of the implant is that patients with the implant can no longer have testing by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Batteries need to be replaced too, but the new ones are rechargeable outside the skin.
There is no strong evidence with spinal cord stimulation as an effective treatment for chronic pain, but as mentioned previously, there is some evidence to show that about half of recipients of this procedure do gain benefits from it.
This treatment, as with any other, should be researched and discussed with your doctor before having it done.
According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, there is no interference between the spinal cord stimulator and pacemakers that some patients may have.