SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR
Spinal cord stimulation is a long term treatment option for chronic pain patients, often suffering from back and leg pain. The therapy is similar to a TENS unit, however typically covers a greater area of tingling sensation, in order to mask the pain.
Spinal cord stimulation is offered in 2 stages. The first stage entails a "trial" of the treatment option. The procedure is completed with partial implant anywhere from 3-10 days in order for the patient to determine if it is beneficial in helping alleviate pain. Realistic expectations are imperative, as is a complete understanding that the therapy does not cure anything. The goal is to help alleviate about 50% of the pain, and improve function. The patient is in complete control of the therapy, having the ability to turn on and off as most beneficial to his/her specific condition.
Stage two of the spinal cord stimulation (also known as neurostimulation) system is placed under your skin during a surgical procedure.
If the patient and your doctor decide to move forward with neurostimulation therapy to treat the chronic pain, the system will be implanted during a surgical procedure. This procedure is most often performed in a hospital or surgery center on an outpatient basis. Typically this is same day surgery, however some people stay overnight.
Advances in the therapy include access to full body MRI as well as stimulation that automatically adapts for various positions.
Spinal Cord Stimulator, Spine Injection, Tuckahoe, Bronxville, Eastchester, NYC
Indications
Spinal cord stimulator is indicated for the management of chronic, intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs — including unilateral or bilateral pain associated with the following conditions:
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Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) or low back syndrome or failed back
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Radicular pain syndrome or radiculopathies resulting in pain secondary to FBSS or herniated disk
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Postlaminectomy pain
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Multiple back operations
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Unsuccessful disk surgery
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Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD)/herniated disk pain refractory to conservative and surgical therapies
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Peripheral causalgia
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Epidural fibrosis
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Arachnoiditis or lumbar adhesive arachnoiditis
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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), or causalgia
X-Ray imaging shows leads of spinal cord stimulator in epidural space on the left and generator on the right.