Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be an option if you consider it a treatment for persistent pain following back surgery or CRPS. SCS has provided pain relief and improved function for many people who suffer from these and other forms of nerve pain. However, not everyone is a good candidate for Livingston spinal cord stimulation despite the pain they may be experiencing. So, is it right for you? Here are five ways to know.
Chronic pain
The severity and duration of your discomfort are the primary requirements for spinal cord stimulation. Spinal cord stimulation may be a possibility for you if you have been plagued by chronic pain for six months or longer. Spinal cord stimulation is a reasonable next step if you have exhausted all other therapy choices and still have not found relief from your pain. For example, you can use spinal cord stimulation to treat several conditions, including sciatica, pain post-surgery, post-amputation pain, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, and angina.
Your back, arm, or leg hurts all the time.
Back, arm, and leg discomfort that has lasted more than three months may warrant spinal cord stimulation. Also, you can use it to treat certain forms of chest discomfort. Here is the breakdown:
A small pulse generator, lead cable with up to 32 electrodes, and portable remote control are the three components of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS), which delivers electric current to spinal nerves.
The lead wire is run to your spine after your expert has surgically implanted the pulse-generating gadget beneath your skin. Now put the electrodes over the pain-transmitting neurons on the surface of your brain. An electric current is sent to the nerves to block or mask nerve impulses when the pulse-generating device is triggered.
To avoid discomfort, the SCS prevents messages from affecting your brain. You may experience nothing or a slight tingling due to using the SCS, which operates by scrambling nerve impulses.
Symptoms of failed back surgery
One in every 20 to 40 people has failed back surgery syndrome if they have had back surgery and are still in pain afterward (FBSS). There is no guarantee that your surgeon did anything incorrectly. Scar tissue and repeated muscular spasms are the most common causes. You can effectively treat FBSS with spinal cord stimulation.
A trial of spinal cord stimulation went well.
There is just one way to tell for sure whether or not you are a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation: a trial period. Rather than physically implanting the generator, your expert will wear it around your waist and enter the lead cable.
At the four to seven-day mark, you will be scheduled for a follow-up session to discuss your experience with spinal cord stimulation and choose whether or not you wish to proceed with the pulse generator implantation.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a condition characterized by damaged or malfunctioning nerves. Symptoms might vary from tingling and numbness to excruciating pain. Neuropathy may be caused by many factors, including alcoholism, stress, trauma, infection, disease, chemotherapy, or poor nutrition. Spinal cord stimulation has a decent likelihood of reversing neuropathy.
Pain medications may be reduced or eliminated for many people receiving spinal cord stimulation after consulting with their doctor. All patients should follow their pain expert’s advice when it comes to medication, exercise, and other therapies that may help alleviate their pain.