Are you experiencing chronic pain around your neck, back, or leg that is not responding to physical therapy, pain medications, or other conventional treatments? There is no need to keep bearing this pain because spinal cord stimulation is now available to alleviate your neck pain. That is why an experienced chronic pain specialist manages Dallas neck pain and determines if spinal cord stimulation can effectively relieve your pain. Here is all you should know about spinal cord stimulation.
What is spinal cord stimulation?
Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment option that doctors initially developed. It has been used for over forty years now. Spinal cord stimulation works by masking or imitating your brain’s pain signals, thus altering how your brain receives information. Therefore, instead of experiencing repetitive pain as you have been feeling, your brain stops receiving these pain impulses, thus alleviating pain.
Typically, this therapy involves using a small generator and lead wires whose function is to stimulate your spinal cord directly. The stimulation, therefore, blocks the nerves and reduces the transmission of pain signals to the brain. The level of your therapy is adjusted using a hand-held device for maximum control of your therapy.
Types of pain that can be alleviated by spinal cord stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation is mainly recommended to people who have been using other treatment options like physical therapy and medications to treat pain and still have not been effective. Therefore, spinal cord stimulation can be used to treat the following:
- Failed back surgery syndrome
- Artery disease
- Chronic pain that has lasted for over six months
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Nerve damage or neuropathic pain
Therefore, if you think your pain may fall under any of the above categories, you can greatly benefit from spinal cord stimulation. The care provider reviews your symptoms to help determine if this therapy is the best option available for you.
What can you expect from the procedure?
Generally, there are two methods available for spinal cord stimulation. They are permanent or trial implantation. During a spinal cord stimulation trial, your care provider usually keeps the generator outside with lead wires attached. He then inserts the lead wires around the spinal cord, secured using a bandage. The role of the spinal cord stimulation trial is to help your doctor determine if you would benefit from the treatment and if permanent implantation is worth it.
On the other hand, the generator is placed beneath your skin during permanent implantation, especially in the chest, abdomen, or buttocks. An external remote then controls the permanent device. Both trial and permanent implantation procedures are performed in a sterile environment under anesthesia. But during the trial procedure, the patient is usually under mild sedation.
What should you avoid after the procedure?
After implanting a spinal cord stimulator, several therapies and medical procedures should be avoided. Some of them are MRIs and diathermy, a technique used in occupational and physical therapy that uses electrically-induced heat to relieve muscles. It is necessary because it interferes with the generator leading to some damage.
Chronic neck pain can prevent you from performing any task because your neck is essential. However, spinal cord stimulation is now available to treat your neck or back pain. Therefore, if you are experiencing pain around the neck or back and require treatment consult Magnolia Pain Associates today and get your spinal cord stimulation treatment. You can book your appointment online or visit their offices.