Living with chronic pain can have a significant impact on your daily life, especially when traditional treatments have failed to provide relief. However, advanced medical technology offers a solution. An implantable device known as a spinal cord stimulator can interrupt pain signals, providing long-term relief and improving your quality of life without the need for medication.
At Injury Medicine in Spartanburg, we specialize in advanced pain care and management for a variety of conditions. If you’ve tried other treatments without success, we believe that a spinal cord stimulator may be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Contact us at 864-866-PAIN to learn more about how spinal cord stimulators can help alleviate your pain.
What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator, and How Does it Work?
Chronic pain can be unbearable as it is caused by a network of nerves constantly communicating with the brain to signal physical feelings, including pain. However, spinal cord stimulators can help manage and treat chronic pain.
These implants consist of thin wires and a small battery pack. The device is implanted under the skin in the back with electrodes placed between the spinal cord and vertebrae’s epidural space.
Once the stimulator is implanted by a surgeon, a remote is given to the patient, allowing them to intercept the electrical pain impulses sent to the brain and control their pain.
While the technology behind the spinal cord stimulator is still not fully understood, experts believe it may target different muscle groups or alter the brain’s perception of pain, all from the spine. The device produces a light tingle that some people may not even feel, changing their pain sensation.
What Types of Pain Can a Spinal Cord Stimulator Help With?
At Injury Medicine, we recommend a spinal cord stimulator to patients who have not found relief through nonsurgical treatments. Our skilled surgeons and physicians specialize in utilizing this technology to manage a variety of chronic pain conditions, including:
- Post-surgical pain
- Chronic back pain
- Angina (heart pain) that can’t be treated with other options
- Amputation pain
- Nerve pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Chronic headaches linked to arachnoiditis
- Visceral abdominal pain and perineal pain
- Peripheral vascular disease
We are confident that spinal cord stimulation can significantly improve your quality of life by reducing your reliance on pain medication. Our team is dedicated to helping you find relief from chronic pain and lead a more comfortable life.
Who Should Get Spinal Cord Stimulator Treatment?
ur doctors and pain specialists in Spartanburg will conduct an examination to determine whether spinal cord stimulation is a suitable treatment option for your condition when you visit us.
Our experienced pain specialists will gather data from psychological screening, imaging tests, and other exams to make a recommendation. We will also discuss the procedure, benefits, possible changes to expect, and cost implications with you.
At Injury Medicine, we understand that each patient is unique, and not everyone will qualify for SCS treatment. Those who may benefit from SCS are patients who have not experienced relief from chronic pain despite undergoing less-invasive surgeries or treatments for their condition and do not have any psychiatric disorders that could lower the procedure’s effectiveness.
It is important to note that failure to qualify for spinal cord stimulator treatment does not mean the end of the road. Our pain specialists will evaluate all other factors and develop a personalized pain care and management program to provide you with relief.
Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator Safe?
Although there is still much to learn about spinal cord stimulation, it is a medical technology that is continuously advancing.
Limited studies have shown that the treatment can be an effective solution for pain relief in many patients. Spinal cord stimulation has been proven to effectively treat complex regional pain syndrome, post-surgical pain, and nerve-related pain disorders.
If you have undergone procedures to manage pain or provide relief but have not seen significant improvement, a spinal cord stimulator may be a viable option.
To learn more about the benefits and potential drawbacks, please contact our pain care specialists at 864-866-PAIN to schedule an appointment.
What Are the Risks of a Spinal Cord Stimulator?
While no surgical procedure is completely risk-free, complications associated with spinal cord stimulation treatment are rare. Our team of highly trained physicians will provide you with information about the potential risks of this treatment.
These risks may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection within 2-8 weeks after surgery
- The implant moving from its original location and becoming ineffective
- Damage to the device due to a fall or intense physical activity
- Spinal cord trauma causing nerve injury (an extremely rare occurrence)
- Dural puncture leading to cerebrospinal fluid leakage and severe headaches
It is important to note that the risks associated with spinal cord stimulation treatment are rare and should be balanced against the benefits, which include:
- Significant improvement in chronic pain
- Reduced dependence on pain medications
- Easy adjustability to accommodate daily activities
- Improved ability to enjoy everyday tasks
- Reversibility of the treatment
Call Injury Medicine in Spartanburg Today!
Pain can be a fleeting sensation that lasts only for a brief time, or it can persist and become chronic, lasting for several months or even longer. When chronic pain sets in and traditional treatments fail to provide relief, it can significantly impact your quality of life.
Fortunately, at Injury Medicine, we offer state-of-the-art medical technology and treatment plans that can provide solutions for your chronic pain.
Our Spartanburg pain center is highly regarded for its advanced therapies designed to address a variety of conditions. Spinal cord stimulation is one such treatment option that we can offer to provide long-term pain relief.
We are confident that spinal cord stimulation can provide a solution for patients who have failed to find relief with other treatment and therapy options. Contact us at 864-866-PAIN today to learn more and schedule a consultation!
