SPINAL CORD STIMULATION

Spinal cord stimulation sends electrical impulses that trigger nerve fibers selectively along the spinal cord, masking the pain message traveling to the brain. When this happens, the painful sensation is replaced with a soothing, tingling sensation.

This feeling is similar to the relief you might feel by rubbing or massaging an area after an injury occurs. The electrical impulses can be targeted to specific locations and, as pain changes or improves, stimulation can be adjusted when necessary.

Spinal cord stimulation may be an effective tool in reducing your chronic pain. However, it is important to understand that pain is unique to each individual—not everything works the same on everyone.

SCS is one of several therapies used to help control severe, ongoing neuropathic pain. Other options, which doctors usually try first, include physical therapy, different types of medications, injections, and sometimes surgery.

This helpful video, “Is SCS Right for You? Control Your Pain” provides more information about this procedure, and we encourage you to speak with your pain management specialist to find out how spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can help you take control of your pain. SCS is generally considered successful if:

• Your pain is significantly reduced
• You are able to get back to your daily activities
• You are able to relax and sleep better

The goal of SCS is to achieve significant or total relief from back pain and to be able to return to a happy, productive lifestyle.

With SCS, you can experience numerous benefits in addition to the relief of your pain. Some of the benefits of SCS therapy include:

• The ability to try the therapy before having a permanent system placed in your body. You can test drive the SCS system to see if it helps control your pain before committing to a permanent system.
• While many Level 3 therapies are permanent, even a permanent SCS procedure is reversible. Even though the device is surgically implanted, it can always be turned off or surgically removed by your pain specialist.
• SCS therapy may help control difficult pain in the low back and legs—even when other therapies have failed.
• SCS is approved by the FDA for the management of chronic intractable pain of the trunk (low back) and limbs (legs and arms).
• SCS is covered by most health insurance plans, including Medicare.

If you are a candidate for SCS, your pain specialist may:

• Need to receive authorization from your insurance provider to perform the procedure
• Order a psychological assessment to make sure you will be able to live with SCS successfully; insurance carriers often require these assessments
• Schedule a test drive procedure, or trial, to determine if SCS will help to control your pain

Patients considering SCS can undergo a “test drive” procedure to try SCS therapy before having a permanent system placed in the body. This allows you to see whether it helps control pain before committing to a permanent system.

After you have completed the “test drive,” you and your CPM Institute pain specialist will decide whether spinal cord stimulation is an effective therapy for you. If you decide to go forward, you will undergo another surgical procedure to surgically place the device.

The leads may be inserted in a procedure similar to an epidural. In some cases, you may remain awake during the procedure, which is done under local anesthesia and light sedation. In other cases, general anesthesia may be administered. You will receive a cordless remote control, a portable, cordless charger, and a base station for the charger.