Around 20% of Americans are affected by chronic pain, which significantly impacts the quality of life. If you are suffering, you know how difficult it can be to find a treatment that can help you gain control over your discomfort. Fortunately, Livingston spinal cord stimulation specialists at SamWell Institute for Pain Management may have the solution for you.
Spinal cord stimulation can be what you need to help you get back your quality of life. It is a pain management tool that uses a low-voltage electric current along your spinal cord to modify and block pain signals, hence alleviating your uneasiness. However, you must be a viable candidate for the procedure for it to be recommended to you. Here are the top 5 reasons why spinal cord stimulations can be right for you.
- You Are Suffering from Chronic Back, Arm, or Leg Pain
If you have debilitating pain in your back, arm, or leg, and is not improving, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be right for you. Here is how the procedure works.
The SCS comprises a small pulse generator, a lead wire with up to 32 electrodes, and handheld remote control. The electrodes deliver electric current to the spinal nerves, and the remote is used to adjust settings and turn the device on and off.
Your provider surgically implants the pulse generating device under your skin and runs the lead wire to the spine. The electrodes are then placed over the nerves responsible for sending pain signals to your brains. When the device is activated, an electric current is sent to the nerves masking or blocking the pain signal.
- You Have the Following Conditions
Several conditions that affect your back, arms, or legs can cause severe pain, managed through spinal cord stimulations. Therefore, if you have either of the following conditions, then the procedure can be right for you:
- Narrowed spinal cord
- Osteoarthritis
- Disc degeneration
- Slipped disc
- Herniated disk
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
This is a condition that occurs due to an injury or trauma that causes abnormal nerve function. As a result, you can experience arm or leg pain accompanied by skin changes and other symptoms.
Peripheral Neuropathy
This is a condition where your peripheral nerve gets damaged by an injury, vitamin deficiency, blood vessel problem, diabetes, and other severe conditions. As a result, you can experience ongoing pain.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
You may have had surgery and continue experiencing pain. In this case, spinal cord stimulation can be an ideal choice for you.
- You’ve Tried Several Other Treatments without Success.
Please note that although spinal cord stimulation offers much effectiveness, it is not a first-line treatment. But if you have undergone other treatments and you are experiencing pain, it can be the right option for you.
- If Spine Surgery is Not an Option
Spinal cord stimulation can be an ideal option if you still experience pain after several treatment attempts with conservative therapies and don’t want to have surgery.
- Trial Spinal Cord Stimulation Worked
Even if you are a viable candidate for spinal cord stimulation, you must pass the trial phase to progress with the procedure. This is because the only way you can know for sure that you will get pain relief is through the SCS trial. The main difference between the trial and the final procedure is that you have to carry the battery on your waist.
Above all this, an expert can examine you and discuss the options with you. Get in touch with your provider at SamWell Institute for Pain Management.
