Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator Right for You? A Candid Look

Are you exhausted and frustrated that you can’t get long-lasting relief from your chronic pain? You may think there’s nothing left, but you have options.

If you’re living with persistent neck pain, back pain, or nerve pain that fails to improve with other pain management treatments, including surgery, you may want to consider a spinal cord stimulator (SCS). This advanced pain management tool significantly reduces pain for some people, but it’s not the right fit for everyone.

Our board-certified experts at Alliance Spine & Pain Centers specialize in using spinal cord stimulators for chronic pain conditions. We also understand their limitations. Here, we take a candid look at spinal cord stimulators, explaining how they can help and noting the pros and cons of this advanced treatment option.

What is a spinal cord stimulator?

A spinal cord stimulator is a type of neuromodulation therapy, altering nerve activity to change how your brain processes pain signals. It’s an implanted device that delivers mild electrical pulses to the spinal cord, interrupting or redirecting pain signals before they reach the brain.

It’s not a first-line treatment for pain. We typically consider SCS for people with chronic pain conditions who fail to get relief from conventional interventions like medications and physical therapy. We may also recommend a spinal cord stimulator if you continue to have pain after back surgery.

Conditions we treat with spinal cord stimulation

No matter where they originate, all pain signals must go through the spinal cord to reach the brain. Because of this, spinal cord stimulators can help manage pain affecting many parts of the body.

Conditions we treat with spinal cord stimulation include:

• Arthritis
• Joint pain
• Neuropathy
• Spinal stenosis
• Sciatica
• Phantom limb pain
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Diabetic pain

Before we permanently implant the device, we first perform a trial run to make sure the therapy works for you.

Trying before committing

Spinal cord stimulator trial gives us an opportunity to see how well you respond to the treatment before making it permanent. During the trial, we place temporary leads near the target nerves and attach them to a small external device you wear outside the body.

Over the next week or so, you track your pain to see how well it works. We consider treatment a success if it reduces your pain by at least 50%. If the trial is a success, we use minimally invasive techniques to implant the permanent device and leads.

Benefits of spinal cord stimulator

Reduced pain is by far the biggest benefit of the spinal cord stimulator. Research shows that many people experience greater pain relief from spinal cord stimulation than conventional medical management alone.

Less pain leads to other health benefits like better sleep and a boost in mood. You may also find it easier to engage in everyday activities like cooking and shopping or be more open to socializing or returning to work.

Things to consider with spinal cord stimulation

While SCS is highly effective, it’s important to understand its limitations. A spinal cord stimulator doesn’t cure the underlying condition causing your pain; it helps manage symptoms by altering how you perceive pain signals.  

As with any surgical procedure, implantation carries risks, including infection or bleeding. Over time, stimulation coverage may change if the leads shift or if there are hardware issues, which may mean additional procedures.

Finally, results can vary. Pain is complex, and several factors may influence individual outcomes. While many people experience pain relief, some people may notice only modest results. Having realistic expectations is essential.

If you want to learn more about the spinal cord stimulator and how it might help you gain control over your pain, schedule an appointment with one of our pain experts. Simply call us today or request an appointment online. 

We have offices in Augusta, Atlanta, Austell, Brookhaven, Canton, Carrollton, Cartersville, Conyers, Covington, Dallas, Dawsonville, Douglasville, Jasper, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Peachtree City, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Suwanee, and Woodstock, Georgia.