Do you live with chronic back or neck pain? If you’ve tried other therapies or even surgery and still live with persistent pain, spinal cord stimulation may be an option for you. This minimally invasive, drug-free approach can be a long-term solution to manage your chronic pain and help you get your life back.
What Is Spinal Cord Stimulation?
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) uses a device that’s surgically implanted just under your skin. This device is called a neurotransmitter. A neurotransmitter uses electrical impulses to interrupt pain signals your spine sends out in response to an injury or arthritis, meaning they never reach the brain. The result? You don’t experience pain!
While spinal cord stimulation won’t directly address the origin of your pain, it does reduce or eliminate the sensation of pain. Some patients won’t feel anything while others may feel a mild tingling sensation instead. The device can even be programmed so you can change the intensity or even turn it off so you can control your level of stimulation.
For many patients, SCS can greatly decrease pain, which reduces the need for pain medication. With reduced pain, you can regain your mobility and begin to participate in activities that may help your spinal injury or arthritis, allowing you to potentially reduce your pain even more.
Is This Treatment Right for You?
Spinal cord stimulation may not be the right choice for every patient experiencing chronic pain. This treatment has been most successful for patients who have tried surgery but still experience pain (also called failed back surgery syndrome), those who have complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and those who have neuropathy or cervical and lumbar radiculitis.
Patients who have experienced other spinal cord injuries or chronic back or neck pain and have tried other therapies without success may also be good candidates for spinal cord stimulation. The experienced and compassionate professionals at our pain and wellness center can help you determine if SCS is right for you.
Looking for a Pain Wellness Center? We’re Here to Help!
The professional pain management physicians at Summit Spine & Joint Centers are here to help you understand and treat your chronic pain so you can live your best life. Contact our pain and wellness center for an appointment today to talk to one of our professionals about spinal cord stimulation. Call us at (770) 962-3642 or contact us online for an in-person or virtual appointment!