5 Reasons to Consider Spinal Cord Stimulation

If you live with chronic pain, you know the challenge of finding effective treatments. And if you find one that helps, chances are you will only get short-term relief.

Are you ready for an advanced treatment that delivers safe, effective, long-lasting pain relief? If so, it’s time to consider spinal cord stimulation. These devices use mild electrical impulses to stop pain signals, a proven technique that significantly eases pain for many people. 

Our Florida Pain Medicine team specializes in spinal cord stimulation. Our expertise includes determining if you’re a good candidate, managing your trial run, and implanting the device if it eases your pain.

These are the top five reasons to consider spinal cord stimulation:

1. Achieve long-lasting pain relief

Pain specialists don't recommend spinal cord stimulation until other less-invasive treatments fail to relieve your pain. By then, you may find it hard to believe that long-lasting pain relief is possible, but it can happen with spinal cord stimulation.

During a spinal cord stimulation trial (using it without implanting the generator), you learn if the device works for you. If it significantly eases your pain and you decide to have it implanted, the stimulator can stay in place for years.

Many people live with the stimulator for several years. However, it can stay implanted until the battery wears out in 5-10 years (depending on the type of battery). Then, you can have a new battery or generator implanted if the device is still easing your pain.

2. Relieve numerous pain conditions

No matter what causes your pain or where it originates in your body, all pain signals reach your brain by going through the spinal cord. Since the simulator stops pain signals in the spinal cord, it can ease pain arising from many causes.

These are a few examples of the conditions responsible for pain that spinal cord stimulation can treat:

• Chronic back pain
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Postherpetic neuralgia
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Chronic abdominal pain

Whatever your diagnosis, don’t wait too long to learn about interventional pain treatments like spinal cord stimulation. 

You can try the device at any time. However, its success rate rises the earlier you begin treatment. Spinal cord stimulators are up to 85% effective when implanted within two years of when your pain started. 

3. Avoid surgery

Persistent chronic pain, especially pain involving the spine, often reaches a point when your healthcare provider suggests surgery. You, however, may not want to face the risks of surgery. That’s when it’s time to talk with us about spinal cord stimulation.

Spinal cord stimulation is successful for up to 86% of patients (depending on the underlying condition and the duration of the person’s pain), providing enough pain relief to prevent surgery.

4. Reduce or eliminate medications

Medication management has an essential role in pain treatment. However, you may prefer to avoid medications or already take them but worry about side effects. Spinal cord stimulation can ease your pain well enough to reduce or eliminate the need for medication.

5. Return to an active life

Physical therapy (PT) is crucial for relieving pain and maintaining muscle strength and mobility. Unfortunately, you can’t benefit from PT when pain prevents you from exercising.

There are few (if any) limitations on your activities after you recover from the spinal cord stimulator implantation procedure. As the device eases your pain, you can fully participate in physical therapy, return to your favorite activities, and restore your quality of life.

Learn if you’re a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation

Call the nearest Florida Pain Medicine office today, or request an appointment online to meet with one of our specialists and learn if you’re a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation.