A Guide to the Spinal Cord Stimulator 

For people with chronic pain stemming from nerve injuries or multiple other medical conditions, spinal cord stimulation -- also known as SCS -- may offer welcome relief.

A spinal cord stimulator is an implantable medical device placed through minimally invasive surgery. It has thin wires that carry an electrical current from a battery to specific areas of your spinal cord for pain relief. Spinal cord stimulation may be recommended by your pain specialist when other types of treatment, including medications, injections, nerve blocks, and surgery, have not been effective. 

Once implanted, electrical impulses are sent through the wires to specific areas of your spinal cord, interrupting the pain signal.

What is spinal cord stimulation used for?

Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment option that may help reduce pain from a variety of sources, including:

  • Back pain due to degenerative disc disease

  • Back pain due to spinal stenosis

  • Back and leg pain associated with failed back surgery or post-laminectomy syndrome

  • Nerve damage 

  • Back and leg pain secondary to herniated disc(s)

  • Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS, formerly RSD)
Who should get a spinal cord stimulator?

Pain physicians generally recommend this procedure only after several other conservative treatments have not been successful in relieving your pain. In some cases, you may need to try, and fail, another type of treatment before qualifying for a spinal cord stimulator trial.

Spinal cord stimulation is not for everyone with chronic pain, as it is not intended to treat somatic pain. Somatic pain is pain generated from a non-nerve source such as a muscle or bone.

Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial

The process of spinal cord stimulation begins with a trial. A trial involves placing two small leads into the epidural space. These leads are connected to an external battery which you wear for the duration of the trial. The lead placement is similar in approach and invasiveness of a standard “nerve block”. 

The trial period lasts anywhere from 5-7 days depending on a patient’s relief pattern. During the trial, a spinal cord stimulation representative will closely monitor your response in conjunction with your physician to help you in determining whether the trial was successful. At trial completion, the leads are simply removed in the office. After a successful trial, a patient will be referred for permanent implantation. 

Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant Procedure

Spinal cord implantation is quite similar to the trial, except the leads and battery are placed under the skin. This is a minimally invasive surgery that is done as an outpatient (no requirement to stay overnight in a hospital). The implantation usually takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Patients do receive anesthesia during the implantation to ensure comfort. 

Spinal Cord Stimulator Recovery

Following permanent implantation, a patient should restrict from excessive bending, twisting, or overhead activity for approximately 8 weeks. They should also not lift objects greater than 10 pounds during that time. These restrictions are aimed to minimize the risk of lead migration while the tissue around the leads and lead anchors heal. After this 8 week period, the patient can resume normal physical activity as tolerated. 

For certain patients with chronic pain, spinal cord stimulation therapy is the solution to enjoying a higher quality of life with fewer physical restrictions secondary to pain. Contact the pain management specialists at Mays & Schnapp Neurospine and Pain to learn more or to schedule a consultation.