Neuromodulation | Spinal Cord Stimulation 

What is spinal cord stimulation? 
Spinal cord stimulation is a therapeutic procedure to relieve chronic pain conditions from people who have failed back surgery syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, chronic neck and back pain, sciatic pain, and complex regional pain syndrome, among many other nerve related pain conditions. 
Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy delivers low-level electrical signals to the spinal cord or to specific nerves to block pain signals from reaching the brain. 

 

SCS Trial Procedure

During the spinal cord stimulator trial, Dr. Deshpande injects local anesthetic to numb the area. Insulated wires, called leads, are then placed though a needle into the epidural space. The leads are connected to a stimulator device that remains outside of the body during the duration of the trial.

The stimulator device delivers electrical impulses to alleviate chronic pain by controlling the transmission of pain signals along the spinal cord. The spinal cord stimulator trial is designed to test the effectiveness of pain management relief for your special pain condition. A typical trial normally lasts 5-7 days in duration. At the end of the trial the leads are easily removed though the skin with little to no discomfort.  

 

Am I a Candidate for Spinal Cord Stimulation?

If you suffer from any of the following conditions, you may be a candidate for spinal cord stimulation:

• Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) or low back syndrome or failed back

• Radicular pain syndrome or radiculopathies resulting in pain secondary to FBS or herniated disk

• Post laminectomy pain

• Multiple back surgeries

• Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD)/herniated disk pain refractory to conservative and surgical interventions

• Peripheral causalgia

• Epidural fibrosis

• Arachnoiditis or lumbar adhesive arachnoiditis

• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

 

Patient selection criteria guidelines may include the following: no contraindications to therapy or surgery, the patient can properly operate the SCS system, the patient understands the potential risks associated with the SCS therapy, the patient completed a psychological evaluation and received clearance to proceed with the trial, the patient is 18 years of age or older, and symptoms are of physiological origin.