Spinal cord stimulation, otherwise known as SCS, uses electrical stimulation to provide pain relief of the back, neck, legs, and arms. It is believed that electrical impulses will inhibit pain sensations from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include patients who are suffering from chronic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed or potentially surgical treatment has not given substantial relief.

Prior to having a final implant placed with a spinal cord stimulator, the patient will need to undergo placement of a trial implant first. The doctor will sterilize and numb the area of the back under concern and an epidural needle is placed. Once the epidural needle has reached the spinal canal, a catheter is placed through the needle.

The patient is not completely anesthetized for this trial implant procedure. The reason is that the doctor needs to ask the patient at which point of placement the patient achieves adequate pain relief of the area suffering from chronic pain. Once the catheter is in the position for relieving pain best an external power supply and programmer is attached which supplies power and will allow the patient to wear it for 5 to 7 days.

During the week that the trial implant is placed, the patient will keep a journal detailing exactly how much pain relief is achieved from the trial. If the implant achieves adequate pain relief (such as over 50%), the patient may move on to a final implant. Regardless, the trial implant is removed in the office at about a week’s time.

The permanent implant is placed under sedation and often times general anesthesia. Through a small incision in the lower back, the surgeon will perform a small laminectomy or laminotomy, which means a little bit of bone overlying the epidural space is removed. At that point the paddle lead is able to be placed into the epidural space and positioned appropriately in the center for pain relief. Read the rest of this entry »