Spinal Cord Stimulator Specialist

What is a spinal cord stimulator?

The spinal cord stimulator is a medical device that relieves pain in your back, legs, and arms using a process called neuromodulation. During neuromodulation, an electric impulse or chemical agent alters nerve activity.

After your doctor at South Lake Pain Institute implants the spinal cord stimulator, it sends a mild electric current to targeted nerves in your spine.

The electric current masks or blocks the nerve signals, which means your brain doesn’t get the message that pain exists. As a result, you don’t feel pain even though the source of the pain is still there.

What conditions are treated with a spinal cord stimulator?

Spinal cord stimulation can help relieve chronic pain caused by numerous conditions, including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Pinched nerve
• Narrowed spinal canal
• Overuse injuries

With a spinal cord stimulator, you can finally get relief from pain that hasn’t been relieved by other treatments.

How is a spinal cord stimulator implanted?

There are three parts to a spinal cord stimulator: a small pulse generator, a handheld remote controller, and a lead wire with up to 32 electrodes that deliver the electric current.

Your doctor at South Lake Pain Institute implants the pulse generator under your skin, then runs the lead wire through the space surrounding your spine. The electrodes are placed near the nerves causing your pain.

After the generator and leads are in place, you use the remote control to turn the generator on and off and to adjust the settings.

How do I know if the spinal cord stimulator will work for me?

You’ll go through a trial run to determine whether the spinal cord stimulator will effectively relieve your pain.

Although your doctor must insert the lead wires into the appropriate area, the pulse generator isn’t implanted. Instead, you’ll wear the generator on your waist.

You’ll use the spinal cord stimulator for about a week to see how well it works. If your trial period is successful, your doctor implants the pulse generator.

You may be a good candidate for a trial run if you’ve had severe pain for at least three months, conservative treatments have failed to relieve your pain, and spinal surgery isn’t a good option.

If you’d like to gain relief from chronic back, leg, or arm pain, call South Lake Pain Institute or book an appointment online.