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Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation is a form of neuromodulation that is an effective alternative treatment for certain chronic pain disorders.

This consists of a small implantable device that delivers electrical signals through the epidural space to interfere with pain signals. Instead of feeling pain, patients may experience comfort or relief. Spinal cord stimulators can treat different types of chronic pain syndromes, including back pain, neck pain, radicular pain, neuropathic pain, chronic regional pain syndrome and more.

Indications 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
  • Multiple back operations
  • Unsuccessful disk surgery
  • 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), or causalgia
  • Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities
  • Certain types of stimulators can even be indicated for: Causalgia secondary to inguinal or umbilical hernia repair, Total knee or total hip replacements, Sacral pain or pelvic pain.
What to expect What to expect

If you are identified as a possible candidate for a stimulator, here are some steps you can expect.
**Most insurances will require a psychological assessment prior to this therapy.

Trial:
  • Unlike most other medical treatment options, you can try the stimulator before committing to long-term therapy.

  • The trial is typically done in-office and involves the placement of temporary epidural leads that are attached to an external battery for 5-7 days.

  • At the end of your trial, we can make a shared decision to determine whether or not stimulation therapy is right for you. A successful trial is typically described as at least 50% relief in pain, however other clinical indicators are important to consider, such as functional improvement or disability improvement.
Implant
The permanent implantation is done in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital depending on your medical history. You can expect to be home the same day as your surgery with two small incisions, one for the leads and one for the battery pocket.
Long-term management
As your pain changes, so too can your spinal cord stimulator. This is one of the great components of this therapy. With thousands of different options for reprogramming, you can work closely with your provider to continue to tailor this therapy for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you google spinal cord stimulators (SCS), you may see advertisements from law firms touting the ‘dangers of spinal cord stimulator devices.’ This will naturally raise your concern as to whether or not this therapy is right for you. Rest assured; spinal cord stimulation therapy is safe. This technology has been around since the 1960’s and has only improved with time.

According to the FDA, the most frequently reported patient problems with SCS are inadequate pain relief or battery charging issues. These are resolved with proper patient selection, an adequate trial period and proper device selection. Please speak with a provider here at New York Pain Pump Institute to determine how to maximize your experience with spinal cord stimulation. Feel free to review the following letter to healthcare providers from the FDA regarding adverse events with SCS.

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/conduct-trial-stimulation-period-implanting-spinal-cord-stimulator-scs-letter-health-care-providers

Not all SCS devices are MRI compatible, some are non-compatible or MRI conditional. Please speak with a provider here at The New York Pain Pump Institute to determine which device best suits your needs.
As with any medical treatment, there are risks and benefits. Risks can include surgical complications, surgical site infections or hematomas. These complications can be managed, and permanent damage is very rare. Complications with SCS therapy can include lead migration, lead fracture, or impedances. The team here at The New York Pain Pump Institute can work with you to minimize your risk of surgical complications or device related complications. Make an appointment to learn more.
From the surface, you probably identify a similarity between SCS and a tens unit, they both use electrical energy to control pain. This is where the similarities end. SCS is vastly superior to a tens unit in more ways than one. There is no evidence to suggest whether your experience with a spinal cord stimulator will relate to your experience with a tens unit, meaning, your experience with a tens unit will not be an indication of whether a spinal cord stimulator is right for you. Only a trial with a spinal cord stimulator is an adequate predictor on the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation.
At The New York Pain Pump Institute, we are proud to work with all device manufacturers. Each and every patient is different. In our opinion, there are clinical situations where one specific device is right for one specific person. In other circumstances, patient preference or experience may drive the decision to one manufacturer versus another. Make an appointment today to learn more about how we can guide you through this decision and give you the best experience possible with spinal cord stimulation.
No. There has never been any confirmed or documented evidence of a stimulator electrocuting a patient.
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