Carol had been living with chronic pain for years.
Watching life pass her by, she decided it was finally time to do something about her suffering. She saw an advertisement for spinal cord stimulation. The ad stated SCS was a “safe procedure” and had “minimal risks.”
The whole thing seemed too good to be true. However, after chatting with her doctor, hope began to swell up in Carol’s heart. Maybe, just maybe, she had found the ticket to getting her life back on track.
Are you thinking about giving spinal stimulation a try, but aren’t sure if you should? Then this article’s for you! Read on to learn about the top benefits of using a spinal stimulator.
- Alleviate Back and Neck Pain
Spinal cord stimulation, sometimes known as “electrostimulation,” is a type of neurostimulation. The stimulator implant for back pain uses electrical impulses to target specific nerves in the spinal cord.
About 25% of the American population is living with chronic pain. Thankfully, SCS is effective for various chronic pain conditions, including back and neck pain and complex regional pain syndrome.
However, stimulation surgery usually isn’t a patient’s first choice. Instead, SCS usually acts as an alternative when other treatment methods fail.
- Reversible Treatment Option
Spinal cord stimulation(SCS) therapy is reversible, unlike most surgical operations. There’s no commitment.
You can have your doctor remove the electrical connections, wires, and generator at any time. There aren’t any permanent alterations to the spine, and things will go back to how they were before.
Since SCS provides neuromodulation, it takes a noninvasive approach. The electrical stimulations help by blocking pain messages from reaching the brain. Other significant advantages of SCS include things like improved performance, increased activity, and better mobility.
- Non-Invasive Spinal Cord Surgery
Now you know that SCS is a medical procedure that helps manage chronic pain. But, how does SCS work exactly? It all starts with a device called the stimulator.
A doctor will implant the stimulator into your body. The spinal cord stimulator surgery is a minimal, noninvasive type of procedure.
When the stimulator turns on, it emits electrical impulses through thin wires called leads. The electrodes are attached to nerve cells that are associated with pain transmission.
The lead is then gradually moved into place. The area of stimulation is programmed to target specific areas of concern by targeting certain nerves in the spinal cord. This provides targeted relief of pain symptoms without reducing other functions, like bladder control.
- Convenient Remote Control Options
Some patients can eventually learn how to turn their stimulator on or off when necessary, while others may rely on the external remote control. For instance, some people will need to wear a special belt around their hip that houses the remote.
However, there are options for easy-to-carry remotes. Some people may be able to use a cell phone to control stimulation. If you have a smartphone, you might download an app, and you can control the electric pulse that way!
- Avoid Addictive Pain Pills
Another bonus of SCS is that patients don’t have to rely heavily on narcotics to manage pain. Drugs can be highly addictive and habit-forming. Plus, there are other potentially unsavory side effects, like drowsiness.
In comparison, SCS treatment allows people to manage their pain with a lesser amount of drug dependency. To be clear, patients can still take pain medication, and they may need to so as their body heals. However, with the help of SCS, patients don’t need to depend on pain pills for day-to-day activities.
- Cost-Effective Solution
Is the spinal cord stimulator cost-effective? Absolutely. Are you in the habit of rushing to the emergency room because your pain levels skyrocket?
Trips to the ER aren’t just jolting; they’re also incredibly pricey. Not to mention, spending time in the hospital isn’t a wise choice when you’re trying to stay healthy.
Thankfully, SCS treatment provides a cost-effective solution for managing pain. A solution that doesn’t require random hospital trips or additional medical equipment. Since implantable devices aren’t costly, insurance companies often cover costs associated with an SCS device.
- Minimal risks
Spinal cord stimulation has been proven effective. The risks are low, and patients are getting great results! Of course, as with any procedure, there are certain complications you may be at risk for.
One of the precautions to take is ensuring device incompatibility. For instance, SCS isn’t a practical solution for people who have peripheral vascular disease or infections near the implant site.
Why? The scar tissue may limit or block electrodes so that they won’t target the right nerve cells.
If you have a lot of scar tissue, you’ll want to discuss this with your doctor before getting SCS. Find out how effective the treatment will be for your condition. It’s possible, with heightened levels of impulses, you’ll still get relief.
- Intricate Technology
As you can see, there are limited side effects when you go with an SCS procedure. One of the things that make SCS safe is the intricate technology in the stimulators.
Most devices have sensors that can detect changes in skin resistance or body temperatures. These cues help your doctor identify possible problems with the device.
To ensure you’re getting a high-quality device, be sure you’re only purchasing from a reputable source. Remain aware of fraud and shady marketing tactics used by some clinics. Sadly, some clinics may try to sell SCS as a miracle cure without providing patients with facts.
While some people do see some relief from their symptoms, patients should know that it is not a guaranteed full recovery. Some patients may experience minimal relief of symptoms, if any, and they will need to weigh their options carefully.
Schedule Your Spinal Cord Stimulation
There you have it! Spinal cord stimulation is a reliable treatment that can help relieve various types of chronic pain. Instead of trying to push through the day, you can finally get the relief you deserve.
Since SCS is a surgical procedure, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with your doctor. Reach out today and set up an appointment to see if you qualify for SCS.
Before you know it, you could finally start waking up feeling good and ready to take on the day! For more tips, why not explore the rest of our site?