06 May Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant for Chronic Neck Pain
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists longer than the normal recovery period for the injury. This pain can cause so many issues in a person’s life, making small things seem difficult and overwhelming. Neck pain may prevent you from going out with your family, exercising, and sleeping properly. A spinal cord stimulator implant may help you find the relief you need from chronic neck pain.
What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant?
Spinal cord stimulation is a surgical pain-relief therapy that can deliver a low-voltage electrical current continuously to the spinal cord that blocks the sensation of pain to the brain. Spinal cord stimulation is the most commonly used implantable neurostimulation device to help get relief from chronic pain. They are approved and accepted as a treatment by the FDA. Around 50,000 neurostimulators are implanted every year around the world.
There are three kinds of spinal cord stimulation device types:
- Conventional systems
- Radiofrequency systems
- Rechargeable systems
If you’re a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation, the first step would be to implant a device on a trial basis. During the stimulator trial phase, a lead or leads are implanted temporarily and then is connected to a trial spinal cord stimulator. The trial stimulator is programmed with one or more stimulation programs customized to the specific area of injury in the neck. The trial phase can be helpful because it helps the patient and doctor know if the stimulator is actually relieving pain. It can also provide the patient and doctor with a period to find out which setting will work best. Spinal cord stimulators are reversible therapy, so the treatment can be stopped at any time and the implanted parts turned off and/or removed.
How Can It Help My Chronic Neck Pain?
In a recent study, it was found that about 60-70% of patients found reduced pain with a spinal cord stimulator implant after 3 months of use. The results suggest that the use of implants in the cervical spine is a good method of pain management that improves the quality of life of most patients. The use of SCS can reduce the high cost of constant medications, as well as increasing productivity. This surgery can help you in so many ways and is a great option if you are looking for relief from your chronic neck pain. A spinal cord stimulator can help you get your life back.
No Comments