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Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is one method that Interventional Pain Management doctors can use to treat some types of neuropathic (nerve generated) pain. From the beginning it must be emphasized that this technique is an advanced pain management modality that, while effective for certain patients, is not for everyone. All easier and less invasive techniques should have been tried before undergoing a trial of SCS. Only if a trial stimulation is successful will the permanent stimulation device may be implanted.
Spinal Cord Stimulation is usually performed in the operating room under local anesthesia, usually with mild sedation. It consists of placing one or more wires through a needle into the epidural space to stimulate the back of the spinal cord. Each wire has multiple (4-8) electrodes that can be programmed to deliver mild electrical current in various patterns. Under x-ray guidance the wires are maneuvered within the epidural space to produce a vibratory, pain relieving sensation in the area of chronic pain. It takes cooperation and communication between the patient and the physician to accurately �cover� the entire painful area with the stimulation.
Spinal cord stimulation has been successful in pain management of a subgroup of back pain patients that do not respond to minimally invasive procedures such as epidural injections, and are not candidates for Spinal surgical interventions. This modality has also been successfully used in patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Neuropathies/Neuralgias, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Arachnoiditis, Phantom Limb Pain, and Complex Regional Pain Syndromes. After initial evaluation, if you are deemed to be a good candidate, educational material in the form of a video tape and brochure will be given to you by your physician. A psychological evaluation might be necessary prior to the procedure; in some situations the insurance companies mandate this evaluation.
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