Chronic pain is a big issue for many people. If it is a substantial amount of pain, it can be difficult to move and function every day, particularly if it is located in the limbs, back, or neck areas. Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain has become a widely used treatment for sufferers who have not found relief from other treatments.
As one of the two forms of neurostimulation therapy, SCS was approved in the late 1980s by the FDA. The success rate averages about fifty to seventy percent. Not all patients, however, will have successful relief from SCS therapy. Patients who have had success with SCS therapy have been able to enjoy increased mobility and a better quality of life.
The term neurostimulation is often used when referring to SCS therapy, but it is actually the term used for a category that contains Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation and SCS. These two methods involve the use of electrical currents to counteract the pain response by the brain, but they differ on how the electrical node tips on the end through the skin close to the spine. The other end of the wires are attached to a tiny generator that is inserted under the skin of the buttock or abdomen region through a small incision. Electrical currents are sent from the generator through the wires to the spinal cord and its nerves.
A remote control is used to operate the generator. It gives the patient the ability to cycle through the programmed settings and turn the system on and off. Settings are determined by the doctor based on the patient's pain, its primary location, and other needs.
There are certain conditions that are known to successfully benefit from this type of neurostimulation therapy. Patients that have previously had one or more back surgeries and still have pain are likely candidates. Chronic back pain without or including leg pain and chronic neck pain without or including arm pain may also be ideal cases. Other candidates include patients who suffer from peripheral neuropathy or vascular disease and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
There are also some patients who would not benefit from SCS therapy. Pregnant and nursing women are at the top of the list. People with systemic infections should avoid SCS. Additionally, patients who have any type of internal cardiac equipment cannot have SCS treatment. If a patient has experienced pain or discomfort from a TENS unit or did not respond to the trial stimulation by at least fifty percent.
When the doctor has suggested SCS, a temporary system is used to determine of the therapy will be successful. The wires are placed just under the skin and the temporary generator remains outside the body. It is already programmed with several settings that are used to determine which ones are the most effective. The whole trial stimulation period lasts about a week.
As one of the two forms of neurostimulation therapy, SCS was approved in the late 1980s by the FDA. The success rate averages about fifty to seventy percent. Not all patients, however, will have successful relief from SCS therapy. Patients who have had success with SCS therapy have been able to enjoy increased mobility and a better quality of life.
The term neurostimulation is often used when referring to SCS therapy, but it is actually the term used for a category that contains Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation and SCS. These two methods involve the use of electrical currents to counteract the pain response by the brain, but they differ on how the electrical node tips on the end through the skin close to the spine. The other end of the wires are attached to a tiny generator that is inserted under the skin of the buttock or abdomen region through a small incision. Electrical currents are sent from the generator through the wires to the spinal cord and its nerves.
A remote control is used to operate the generator. It gives the patient the ability to cycle through the programmed settings and turn the system on and off. Settings are determined by the doctor based on the patient's pain, its primary location, and other needs.
There are certain conditions that are known to successfully benefit from this type of neurostimulation therapy. Patients that have previously had one or more back surgeries and still have pain are likely candidates. Chronic back pain without or including leg pain and chronic neck pain without or including arm pain may also be ideal cases. Other candidates include patients who suffer from peripheral neuropathy or vascular disease and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
There are also some patients who would not benefit from SCS therapy. Pregnant and nursing women are at the top of the list. People with systemic infections should avoid SCS. Additionally, patients who have any type of internal cardiac equipment cannot have SCS treatment. If a patient has experienced pain or discomfort from a TENS unit or did not respond to the trial stimulation by at least fifty percent.
When the doctor has suggested SCS, a temporary system is used to determine of the therapy will be successful. The wires are placed just under the skin and the temporary generator remains outside the body. It is already programmed with several settings that are used to determine which ones are the most effective. The whole trial stimulation period lasts about a week.
About the Author:
Neil P. Hines is passionate about providing intelligent, unbiased and highly relevant medical information for people dealing with a wide range of pain conditions and related orthopedic needs, including back pain, knee pain, joint replacements, sports medicine, lumbar fusion and more. If you are interested in learning more about spinal cord doctors Philadelphia he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary Medical Center.
0 comments:
Post a Comment