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Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.
Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.
This treats chronic pain in your trunk or legs. It uses electrical pulses to disrupt pain signals as they pass through your spinal nerves. It may reduce your need for pain medications. Here’s how it works.
Many people suffer from persistent sciatica (aka radiculopathy) despite spinal surgery (aka failed back syndrome). Many also suffer from painful neuropathy and RSD (aka reflex sympathetic dystrophy or complex regional pain syndrome) . Spinal cord stimulation is a great scientific breakthrough treatment for these difficult to treat conditions.
Previous treatments were very limited and patients suffered due to severe pain. Traditional treatments include physical therapy and pain medications. If a patient failed spinal surgery, repeat surgery was often offered. Success of repeat surgery is often lower than the intial spinal surgery. For painful peripheral neuropathy options are even more limited. Patients are often so disabled that they can’t work and can’t participate in normal daily activities like walking or excercising.
Spinal cord stimulator is an implanted device. It works by sending low grade electrical impulses to the nerves of the spinal cord. These nerves are involved in carrying pain sensation to the brain. This is effective in blocking the pain impulses and results in pain relief. In many cases pain relief is so significant that many patients reduce or stop taking pain medications and return to work.
Before the implantation step of this device, a trial (test) period is used to see if the device will help. If pain relief is not good, the surgical step of implantation is not recommended. If pain relief is excellent, implantation is recommended. Because this therapy is not indicated for everyone, a thorough history, physical exam and MRI review is necessary before this treatment can be recommended.
A herniated disc can be a source of severe pain that radiates into the arm or into the leg. It can also be associated with numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or weakness. A herniated disc can often be a source of severe dysfunction, including many days missed from work. Simple tasks like walking, standing, and sitting can seem like an impossible task.
Typical medical treatments include physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, and pain medications. In severe cases surgery is recommended. Percutaneous Discectomy is a minimally invasive alternative to open or endoscopic spinal surgery. What makes it different than traditional surgery is there is no incision, no general anesthesia, and no prolonged recovery. Procedure is done outpatient with light sedation.
After a diagnosis of herniated disc is confirmed on MRI, an epidural steroid injection is done to reduce the inflammation around the irritated nerve root. If pain relief is inadequate a percutaneous discectomy is scheduled.
Call us for a MRI REVIEW to see if Spinal Cord Stimulation is a good option for your pain condition.
A small tubular device called a STRYKER DEKOMPRESSOR is used to enter the disc. A small amount of herniated disc material call nucleus palposus is removed. This results in the decompression of the herniated disc and pain relief. This procedure is not for everyone with a herniated disc. But if appropriate for your condition, it presents a great minimally invasive option.
5/5Dr. Baruch helped me figure out a spinal issue that has caused me 6+ years of chronic, intense sciatica pain. I now feel like I have the information and tools to deal with this issue and manage my pain and health. Those who work at reception were always professional and friendly with me. Dr. Baruch is also very professional, friendly, clear and communicative in his approach. I felt like I could ask any questions I had and that he was comfortable talking through what was going on in my spine and what was evident in my MRI.
Angela Di Giulio