Spinal cord stimulation for low back pain

Spinal cord stimulation is a procedure that uses an electrical current to treat chronic pain. To treat chronic low back pain, a small pulse generator, implanted in the back, transmits electrical pulses to the spinal cord. These pulses interfere with the nerve impulses responsible for leg pain due to nerve damage (sciatica).

Implanting the stimulator is considered to be a simple procedure, typically done using a local anesthetic and a sedative. Your doctor usually will first implant a trial stimulator under the skin (percutaneously) to give the treatment a trial run. (A percutaneous stimulator tends to move from its original location, so it is considered temporary.) After a successful trial, your doctor can implant a more permanent stimulator. The stimulator itself is implanted under the skin of the belly (abdomen), and the small coated wires (leads) are inserted under the skin to the point where they are inserted into the spinal canal. This placement in the abdomen is a more stable, effective location. Most stimulator batteries must be replaced every 2 to 5 years.

When in use, the spinal cord stimulator creates a tingling feeling, rather than the pain you have felt in the past.

For further information, please visit www.fortishealthcare.com