Spinal Cord Stimulator Doctors

Once you decide to move forward with a Spinal Cord Stimulator, there are a few steps you must follow. The initial part of the process requires you to schedule a psychological evaluation. This psychological evaluation is administered before the trial to determine if there is any mental health risk due to SCS placement. 

Some patients do not respond well to a foreign device being surgically implanted in their body. For those individuals, a surgically placed device may heighten anxiety and worry.

Elevated stress levels may negatively impact the effectiveness of the SCS, and you may continue to feel pain in the same manner. Since Spinal Cord Stimulation requires surgery for placement and use, a psychological evaluation is vital for all parties involved to ensure the patient will receive the best outcome possible.

If the psychological evaluation indicates that a patient is not emotionally capable of handling the placement of the device, then we cannot proceed with the procedure. Fortunately, there are alternative treatments to Spinal Cord Stimulation that can then be considered during a follow-up consultation.

The psychological evaluation must be completed by a mental health professional, who will review basic information, medical history, and your struggle with chronic pain. Once the mental health professional has completed their evaluation and determined you are a good fit, you may proceed to the next steps.

The SCS Trial Procedure

Once an individual has successfully completed their psychological evaluation, they proceed to a trial SCS period.

With the spinal cord stimulator trial, patients can experience the benefits of SCS without undergoing full surgery. This trial period allows patients to test-run the device at home and evaluate their pain relief. The trial will last roughly 3-5 days, allowing you to determine if the pain symptoms are subsiding. If you experience a 50% reduction in pain (or more), the SCS trial can be considered a success.  

spinal Cord stimulator trial procedure:

The trial SCS is an outpatient procedure and can be done in a doctor's office or an outpatient facility. 

During the spinal stimulator trial procedure, your pain management doctor will place the temporary SCS trial implant using fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy is a medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to create real-time moving images of the internal structures of a patient's body. It is often used to assist doctors during surgical procedures, as it allows them to see the inside of the body and guide their instruments with precision. 

Based on the location of your pain, the SCS trial leads will be carefully and precisely placed in specific portions of your epidural space, which is the area surrounding the spinal cord. 

Spinal cord stimulation leads are thin wires that are connected to a small device called a spinal cord stimulator, which delivers electrical impulses to the spinal cord. These impulses are what interfere with the pain signals that are sent to the brain

For the SCS Trial, the stimulator device will not be surgically implanted inside the body; only the lead wires will be placed fluoroscopically. 

Spinal cord stimulator implant and Lead Placement

After a successful spinal cord stimulation trial, you can move forward with a permanent implant procedure. The procedure requires minimally invasive surgery, but surgery nonetheless. 

Please note that a permanent Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) implant can be removed in the future if necessary. Reasons for removal may include a change in the patient's medical condition or if the device is no longer effectively controlling the patient's pain.

SCS Procedure Steps:

1. Preoperative Preparation: The patient is prepared for surgery, which involves cleaning the area where the generator will be implanted and administering local anesthesia to numb the area.
2. Placement of the Leads: A surgeon will make a small incision in the patient's back, carefully insert the leads through a needle or catheter, and place them in the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord. The leads are then secured in place with sutures.
3. Placement of the Generator: Once the leads are in place, a small incision is made near the hip or abdomen, and the generator is implanted under the skin. The surgeon then connects the leads to the generator and tests the system to ensure it works correctly.
4. Closing the Incisions: After the generator is in place, the surgeon will close the incisions with sutures or surgical staples and cover them with a sterile dressing.
5. Postoperative Recovery: After the procedure, the patient is taken to a recovery area, where they are monitored for a short period before being released. The patient can usually go home the same day or the day after the surgery.

spinal cord stimulator recovery time

Recovery from this procedure will take a shorter amount of time than other standard spinal surgeries. Postoperatively, you may resume light activities after a few weeks, with a full recovery typically after eight weeks.

Your surgeon and pain specialist will monitor your recovery to ensure you have a successful outcome from SCS implantation. For many patients, the mild electrical impulses that alter and mask the pain signals are a significant reprieve from their previous pain experiences. Instead of pain radiating through your back, the sensation changes to something manageable.

The pain-relieving stimulation can be flexibly programmed for appropriate therapy to provide a gentle tingling sensation. A mild tingle wins over the pain that radiates. 

Why Choose SCS

The spinal cord stimulator is clinically proven and FDA-approved to treat various chronic pain conditions. Compared to conventional pain treatments, SCS is often more effective in reducing pain and improving a patient's quality of life. With SCS, patients can take control of their pain management and pursue activities that would have otherwise been too painful in the past.

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