Spinal Cord Stimulator

Spinal-cord stimulation is an invasive way of managing some patients back and leg pain, which has associated nerve pain or neuropathic pain quality. Patients being considered for this form of therapy will generally have been unsuccessfully managed with anti-neuropathic pain medicines, such as with amitriptyline, sodium valproate, gabapentin or pregabalin.

The therapy involves placing an electrode next to the spinal-cord and using electrical impulses to block the normal transmission of pain signals. In the place of the pain sensation patients with spinal-cord stimulation experience a tingling sensation in the area where they would otherwise experience pain.

Some patients do not receive any benefit from spinal-cord stimulation and therefore the therapy is routinely trialled before a permanent implant is considered. If a trial proves helpful, then the 2nd stage of the therapy involves implementing the battery or pulse generator from where the electrical pulses are delivered.