Spinal Cord Stimulator

Pain Management & Anesthesiology located in Augusta, Austell, Brookhaven, Camp Creek, Piedmont/Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Canton, Carrollton, Cartersville, Conyers, Covington, Dallas, Douglasville, Jasper, Johns Creek, Suwanne, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Peachtree City, Roswell, and Woodstock, GA

A spinal cord stimulator provides substantial and long-lasting pain relief for many chronic pain conditions, even after other conservative medical therapies have failed. The experts at Alliance Spine & Pain specialize in advanced techniques like spinal cord stimulation. To learn more about this innovative treatment, call one of the offices in Austell, Augusta, Woodstock, Atlanta, Marietta, Conyers, Lawrenceville, Jasper, Cartersville, Dallas, Suwanee, Covington, Carrollton, Canton, Sandy Springs, Douglasville, Peachtree City, or Roswell, Georgia, or book a consultation online today.

Spinal Cord Stimulator Q & A

What is a spinal cord stimulator?

A spinal cord stimulator eases chronic pain using a mild electrical impulse. The pulse prevents spinal nerves from sending pain messages to your brain. If your brain doesn’t get the message, you can’t feel the full impact of the pain.

How does a spinal cord stimulator work?

Your spinal cord stimulator includes three components:

Small pulse generator implanted under your skin
Insulated lead wires placed in the epidural space along your spine
Handheld controller for the generator

Your Alliance Spine & Pain provider uses a needle to guide the lead wires through the epidural space along your spine. After placing the leads next to the targeted nerves, they connect the wires to the pulse generator, which sends electrical pulses into the nerves.

Your provider uses the controller to program the pulse strength, and you use it to turn the spinal cord stimulator on and off as needed for pain.

What types of pain can the spinal cord stimulator treat?

Pain arising from any part of your body sends signals through sensory nerves to your spinal cord and brain. Since all pain messages go through the spinal cord, a spinal cord stimulator can ease pain originating anywhere in your body, including your neck and back.

Alliance Spine & Pain may recommend spinal cord stimulation to relieve pain caused by many conditions, including:

Arthritis
Neuropathy
Herniated discs
Spinal stenosis
Joint pain
Sciatica
Phantom limb pain
Fibromyalgia
Failed back surgery
Complex regional pain syndrome
Diabetic pain due to neuropathy

If the spinal cord stimulator works for you, it can safely stay in place indefinitely.

How do I know if a spinal cord stimulator works for me?

Your Alliance Spine & Pain provider considers a spinal cord stimulator if:

You have chronic pain (lasting three months or longer)
Your pain hasn’t improved with conservative treatments
You can’t or don’t want to have surgery
You have a successful spinal cord stimulator trial

During your trial, your provider inserts the wires, and you wear the generator outside your body. After using the spinal cord stimulator for about a week, you’ll know if it provides enough pain relief.

If you’re satisfied with the results, your provider implants the generator. But if you’re not happy, they easily remove the wires and recommend another treatment option.

To learn if you’re a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation, call Alliance Spine & Pain or book an appointment online today.