Back pain is the second leading cause of visits to emergency rooms, primary care providers, and urgent care centers in the United States. While many of these back pain cases can be effectively treated with conservative treatments, some instances require treatments beyond medications, physical therapy, and injection treatments. At Specialty Pain Management, our team is here to help you find effective relief for your back pain when past treatments have failed to provide you with adequate pain relief. One of the most effective treatment options our patients have found success with in managing their back pain is spinal cord stimulation. Let’s take a closer look at spinal cord stimulation and how it may be able to help you with your back pain.
Spinal Cord Stimulation for Back Pain
Spinal cord stimulation is a minimally invasive treatment option for back pain that uses electrical signals to block pain signals from reaching the brain. Spinal cord stimulation utilizes a small wire placed near the spinal cord to deliver small electrical stimuli through a device called a stimulator. When a spinal cord stimulator is working, these electrical impulses block or modify pain signals, alleviating your pain without causing excessive numbness in the body, and without the use of powerful medications and their side effects. Spinal cord stimulation can be an effective treatment option for back pain caused by:
- Failed back or neck surgery
- Post traumatic nerve pain
- Nerve pain that radiates throughout the arms and legs
- Whiplash injuries to the neck and back
For many back pain patients, spinal cord stimulation is an effective treatment option to manage their back pain levels when past treatment options have failed.
When to Consider Spinal Cord Stimulation for Your Back Pain
Spinal cord stimulation is typically considered for patients with back pain when more traditional and conservative treatments have failed to provide them with effective relief. At Specialty Pain Management, our back pain specialist may recommend spinal cord stimulation if:
- Your back pain has lasted for more than six months
- Medications and physical therapy treatments have failed
- Patients want to delay or avoid major back surgery
- Patients are not ideal candidates for back surgery
Patients who have concerns about taking powerful pain management medications may benefit from spinal cord stimulation, as it is entirely medication-free. Typically, we recommend that patients first undergo a spinal cord stimulation trial to evaluate their response to this treatment option before implanting a permanent stimulator.
What to Expect During Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial Treatment
Before permanently implanting a spinal cord stimulator in a patient, a spinal cord stimulation trial treatment may be recommended. The trial treatment involves placing leads near the epidural space in the spinal cord and administering small electrical shocks to gauge a patient’s response and level of pain relief. This is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure and is an excellent way to determine further if you are a good candidate for this treatment option before implanting permanent leads and a stimulator.
How Spinal Cord Stimulation Treatment is Monitored and Adjusted
At Specialty Pain Management, our team believes in an evidence-based approach to pain management. One way we track our patients’ progress and adjust spinal cord stimulation treatments as needed is by partnering with OutcomeMD. OutcomeMD is a patient monitoring tool that allows us to:
- Monitor your pain levels
- Monitor your improvements
- Capture quality of life changes
This monitoring enables our team to recommend adjustments to spinal cord stimulation levels, thereby maximizing your pain relief over time. If you’re ready to learn more about spinal cord stimulation as a treatment option for your back pain, contact our team today.
Find Relief From Back Pain With Spinal Cord Stimulation at Specialty Pain Management
If your back pain has continued to negatively impact your quality of life when past treatments have failed, spinal cord stimulation may be the proper treatment for you. To explore this treatment option and learn more about the benefits it can bring to your quality of life, contact one of the Specialty Pain Management locations in Dearborn, Pontiac, Garden City, or Sterling Heights to schedule your consultation.