The medical field has come a long way. There have been various advancements that have made it possible to treat many illnesses and diseases today that were not possible a decade ago. One of the fields that has seen remarkable progress is pain management.
Livingston spinal cord stimulation is a pain management technique. In this, electric signals are used to interrupt the pain signals in your spinal cord and prevent them from reaching your brain. It is one of the fastest-growing pain management techniques in North Carolina.
If you or someone you know is struggling with back and neck pain, they may benefit from the same. Consulting with a pain management expert can open new options for you.
What is spinal cord stimulation?
Spinal cord stimulation is a pain management technique for the spinal cord area, as is obvious by its name. The method is carried out using a device called the spinal cord stimulator. This is one treatment method that has gained immense success among patients with hard-to-treat spine pain.
Your spinal cord gives out pain signals, which are then carried to the brain via your nerve cells. Upon successfully reaching your brain, these pain signals create the feeling of pain.
To prevent this, experts made the spinal cord stimulator. This device blocks the pain signals by emitting low-voltage electrical currents. These currents disrupt the pain messaging between the nerves and the brain.
The method is carried out by attaching electrodes inside the epidural space. This is where the problem nerves are located. Once put in place, these electrodes produce mild sensations of current that block the feeling of pain.
If you have tried other methods of pain management and they have not worked, spinal cord stimulation may be the best course of action.
Who should get a spinal cord stimulator?
As with all treatments, your doctor will make sure that spinal cord stimulation is right for you before recommending it to you.
To do this, they will conduct a number of imaging tests and psychological screening. Psychological screenings are required because some insurance companies want to make sure that conditions like depression or anxiety are not worsening your pain.
Each patient is different, but the people who benefit the most from spinal cord stimulators include the following:
- Individuals with no psychiatric disorders would diminish the effectiveness of the procedure.
- Individuals who have not experienced much pain relief from medications, less-invasive therapies, or prior surgeries.
Which kinds of cerebral stimulators are available?
There are many cerebral stimulators available, and each has its own uses and benefits. The most common of them include:
- Conventional spinal cord stimulators: They are most commonly used to deliver electrical signals to the spinal cord nerves.
- High-frequency spinal cord stimulators: They are used to treat more severe pain and deliver a high frequency of electrical stimulation.
- Burst spinal cord stimulators: They deliver electrical pulses in bursts, which lessens pain with less discomfort.
- Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) stimulators: They target specific nerves in the spinal cord.
- Peripheral nerve stimulators: They are used to stimulate nerves outside the spinal cord, such as legs and feet.
Get a trial run first
It is natural to be skeptical and a bit fearful about a treatment procedure that involves sending volts of electric current into the body. However, you can rest assured that it is a proven method of pain management with many success stories.
To ensure a spinal cord stimulator is right for you, your doctor can set up a trial run where they direct temporary leads into your spine. If this is successful, you can move towards a more permanent setup.
Visit a specialist in Livingston today!
Gone are the days when you would have to endure your back pain. Visit a specialist today and explore your treatment options!
