Neuropathy Disrupting Your Life? Spinal Cord Stimulation May Be the Answer

If you’ve been diagnosed with neuropathy and symptoms like pain, numbness, and muscle weakness affect your mobility, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may provide relief. Discover what SCS is and how it works so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that damages the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. It’s common, and it affects 20-30 million adults living across the United States.

Some forms of neuropathy can be treated by addressing their underlying cause. However, many people are exploring minimally invasive therapies, such as spinal cord stimulation, to achieve lasting relief from nerve pain.

At Sunshine Spine and Pain Specialists, PLLC, in Sarasota, Florida, our team of interventional pain doctors regularly uses spinal cord stimulation to help ease symptoms of back pain and neck pain caused by neuropathy.

This article explains what spinal cord stimulation is and how it can help manage neuropathic pain.

Understanding spinal cord stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a minimally invasive procedure used to manage certain types of chronic pain, including neuropathic (nerve-related) pain. It’s often recommended to people whose chronic pain hasn’t responded to other treatments.

A spinal cord stimulator is a small device placed beneath your skin. Once placed, it connects to two electrical wires called leads. The leads emit mild electrical impulses that alter pain signaling between your brain and spinal cord, which can help reduce how pain is perceived.

SCS offers an alternative to surgery. Depending on the type of device used, the battery can last 5-10 years and sometimes longer.

How spinal cord stimulation helps with neuropathy

SCS offers a safe and minimally invasive treatment for certain types of chronic pain.

Because it can alter pain signaling, it’s a good option for people with chronic neuropathic pain that doesn’t respond to other treatments.

Before recommending SCS, we review your health history and ask about your neuropathic pain, including what it feels like, where it occurs, and if it worsens during activities such as sitting or exercise.

After gathering that information, we can determine whether SCS is right for your situation.

What to expect during spinal cord stimulation treatment

Treatment with spinal cord stimulation is a two-phase process:

Phase one

Most people who undergo SCS complete a trial phase first.

During the trial phase, we insert the SCS leads near your spinal cord to target the area associated with your pain. You wear the device for several days to see if it helps ease pain and improve your mobility.

Phase two

If the trial phase is successful and you notice an improvement in your nerve pain, we implant the SCS device.

We administer a local anesthetic and implant the SCS device under your skin in the buttocks area. Once the device is placed, we attach the leads.

Following the procedure, we provide you with a remote control. The remote lets you adjust certain stimulation settings to help manage your nerve pain.

Stop letting neuropathy control your life

Chronic neuropathic pain can make even small movements uncomfortable, but SCS may offer lasting relief.

To see if you’re a candidate, schedule an appointment at Sunshine Spine and Pain Specialists, PLLC.