Ways To Tell if You Are an Excellent Candidate for Spinal Cord Stimulation

Pain can be a good thing. Whenever you are hurt, your body signals to your brain that you need to protect that region. It is very uncommon for people to feel pain even after an injury has healed. As much as 20 percent of Americans suffer from chronic discomfort. Patients who suffer from depression may have tried everything from lifestyle modifications and drugs to physical therapy and even surgery to alleviate their symptoms. It may be time to try something new if none of the above options have worked. Luckily spinal cord stimulation The Woodlands is one therapy approach you can consider. The treatment may be a possibility for you if you have the following problems.

Chronic pain in your back, arm, or leg

Back, arm, and leg discomfort that has lasted more than three months may warrant spinal cord stimulation. Some forms of chest discomfort may be relieved; however, this is not always the case.

A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) has three components: an on/off switch on the handheld remote control, a pulse generator, and a cable with up to 32 electrodes to transmit electric current to the spinal neurons.

Before connecting the lead wire to your spine, surgeons insert the pulse-generating device beneath your skin. Electrodes are then applied to your pain-receiving neurons and sent to your brain. An electrical current is sent to the nerves when the pulse generator is triggered, blocking or masking the nerve signals. To avoid discomfort, the SCS prevents messages from affecting your brain.

Neuropathy

If you suffer from neuropathy or damage to the nerves, spinal cord stimulation is the best way to relieve your pain. It is cheaper than using medicines for a long time if you are not getting the results you want. Neuropathy may be caused by various things, including infection, chemotherapy, a lack of vitamins due to malnutrition, or other issues. Even after you have recovered from an injury or sickness, nerve damage might cause the nerves to continue delivering pain signals. The nerve damage may occur in the brain and spinal cord or in the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and give searing pain to your limbs. Both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system are susceptible.

Failed back surgery syndrome

Failed back surgery syndrome affects 20% to 40% of people who have had back surgery and still have pain (FBSS). This case does not indicate that your surgeon did anything incorrect. Scar tissue and repeated muscular spasms in the region are the most common causes. FBSS has been successfully treated with spinal cord stimulation.

A healthy state of mind

Chronic pain can do physical and mental damage. People with chronic pain are more likely to be depressed or anxious. Spinal cord stimulation may be dangerous if you have a mental health disorder, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It may also make it difficult for some people to use the gadget and deal with their symptoms. SCS patients are therefore prescreened to exclude those who may have mental or intellectual issues that might compromise the effectiveness of their therapy.

An expanding variety of unpleasant health conditions are being treated using spinal cord stimulation. In the second phase of the screening procedure, if you meet the requirements for spinal cord stimulation, your doctor will set up a trial period so that you may assess how effectively the brief therapy alleviates your pain.