Neurostimulation Q & A
What is Neurostimulation?
Neurostimulation is an effective treatment to address chronic pain using electrical currents of light to interfere with the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
The staff at Comprehensive Pain Center offer two types of neurostimulation, spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation.
How Does Spinal Cord Stimulation Work?
Spinal cord stimulation involves the implantation of a stimulator device into the hip or lower back. The device contains wires that attach to the spinal cord. These wires deliver continuous low-voltage currents of electricity.
To ensure you receive pain relief when you need it most, an external control system that uses Bluetooth® technology allows you to adjust the electrical currents in real-time. While this treatment won’t eliminate pain completely, you can expect to achieve at least a 50% or more reduction in chronic spine-related pain.
Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment option if you have conditions like:
- Neuralgia
- Post-laminectomy syndrome
- Complex regional pain syndrome
Your Comprehensive Pain Center physician can determine if other conditions qualify you for treatment with spinal cord stimulation.
What is Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation?
Dorsal root ganglion stimulation works similarly to spinal cord stimulation, expect that pain relief focuses on a specific part of the body, the dorsal ganglion root. This structure processes pain signals from your peripheral nervous system that travels throughout your body to and from the central nervous system.
Dorsal root ganglion stimulation is an option for treating chronic pain that shows up following surgeries like:
- Hernia repair
- Total hip replacement
- Total knee replacement
You can also qualify for dorsal root ganglion stimulation if you have complex regional pain syndrome that affects your lower extremities.
What Can I Expect During Neurostimulation Implant Procedures?
Both spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion stimulation require a trial period of one week, where your Comprehensive Pain Center surgeon attaches the stimulator without full implantation to evaluate how effective the treatment is.
If successful, your surgeon can schedule you for implantation surgery, a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure.
Find out if you’re a candidate for chronic pain relief with neurostimulation by calling the office nearest you today.