Back pain is rarely easy to treat, and when patients are having difficulty resolving their back discomfort with common conservative treatments like physical therapy, weight loss and exercise, oftentimes they look to pursue more hands-on care. One such treatment that may prove helpful is known as spinal cord stimulation (SCS).
Spinal cord stimulation is an advanced technique that involves the surgical insertion of a small electronic device that delivers low-level electrical currents directly to a person’s spinal cord. These gentle impulses work to drown out or modify nerve signals before they are interpreted as pain sensations by the brain. For the right patient, it can be a wonderful solution to their back pain. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the pros and cons of spinal cord stimulation for back pain relief.
The Pros Of Spinal Cord Stimulation
When administered to a patient who has otherwise found it difficult to manage their nerve-related back pain, spinal cord stimulation offers a number of benefits, including:
- Quick and Consistent Pain Relief – At its core, SCS is designed to provide the patient with a fair amount of pain relief. If chronic pain or certain movements are causing discomfort, you may find that life becomes a little easier when the implant is working to keep the brain from interpreting nerve relays as painful.
- Return To Activities – Spinal cord stimulation can also help people get back to performing some of the activities they love the most. Staying active is a key part of remaining healthy as we age, so spinal cord stimulation can make it so that you can once again pursue activities that had become too painful as a result of your nerve damage.
- Modifiable – Spinal cord stimulation devices can drown out pain signals in different ways and at different intensity levels. Your doctor will be able to tailor your SCS treatment to your unique nerve issues or modify the electrical currents as needed to ensure you continue to achieve relief.
- Safe – Spinal cord stimulation is a safe and non-addictive treatment option compared to other forms of treatment like opioids.
Cons Of Spinal Cord Stimulation
Of course, SCS is not a perfect solution for each and every patient with back pain. Some of the potential drawbacks of pursuing spinal cord stimulation for your nerve-related back issues include:
- Surgical Complications – Although the surgery tends to be very safe and effective, all surgeries carry additional risks compared to treatments like physical therapy or posture improvements, so you’ll want to talk with your doctor about the potential risks associated with the installation of your stimulation device.
- Treating The Root Issues – In some instances, spinal cord stimulation helps to drown out the symptoms associated with a problem, but it doesn’t address the root cause of nerve damage. We always want to work to address the underlying issue with treatment, and because SCS doesn’t always do that, additional treatments may be recommended in order to make the strongest recovery.
- Insurance Coverage – Spinal cord stimulation may not be covered by your insurance provider, so you’ll want to make sure you understand your coverage options and potential expenses before you move forward with the procedure if you are concerned about potential financial issues.
If you haven’t had any luck treating your back issue and are wondering if spinal cord stimulation or a similar treatment option may be right for you, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
