Spinal
cord and brain are part of the nervous system. In order to understand the
working of the spinal cord stimulators and their effect on back pain, the
working of the nervous system can help us to a large extent.
Electrical
currents sent into the spinal cord interrupt the pain signals much before they
can reach the brain; this reduces the symptoms and the effect of the back pain.
The spinal
cord stimulation method has a large effect on the
back pain and its reduction of the same.
Comparing the Types of Stimulation
Spinal
cord stimulation is a technique which is very specific patient based. There are many methods which offer this
technique, every one of it having its advantages and disadvantages. Which will
work for one, can only be decided, once the patient is properly examined and
diagnosed by the treating doctor.
Tonic Spinal Cord Stimulation
This
is the longest used method of spinal cord stimulation. Also referred to as the
low frequency spinal cord stimulation.
Here,
lower frequency impulses of the strength of less than 1000 Hz are given to the
patient. This makes the patient feel a slight tingling or a special vibration
sensation, which changes the sensation of strong back pain to very slight
tingling sensation. The stimulation electrodes placed into the spinal canal
will stimulate spinal cord pathways, reducing the activity within separate pain
pathways which carry pain signals up to the brain.
High Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation
This
is a more new form of spinal cord stimulation which involves high frequency
electrical impulses of the frequency of 10,000 Hz. The electrodes placed into
the spinal canal directly stop or inhibit the pain pathways, making them unable
to carry pain signals to the brain.
This
is the most effective methods of the spinal cord stimulation, nevertheless the
patients get more comfortable in responding to tonic or burst techniques of
spinal cord stimulation. An important part of how spinal cord stimulators can help your back pain is that they allow
for trial periods. If one type of stimulation doesn’t provide effective
results, you can try another.
Burst Stimulation
This
technique is the most recent form of spinal cord stimulation which is performed
by giving intermittent bursts of high frequency impulses to the patient who is
experiencing the back pain. The stimulation electrodes work with a two way
solution, not only do they inhibit the pain from reaching the brain but it also
reduces the emotional effects of the pain on the individual.
The
result is that patients typically feel less or no pain. If pain still exists,
patients often report it as much less severe than their typical experience.
What to Expect?
The
first step in spinal cord stimulation treatment is to place the stimulator.
Both the trial and the permanent implantation involve outpatient procedures
that may be performed either awake or asleep, depending on the type of
stimulation that is being used.
Your
surgeon will use an X-ray to visualize your spine and guide wires with small
electrodes to the area where the pain is located. After that, they will
activate the generator and you will work together to decide where exactly the
electrodes should be placed. Your feedback during this stage may be important
(depending on the waveform being used) — make sure that you tell your surgeon
where you feel the stimulation so that they can place them accurately.
Once
you and your surgeon have settled on the right place for the electrodes, the
trial stimulator will be left in place. Immediately after the operation, the
electrodes in your spine will be connected to an external generator, where they
will stay for about a week. To determine whether the treatment is working
properly, your surgeon will ask that you record your pain levels at different
times of the day and in different situations.
If,
after your trial period, you aren’t satisfied with the results, you can easily redo
the procedure using a different waveform. Once you identify a waveform that is
working well, you will return to your surgeon to have a permanent spinal cord
system implanted. This procedure, like the electrode placement procedure, is
relatively simple and done on an outpatient basis.
Final Thoughts
Spinal cord stimulation is an effective way to address back pain that hasn’t
responded well to other forms of treatment, and it comes with a high level of
flexibility.
Take
the next step toward a more active and comfortable lifestyle and schedule a
consultation today.
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