Spinal Cord Stimulators in Paramus, West New York, and Union, New Jersey
Spinal cord stimulators are a minimally invasive option for patients who have tried and failed other treatments or where surgery isn’t an option for them. This is just one of the many spinal techniques offered at Bergen Pain Management. With locations in Paramus, West New York, and Union, New Jersey, we serve our patients with minimally invasive treatments for back, neck, and joint pain, including spinal cord stimulators.
What Are Spinal Cord Stimulators?
If previous treatments have failed to adequately address your pain, a spinal cord stimulator may be an effective alternative. These devices are designed and proven to relieve pain even when other treatments fall short. Alongside other solutions, like medications, exercise, and physical therapy, stimulators can provide long-term pain relief.
A spinal cord stimulator consists of thin wires, called leads, and a small battery pack called a generator. Those leads are inserted into the space between the spinal cord and the vertebrae, while the generator sits just under the skin. When the patient activates the generator with a remote control, it sends electrical impulses through the leads and into the spinal cord. The patient will feel a pleasant stimulation feeling, known as paresthesias, over the painful area to override the pain. Or there is an option to feel nothing at all, depending on the patient’s preference.
Before a spinal cord stimulator implant there is a trial period. If a patient does not have significant pain relief during the trial, the leads will be safely removed in the office. If the patient reports a greater than 50% reduction in pain scores, then an implant will be discussed. The implant procedure takes less than an hour and patients can go home the same day.
How Spinal Cord Stimulators Help
Back pain can be difficult to pinpoint and treat. Though non-surgical solutions are often effective, many patients continue to struggle after receiving traditional treatments. Spinal cord stimulators exist as an alternative. While they may not be appropriate for everyone, they can be used for a range of chronic conditions, including:
- Pain after a failed surgery: FBSS/FNSS
- Severe diabetic or cancer-related neuropathy: DPN
- Pain after amputations: Phantom Limb Pain
- Unhealed spinal cord injuries and fractures
- Sciatica
- Stenosis
- CRPS
- And more.
By interrupting pain signals as they travel to the brain, spinal cord stimulators can improve a patient’s overall quality of life, on their own or alongside other treatment.
