How Do Spinal Cord Stimulators Work to Ease Pain?

We have devices to handle so many aspects of our lives. We have specialized cameras to watch pets when we’re away, digital photo frames to show all of our special memories, and robot vacuums. Technology makes modern life easier.

That’s true if you’re living with chronic pain, too. A device called a spinal cord stimulator could be the key to unlocking lasting relief from your pain. 

Here at Anchor Spine and Joint, our team has extensive experience offering spinal cord stimulation to help patients get relief. You can visit us at any of our offices throughout Florida — in Tampa, Riverview, Pinellas Park, Odessa, or Lutz — to explore this pain management treatment for yourself. 

SCS 101

To understand spinal cord stimulation (SCS), you first need to understand how you sense pain. You feel pain when your nervous system sends a warning signal to your brain, and your brain interprets it. 

That’s useful when the warning is about something you can do differently. Your hand signaling to your brain that it’s touching something too hot prevents you from getting a bad burn, for example. But with chronic pain, the messaging isn’t particularly helpful.

That’s where SCS comes in. By implanting a tiny specialized device in a strategic location, our team can interrupt the pain signaling before it gets to your brain. That makes spinal cord stimulation a potentially effective treatment option when other interventions — even surgery — have failed. 

Testing spinal cord stimulation for yourself

Spinal cord stimulation doesn’t work for everyone. Experts estimate that about half of people get a pain reduction of at least 50% with SCS.

Our team can help you safely figure out if this treatment will bring you relief. We do that by starting with a trial period. 

To start the trial, we use a minimally invasive procedure to place electrodes where they’re most likely to work for your pain. You then wear a temporary stimulator outside your body, which sends pain-interrupting stimulation through the electrodes.

If that works for you, we then place your permanent implant. With this option, everything goes inside your body: the electrodes, the wires, and the stimulator. Everything is extremely tiny to fit without interfering with your movements. It should all be imperceptible unless you press on the area. 

We then give you an accompanying handheld device. This allows you to adjust the level of stimulation as needed, giving you more control over your chronic pain. 

If you want to explore spinal cord stimulation for yourself, schedule a consultation with our team. Call the Anchor Spine and Joint office nearest you or book your appointment online by simply clicking the blue “Request an Appointment” button on our site.