What is Spinal Cord Stimulation?
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a proven therapy that has been recommended by doctors to manage chronic pain and improve quality of life. Spinal cord stimulation systems are approved or cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of chronic pain in the back, neck, arms, or legs. They are also covered by many major health insurance plans, Medicare, and workers’ compensation programs.
Benefits of neurostimulation may include
- A reduction in pain by 50 percent or greater.
- A reduction or elimination in the use of pain medications.
- Increased activity levels and an improved overall quality of life.
Spinal cord stimulation, however, is not a cure for what is causing the pain and does not treat specific diseases. Instead, it is a therapy that’s designed to mask pain by blocking pain signals before they reach the brain. It has been used to manage pain that comes from failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) or post-laminectomy syndrome and other neuropathies. To find out if spinal cord stimulation may be right for your pain, talk to your doctor.
Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Proven Therapy
Spinal cord stimulation is a widely accepted option that has been recommended by doctors to manage chronic pain and improve quality of life for over 40 years. SCS systems are approved or cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of chronic pain in the back, neck, arms, or legs. They are also covered by many major health insurance plans, Medicare, and workers’ compensation programs.
To determine if spinal cord stimulation is effective, several clinical studies have been conducted worldwide. Many of these studies analyze things such as reduction in pain and in medications. The following charts summarize some of the studies of neurostimulation and its effects on the quality of life of patients.
What Are the Components of a SCS System?
A spinal cord stimulation system typically consists of three components that are designed to work together to help manage pain: a generator, leads, and a programmer.