22 Dec Can Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) Help Me Avoid an Opioid Prescription?
Our country is in the middle of an opioid crisis, just elevated to a national health emergency, and Integrated Pain Consultants wants every patient to receive effective and safe pain relief. Spinal cord Stimulation, or SCS, may be effective in treating joint pain, back pain, nerve pain, neck pain, and certain types of knee pain. It’s always best to try conservative treatment methods first before more invasive treatments or addictive prescriptions. If you’ve tried conservative treatments and still suffer from moderate to severe pain, SCS might help. If you worry about opioid and opiate addiction, which isn’t a reasonable approach to chronic pain anyway, chat with Integrated Pain Consultants about alternatives like Spinal Cord Stimulation. We also invite you to learn more about Dr. Nikesh Seth and other providers including Dr. Anne-Marie Cosijns, Dr. Lisa Sparks, Dr. Michael Givens, and our team of Nurse Practitioners.
How Spinal Cord Stimulation Works
Spinal Cord Stimulation works via electrical currents directed to the pain area. It’s meant for chronic pain sufferers, not those with temporary ailments. Using wireless Bluetooth technology, Spinal Cord Stimulation is surprisingly a straightforward procedure. It minimizes the pain signals your body sends your brain, which minimizes pain. SCS blocks nerve signals to make activities of daily living easier and more enjoyable. However, Spinal Cord Stimulation isn’t for everyone.
Am I a Good Spinal Cord Stimulation Candidate?
Only a doctor can tell you if SCS is a viable option for your pain management. However, it’s commonly used to treat a variety of conditions that cause pain in the lumbar spine (low back), joints, nerve pain, and neck. Lumbar or cervical degenerative disc disease, knee osteoarthritis/degeneration, nerve root compression, and chronic pain that’s lasted over six months are a few ailments SCS may treat. If you suffer from failed back surgery syndrome or bulging discs, SCS might also be a good next step. Spinal Cord Stimulation is also a powerful tool in minimizing and even stopping dependency on pain medication like opioids and opiates.
Spinal Cord Stimulation is also called neurostimulation. It requires a trial of up to one week where temporary electrodes are placed on the skin to gauge whether such simulation is an effective pain management tool for you. This trial run is outpatient and requires minimal in-office time. SCS is similar to an epidural, but instead of steroid injections, wired electrodes are used.
The Spinal Cord Stimulation is very small, insulated, and a needle the diameter of a human hair is used to inject it into the epidural area. A special x-ray, or fluoroscopic tool, is used for the best accuracy and results. Some patients report a mild tingle in addition to minimized pain during the trial. If a patient reports a reduction in pain, you may be a candidate for a permanent SCS device.
Spinal Cord Stimulation and Integrated Pain Consultants
Are you interested in learning more about this wireless state of the art pain management technology? Do you want to avoid or stop dependency on pain medication? Call Integrated Pain Consultants at 480-626-2552 to schedule an appointment to learn if Spinal Cord Stimulation is right for you.