27 Jan Consider Spinal Cord Stimulation as Another Treatment Option
For patients coping with chronic pain, there may be hope for relief in the burgeoning practice of spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Jeff Gudin, MD, et al. outlined the basics of SCS for Pain Medicine News, showing that SCS is a good option for patients who have exhausted other pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options. It is particularly effective for those patients suffering neuropathic pain, specifically those with failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and refractory angina pectoris. SCS involves the implantation of an electronic nerve stimulation device near the epidural space, which is activated by an external generator connected by an electrode lead or leads. Experienced doctors are typically able to perform the surgery without complications. While SCS can have a profound effect on the quality of life for a chronic pain sufferer, the authors of the piece stress that those who begin SCS earlier in their treatment experience better long-term relief of pain. Therefore, quick referral from a primary care physician to an interventional pain physician is often the best indicator of a patient’s success. Learn more here.