Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant in OKC

If you suffer from chronic pain, there are multiple treatment options available. One option is called a spinal cord stimulator. At Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we understand that everyone’s pain is slightly different, and that is why we will work with you, customizing your treatment options to meet your needs. What do you need to know about spinal cord stimulator implantation, and how can you figure out if this is the right treatment option for your pain? Get a better understanding of how a spinal cord stimulator works, how it is implanted, and what the spinal cord stimulator recovery process is like.

Our spinal cord stimulator implant is a minimally invasive procedure that offers relief to people suffering from conditions like failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and more. Thereafter, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator?

An electric spinal cord stimulator consists of a battery pack and thin wires to help you address chronic pain. Then, there are electrodes inserted between the spinal cord and vertebrae. The battery pack is placed just under the skin, usually somewhere in your lower back/hip.

Using a spinal cord stimulator, you can send electrical impulses from the battery pack through the electrodes. These impulses can help you control chronic pain using a remote control placed outside the body. Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management will be delighted to demonstrate how this treatment option works, so please call today for an appointment here in OKC.

Indications that You Need a Spinal Cord Stimulator

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is suitable for patients with specific types of chronic pain. The following indications signal that you are a good candidate for this treatment:

• Other noninvasive treatment methods, including physical therapy and medicines, have not worked for you.
• You have nerve-related pain like peripheral neuropathy and also have diabetes, spinal conditions, arthritis, or other illnesses.
• You have ischemic pain following a stroke, causing you a wide range of pain symptoms, from sharp pain to dull, throbbing aches.
• Triggered by prior injury, you have complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS) that has become acute, and the pain has lasted longer than six months.
• You have failed back surgery syndrome.

What Does a Spinal Cord Stimulator Treat?

There are numerous conditions that we can treat using a spinal cord stimulator. Some of the most common examples include:

• When your back pain fails to respond to other treatment options, a spinal cord stimulator could help you.
• A spinal cord stimulator could be the best treatment option if you have stiffness and soreness following a surgical procedure.
• If you have been diagnosed with a condition called arachnoiditis, a spinal cord stimulator could be helpful.
• The spinal cord stimulator may help you if you’ve injured your spinal cord; learn more about how a spinal cord stimulator could help you.

Clearly, many conditions may respond to a spinal cord stimulator. Every type of chronic pain differs, so we suggest scheduling an appointment with one of our pain specialists. We can help you find the right treatment option based on your needs.

What Is the Spinal Cord Stimulator Procedure Like?

Typically, the placement of a spinal cord stimulator is divided into two separate procedures.

• Step 1: The first procedure is a trial of a spinal cord stimulator. Working with our team, we will place a temporary device underneath your skin using fluoroscopy, a specific type of X-ray. We will insert the electrodes into the epidural space at the spine and allow you to test them out. We will ask for your feedback during the procedure to find the best location for the electrodes.
• Step 2: The overall trial will take place within a few days to a week. You will decide its success, but we will guide you along the journey.
• Step 3: If you are interested, we will put the generator underneath the skin if you choose to go forward with the permanent placement.
• Step 4: Then, we will replace the trial electrodes with permanent electrodes. We will anchor the electrodes in place of sutures, minimizing their movement.

You should expect the implantation process to take approximately two hours, and you do not have to spend the night in the hospital after the procedure.

What To Expect with Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant Surgery?

Undergoing Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) implant surgery can be a huge step toward managing chronic pain and getting back the quality of life. But what can you expect when you’re preparing for this procedure? Let’s break it down:

• On the day of your spinal cord stimulator implant surgery, your body will be numbed before the device is implanted. You will receive a sedation that will make the process painless and comfortable.
• Your doctor will insert a hollow needle into the epidural space around the spinal canal. Fluoroscopic machines can be used to perform this process.
• Then, a small section of lamina, which is the bone that covers the spinal cord, will be removed. By doing this, we will be able to create space to place the injection leads.
• Next, your doctor will place a permanent lead. However, if the patient already had permanent leads implanted during their trial period, then this step will not be needed.
• After you wake up from your sedation, your doctor will take your input to find where the best positioning for pain control is located.
• To place the generator, your doctor will make a small incision. You will usually have the generator inserted under your skin in the abdominal area, upper chest, or upper buttocks.
• Next, we will connect the wires from the leads to the generator.
• Then, your incisions will be closed again.

You must understand that SCS implantation is typically done as an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home the same day. The spinal cord stimulator surgery in Oklahoma City usually takes about two hours. While being sedated, patients can stay awake. This spinal stimulation implant is more effective for patients who cannot handle anesthesia very well.

Benefits and Possible Side Effects

Here are some benefits of SCS treatment:

• Effective for managing several painful symptoms: Spinal cord stimulation works by blocking pain signals. It can provide relief from several types of chronic pain.
• Reversible therapy: Spinal cord stimulation is reversible, meaning that if a patient decides to discontinue it, the device can be removed.
• Significant long-term improvements: A study found that spinal cord stimulation helps reduce chronic pain intensity and depression in the long run, increasing the quality of life among CRPS patients.

Although side effects are rare, here are some possible side effects of this procedure:

• Fever
• Continuous nausea or vomiting
• Subtle numbness or weakness in your arms or legs
• Signs of incision infection in first 2 to 8 weeks
• Rash or itching at the incision site
• Blood clots
• Dizziness, confusion, nausea, or excessive sleepiness
• Fluid accumulates under the skin around the leads or the device, creating a visible swelling called seroma
• Sudden onset of leg weakness and spasms
• Loss of bladder or bowel function

Call your doctor immediately if these side effects occur.

What Is the Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant Recovery Process Like?

After the local anesthesia wears off, you may experience some stiffness or soreness for a few days. We encourage you not to stretch or twist your body, as it could pull the incisions. The incision should heal a few weeks after the surgery, and we will explain the recovery process to you. We may recommend you with fewer lighter activities for a couple of weeks after surgery. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to ensure your recovery is as expected. Finally, once you have finished the recovery process, we will give you the green light to return to your daily routine. This is typically two weeks after surgery.

Contact Us For Spinal Cord Stimulator Implants in OKC

This is just a brief overview of what spinal cord stimulators do, and it is important to be familiar with all the treatment options available to you. At Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we consistently prioritize our patients’ needs above our own, and it would be our pleasure to do the same for you. It is our pleasure to work with you to determine whether a spinal cord stimulator is the right treatment option for your needs. We are here to help, so give us a call today, and let us help you manage your pain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)