Spinal Cord Stimulator

Up to 50,000 Americans receive a spinal cord stimulator each year to relieve chronic pain. The implantable medical device provides lasting pain relief, restoring mobility and improving quality of life. At Minimally Invasive Medical Group’s offices in Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and Irvine, California, the minimally invasive surgical team specializes in spinal cord stimulator implantation. The procedure is quick, effective, and less risky than traditional spine surgery. Call the nearest Minimally Invasive Medical Group office to schedule a spinal cord stimulator consultation, or book your appointment online today.

What is a spinal cord stimulator (SCS)?

A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is an implantable medical device that treats severe or chronic pain. Once placed, the SCS emits an electrical current that stimulates specific nerve fibers in the spinal cord. This stimulation stops pain signals from reaching your brain, relieving discomfort and restoring mobility.

What types of chronic pain can a spinal cord stimulator treat?

The Minimally Invasive Medical Group team uses spinal cord stimulators to treat several types of chronic pain, including:

• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Back pain
• Diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS)
• Neuropathic pain

If you suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain or nerve pain, a spinal cord stimulator is worth considering. 

Am I a candidate for a spinal cord stimulator?

Before recommending a spinal cord stimulator, your Minimally Invasive Medical Group provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a comprehensive exam. They also conduct lab tests and diagnostic imaging to ensure you’re healthy enough to undergo the procedure. After you’re cleared for surgery, your provider explains how to prepare. 

What happens during a spinal cord stimulator implant procedure?

Typically, implanting a spinal cord stimulator takes two procedures. The first is a “trial” procedure that tests the device’s efficacy, and the second involves implanting the spinal cord stimulator in your back.

Trial procedure

After arriving at Minimally Invasive Medical Group, you lie facedown on an operating table. Your provider administers general anesthesia, causing you to fall asleep, and makes a small incision in your back.

Next, your provider inserts a needle through the incision and uses X-ray-guided imaging to place it into the epidural space in your spine. Once positioned, your provider threads an electrical line through the needle, leaving part of the line outside your skin.

Last, they remove the needle and attach the electrical lines to a spinal cord stimulator. Your provider turns the SCS on, which emits electrical currents that stop pain signals from reaching your brain.

Implantation surgery

If the SCS significantly reduces your pain, your provider performs another surgery a week or two later to permanently place the device in the same location as the trial. The difference is that the electrical lines and SCS are placed beneath your skin rather than outside. 

Call the nearest Minimally Invasive Medical Group office to schedule a spinal cord stimulator appointment, or request one online today.