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Spinal Stimulation and Chronic Back Pain

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Spinal stimulation is a treatment option that could help bring relief from pain and improve the quality of life for individuals dealing with chronic pain, like low back, and leg pain. Spinal stimulation can help reduce and manage chronic pain that does not alleviate or reduce with physical therapy, pain medications, injections, and other non-surgical treatments/therapies.  
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Spinal Stimulation and Chronic Back Pain
 
It is a form of neuromodulation that works by blocking pain signals that the nerves send out from reaching the brain. A spinal stimulator is a tiny device that is implanted underneath the skin. The device delivers a very low electrical impulse that masks/changes pain signals before they reach the brain.

A Spinal Stimulation System

Neurostimulator:

This is the entire device that is implanted and sends out electrical impulses through a lead wire to the nerves in the spine.

Lead:

The thin wire that delivers the electrical impulses from the neurostimulator.

Remote control:

This turns on/off the stimulator and increases or decreases the amount of stimulation.

Charger:

Stimulators are rechargeable and normally require recharging about one hour every two weeks.

Spinal Stimulator Types:

Traditional stimulators

These produce a gentle ringing/tingling sensation that masks the pain.

Burst stimulators

These send out random interval bursts of electrical impulses designed to copy the way the body sends out nerve impulses.

High-frequency stimulators

These reduce pain without generating tingling sensations.  
 

Types of Pain Spinal Stimulation Treats

Spinal stimulation is approved by the U.S. FDA to treat chronic back and leg pain, including pain that doesn’t go away after back surgery known as failed back surgery syndrome. Chronic neuropathic back and leg pain are the most common types that stimulation treats. This means back or leg pain caused by nerve damage from:
  • Auto accident
  • Injury – personal, sports, work
  • Disease
Acute pain is like stepping on a sharp piece of glass, where the pain serves as protection letting you know something is wrong and not to continue. Whereas chronic neuropathic pain lasts for 3 months or more and does not help protect the body.  
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Spinal Stimulation and Chronic Back Pain
 
Spinal stimulation is also used to treat complex regional pain syndrome or CRPS. This is a rare condition that affects the arms/hands or legs/feet and is believed to be caused by damage or malfunction of the nervous system. It is also used in treating peripheral neuropathic pain. This is damage to the nerves outside of the spinal cord often in the hands/feet that is caused by an:
  • Infection
  • Trauma
  • Surgery
  • Diabetes
  • Other unknown causes

Appropriate Treatment

Spinal cord stimulation should not be used in patients that are pregnant, unable to operate the stimulation system, went through a failed trial of spinal stimulation, and are at risk for surgical complications. The decision to use spinal stimulation is based on an individual’s needs and risks. Talk to a doctor, spine specialist, chiropractor to see if spinal stimulation could be an option.

Benefits and Risks

The effects of stimulation are different for everyone. Therefore, it is important to understand that spinal stimulation can help reduce pain, but not completely eliminate it.  
 

The Benefits of Spinal Cord Stimulation

In addition to reducing pain, other benefits of spinal stimulation include:
  • Better sleep
  • Improved body function
  • Increased activity
  • Improved mobility
  • Reduced opioid medication/s use
  • Less need for other types of pain meds
  • Reduced dependence on braces/bracing

Risks

During the implantation, there is a risk for:
  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Pain at the site of incision
  • Nerve damage
  • Rarely paralysis
  For some individuals, scar tissue can build up over the electrode, which can block the stimulator’s electrical impulse. The lead wire could move or shift out of position. This could lead to impulses being sent to the wrong location. The device itself could shift under the skin causing pain, making it hard to re-charge or communicate with the remote. There is a risk that the lead wire could detach or break off causing a malfunction and require a replacement. Also, individuals could respond well to the stimulation at first, but later on, they develop a tolerance, and so the therapy no longer has the same impact and the pain could get worse because the nerves stop responding.

Take Precautions

Discuss with a doctor, spine specialist, or chiropractor what you can and can’t do after the stimulator is implanted and activated. Here are a few precautions:
  • Do not drive or operate heavy equipment when the stimulator is active.
  • Stimulation systems could set off metal detectors, which could require manual screening.
MRIs, electrocautery, diathermy, defibrillators, and cardiac pacemakers could have a negative interaction with certain types of stimulators. This could result in injury or damage to the spinal stimulator. Talk to your doctor to determine if a spinal stimulator is a treatment option that will work for you.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico
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Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Spinal Stimulation and Chronic Back Pain" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

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License Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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