Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
What Conditions Does This Treatment Help?
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Post-laminectomy syndrome (failed back surgery syndrome)
- Neuropathic (nerve-related) pain
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Peripheral neuropathy (including diabetic neuropathy)
How Does Spinal Cord Stimulation Work?
- Electrodes are placed near the spinal cord
- A small generator sends low-level electrical impulses
- These signals interfere with or “mask” pain signals
- The brain perceives less pain
What to Expect During the Procedure
Before the Procedure
- Evaluation of pain history and prior treatments
- Psychological and medical screening (if needed)
During the Procedure
- Performed under local anesthesia or sedation
- Leads placed in the epidural space using imaging
- Generator implanted under the skin
- Procedure typically takes 1–2 hours
After the Procedure
- Same-day or short-stay discharge
- Activity restrictions for a few weeks
- Device programming customized to your pain
Benefits of Spinal Cord Stimulation
✔ Minimally invasive alternative to major spine surgery
✔ Can significantly reduce chronic pain
✔ Decreases reliance on pain medications
✔ Improves sleep and quality of life
✔ Adjustable and reversible treatment
👉 Many patients experience meaningful long-term pain relief and improved daily function.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
You may be a candidate if you:
- Have chronic pain lasting 6+ months
- Have not improved with medications, therapy, or injections
- Have nerve-related or post-surgical pain
- Want to avoid or are not a candidate for major surgery
👉 Best results occur in patients with clearly diagnosed nerve-related pain.
Risks & Side Effects
- Infection or bleeding
- Lead movement (device may need adjustment)
- Device malfunction
- Temporary discomfort at implant site
- Rare nerve injury
When Is This Treatment Recommended?
- Conservative treatments have failed
- Pain is chronic and nerve-related
- Surgery is not effective or not recommended
- Patients want a reversible, non-destructive treatment
Recovery & Results
- Initial recovery: 2–4 weeks
- Gradual return to normal activities
- Pain relief may be immediate or improve over time
- Device settings can be adjusted as needed
FAQs
Most patients experience minimal discomfort due to anesthesia and sedation.
Yes, the system is reversible if needed.
It is usually considered for people with long-lasting back, leg or nerve pain that has not improved enough with other treatments such as medication, physical therapy or injections. Your doctor will review your history, your imaging and how your pain affects daily life before recommending a trial.
It depends on the device. Some systems are approved for MRI under specific conditions and others are not. Tell every doctor and imaging center that you have a stimulator, and bring your device ID card so they can check the safety rules for your system.
Most people go home the same day or the next day. Your doctor will give you activity limits for the first weeks, which usually include avoiding heavy lifting, bending and twisting while the leads settle. Your care team will tell you what applies to you.
FAQs
The system includes a small device implanted under the skin, thin wires (leads) placed near the spinal cord, and a controller to adjust stimulation.
Yes, a weeklong trial simulation is performed to test how much pain relief the patient experiences before scheduling the long-term implant.
SCS can treat post-laminectomy syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), phantom limb syndrome, end-stage peripheral vascular disease, post-herpetic neuralgia, incomplete spinal cord injury, plexopathy, and lumbosacral arachnoiditis.
If the patient experiences significant pain relief, they can choose to proceed with a long-lasting spinal cord stimulator implant.
At 6 months, 82% of patients had significant pain relief (≥50% reduction), 72% improved function, and 42% reduced their medication usage.