A spinal cord stimulator is an implanted device that can relieve chronic back pain. It is implanted in your back, and a small wire, called a lead, is inserted in between the vertebrae in your spine. The lead intercepts the pain signals and uses an electrical impulse to change your perception of them to a gentle tingling.
Spinal cord stimulators are used when the cause of the pain cannot be treated directly, such as chronic neurological pain from failed back surgery syndrome or neuropathy. The device and lead are implanted under the skin and are unnoticeable to outside observers.
Generally a 3-7 day trial is done to ensure that the spinal cord stimulator will adequately relieve your pain. If you are comfortable with the amount of pain reduction during the trial, our doctors will implant a permanent spinal cord stimulator to provide you with constant pain relief.
The comedian Jerry Lewis has been using a spinal cord stimulator to handle his chronic back pain since 2002. He experienced 100% pain relief and is now a spokesperson for Medtronic, a company that manufacturers spinal cord stimulators. You can read about his experience in an interview or watch a video interview with him to hear more about how spinal cord stimulator worked for him.