Spinal Cord Stimulation Specialist in Houston TX

A spinal cord stimulator is the placement of a percutaneous electrode (or paddle electrode, if this is deemed the better approach for the patient) in the spinal cord with contact with the central nervous system to use electrodes for pain management. Leads are connected to the ligaments around your spine and the membrane that surrounds your spinal cord, and these leads are connected to a pulse generator that stimulates the spinal cord with electrical currents. The procedure has been shown to help relieve several chronic pain conditions, including but not limited to back pain, nerve damage, and neuropathic pain caused by malfunctioning nerves. A spinal cord stimulator works by sending signals into your nervous system and interrupting the nerve signals caused by pain from communicating with the brain, leading to less pain being experienced.

Receiving a spinal cord stimulator is not typically the first recommended option to manage nerve-related pain. Often, it is recommended after a number of different treatments have not proven to be effective, as it is a surgery and therefore is not recommended for everyone. It is, however, a great option for those who do not wish to take heavy-duty pain management medication. In order to see if you are the right fit to receive a spinal cord stimulator, you will likely need to meet with several different specialists such as neurologists, psychotherapists, and pain management specialists to ensure that this course of action is right for you. If you are deemed a suitable candidate for a spinal cord stimulator, many treatments will start with a trial procedure, which is less invasive of surgery than the full implantation, to ensure that this treatment will work for you. If the trial procedure is successful, then you can move forward to receiving a full implantation of a spinal cord stimulator.

While not all chronic pain can be diminished by the use of a spinal cord stimulator, it has been shown to provide immense relief from various kinds of back and neck pain. As well, a spinal cord stimulator can provide relief for neuropathic pain (including pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy, and radiation), injuries to the spinal cord, pain after surgery or amputation, and arachnoiditis (painful inflammation in the thin membrane that covers the spinal cord and brain). It has also been used to relieve chest pain caused by angina. Essentially, spinal cord stimulation is a great option to explore for those suffering from chronic pain that has not been able to be alleviated by exercise, medication, or other treatments.

Spinal cord stimulator implantation requires the use of small incisions to place the percutaneous electrode, so most patients will be put under for the procedure. Many patients are able to go home the same day, once the anesthesia has worn off. The incisions themselves will take around 2 to 4 weeks to be fully healed, and it is recommended to avoid work and regular activity until approved by your doctor after the recovery time has passed. Every recovery plan will be different, so it is important to meet with your doctor as often as they recommend to ensure that your recovery is on track and that the incisions are healing properly.

Contact us or book an appointment online today. We are located at 902 Frostwood Dr #235, Houston, TX 77024. We serve patients from Houston TX, Sugar Land TX, Pearland TX, Jersey Village TX, Missouri TX, Stafford TX, and Richmond TX.