Spinal Cord Stimulator Specialist
If conservative treatments don’t help your chronic pain, a spinal cord stimulator could ease your suffering by a remarkable 50-70%. At Texas Neuro Spine, Sebastian Villarreal, MD, and George Galvan, MD, implant spinal cord stimulators during minimally invasive surgical procedures, which allow you to return to pain-free life much sooner than with traditional surgical approaches. There are three office locations in San Antonio and one in Kerrville, Texas, so call the office nearest you or use online scheduling to set up your consultation.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Q & A
What is a spinal cord stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator is a neuromodulation treatment in which your surgeon implants a tiny electrical nerve stimulator under the skin around your spinal cord.
The spinal cord stimulator emits small vibrations to interfere with pain signaling in a particular area. A spinal cord stimulator doesn’t completely stop all your pain, but it can reduce a significant portion of your daily pain burden.
The goal of spinal cord stimulator treatment is a 50-70% pain reduction. A spinal cord stimulator can also help you greatly reduce the amount of pain medication you take. Overall, it can truly enhance your quality-of-life if you have chronic pain.
How does a spinal cord stimulator work?
Spinal cord stimulators send a current to take the place of a pain signal from your nerve. This alters your pain perception, which means the pain signals still exist but you don’t suffer.
Some devices emit a low-frequency current, which creates a sensation called paresthesia. This tingling sensation isn’t painful, but some patients don’t like it. Other spinal cord stimulators use a high-frequency current to block your pain signals without paresthesia.
Spinal cord stimulators respond to an external remote. You can adjust the settings according to when you’re having pain. A spinal cord stimulator’s internal battery generally lasts 2-5 years, or in some cases, is rechargeable. You need a separate procedure to replace the internal battery.
Do I qualify for a spinal cord stimulator?
Texas Neuro Spine performs a full assessment to determine whether a spinal cord stimulator could work for you. In general, you may qualify if:
- You have chronic back or neck pain
- Conservative treatment and other procedures do not relieve your pain
- You’re healthy enough for a minor surgical procedure
If all of the above is true, you can generally proceed with a spinal cord stimulator trial. This is a procedure in which your Texas Neuro Spine doctor implants a trial electrode in your spine. You test this out for a couple of weeks to see how well it controls pain signals.
If during the trial the stimulator worked for at least half of your pain, you typically proceed with a permanent spinal cord stimulator procedure.
A spinal cord stimulator could be the difference between living in misery and living life to the fullest, so why wait to find an answer for your chronic pain? Call Texas Neuro Spine or click on the online appointment scheduler to learn more.
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