Am I a Candidate for Spinal Cord Stimulation?

Spinal cord stimulation is most effective at treating chronic pain in the following areas:

• Back
• Neck
• Arms
• Legs

It also provides significant benefits to patients suffering from complex regional pain syndrome.

Before undergoing SCS treatment, you should pursue more conservative solutions such as:

• Physical therapy
• Medications
• Injections

If all of these treatments have failed and surgery has been unsuccessful or is unlikely to help, then spinal cord stimulation is generally the next treatment to consider. During your initial consultation, Dr. Trainor will review your medical history and imaging, and perform a physical examination. If he believes SCS is the right treatment approach for you, he’ll discuss the procedure in detail so that you understand what is involved before moving forward.

Exceptional Pain Management Treatment

At the Denver Spine and Pain Institute, we’ve witnessed firsthand how debilitating pain can derail your quality of life. Our team is committed to providing you with the relief necessary to enjoy your favorite activities and perform routine daily activities with ease. Our goal is to help you live life to the fullest once again.

Our exclusive Connected Care Approach™ has been designed with your needs in mind, and it will get you back to enjoying life without the frustration and challenges that often come along with chronic pain. As part of this approach, you’ll receive:

• A full spectrum of care options, including physician treatments, physical therapy, massage, diet and lifestyle coaching, behavioral health services and other state-of-the-art treatments
• Individualized care plans to address your specific pain needs
• Caring and therapeutic relationships with our team to ensure the best possible treatment
• A detailed discussion of all your treatment options so that you can make an informed decision

We’ll work closely with you to identify and deliver the treatments necessary to achieve the pain relief you’re seeking.

The Spinal Cord Stimulation Procedure

Before undergoing spinal cord stimulation, you must complete the preoperative process, which involves:

• Updated MRI imaging (if it hasn’t been performed within the last year)
• Meeting with a pain psychologist to discuss any psychological barriers to moving forward with SCS (this meeting is required by insurance companies)

After this process has been completed, you’ll undergo a SCS trial. Small, temporary electrical leads will be placed into the back part of your spinal cord and plugged into an external battery. These temporary leads will stay in place for about one week. If you experience at least 50% reduction in pain during this time, you’ll be considered a suitable candidate for permanent implantation.

Your spinal cord stimulation procedure will take place four weeks after the end of the trial. A small incision is made in the middle of your back in order to place the electrical leads. The leads are secured to the muscle, and the incision is closed. A second incision will be created in the flank region and the battery is placed underneath the skin.

You’ll return to our office 10-14 days later so Dr. Trainor can check your incision. You’ll also have another follow-up visit six weeks after your procedure. After this checkup, you’ll be allowed to increase your physical activity.

Exceptional Pain Management Treatment

At the Denver Spine and Pain Institute, we’ve witnessed firsthand how debilitating pain can derail your quality of life. Our team is committed to providing you with the relief necessary to enjoy your favorite activities and perform routine daily activities with ease. Our goal is to help you live life to the fullest once again.

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