
Chronic pain can be hard to live with. If you have tried a wide range of treatments with little or no success, you may want to consider a spinal cord stimulator after speaking to your doctor. You can check online to know about Clark spinal cord stimulator. In this post, we share more on what this device is all about and how it can help manage chronic pain.
What causes chronic pain?
Nerve injuries are often to blame for chronic pain. Various factors can cause injuries to the nerves, including unexpected trauma, existing medical conditions, and certain medications. Chronic pain can also be associated with diabetes, especially if the patient doesn’t have the disease in control. Each person perceives pain differently, and therefore, the patient’s mental health could exaggerate nerve pain. Also, chronic pain is often related to joint & bone diseases, arthritis, and can be triggered by surgery or medical procedure. Some people have a low threshold for pain, which only adds to the suffering.
What is a spinal cord stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator is an implant that shocks the affected nerves by delivering a very mild electric current. For someone dealing with excruciating pain, the device will disrupt the pain signals, offering relief. Doctors can recommend a spinal cord stimulator for any chronic pain related to the back, spine, neck, arms, and legs. It is also seen as a device that can help patients minimize their dependency on painkillers and drugs. Doctors may also consider the option if surgery is unlikely to work for a patient. You should note that a spinal cord stimulator doesn’t fix the cause or condition that’s triggering the pain – It just helps manage the same.
Who can get a spinal cord stimulator?
If you have suffered spinal cord or back injuries and surgery is not an option, you may benefit from a spinal cord stimulator. Patients who had failed spinal cord/back surgeries in the past can also use the device to manage their pain. Your doctor can also recommend a spinal cord stimulator for multiple sclerosis, arachnoiditis, and other complications related to peripheral artery disease. Your doctor will only consider spinal cord stimulation if other treatments have not worked for you. The idea of using the device is to improve patient’s quality of life.
How to get a spinal cord stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator can be permanently implanted, but your doctor will usually try the device for a trial period to understand how your body responds to the treatment. The implantation relies on fluoroscopy, and you will be under local anesthesia. The electrode will be out of your body in the trial period, but the generator will be implanted underneath the skin if the doctor decides on permanent implantation.
Talk to a doctor to know if you can benefit from a spinal cord stimulator for chronic pain. It is an advanced and effective solution that allows patients to live a life not dependent on just drugs or medications.