Are you living with chronic nerve pain in your back, legs, or arms that hasn’t responded to other treatments? A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) at Arête Health Group offers targeted relief by interrupting pain signals before they reach your brain, helping you regain comfort, function, and control over your daily life without relying solely on medications.
Reduce Persistent Back
and Leg Nerve Pain
A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is a small, implantable device that helps manage chronic nerve-related pain, especially in the back, legs, or arms. It works by delivering mild electrical signals to the spinal cord, which interrupt pain signals before they reach your brain. The device is placed under the skin and can be adjusted to your comfort, offering long-term pain relief when other treatments haven’t been effective.
Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) Treats:
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Failed back surgery syndrome (persistent pain after spine surgery)
- Sciatica and radiating leg pain
- Nerve damage (neuropathy) in the arms or legs
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Chronic pain after injury or trauma
- Peripheral nerve pain that has not responded to other treatments
- Pain related to spinal conditions, such as herniated discs or stenosis
How Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCS) Work
Spinal cord stimulators are designed to interrupt pain signals before they reach your brain, helping you experience relief without relying solely on medications. The process is carefully staged to ensure the treatment is right for you and delivers meaningful results.
- Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial: Before committing to a permanent device, your provider performs a temporary trial to see how well the SCS therapy works for your pain. Thin wires are placed near your spinal cord, and an external device delivers gentle electrical signals. Over several days, you’ll track your pain relief and daily function. This ensures the treatment is effective before long-term implantation.
- Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation: If your trial is successful, a permanent device is implanted beneath your skin. Small leads are positioned near the spinal cord, and a pulse generator is placed under the skin, typically in the lower back or abdomen. The system delivers electrical signals to manage pain. Your provider customizes the settings, allowing you to control and maintain consistent, long-term relief.
Benefits of Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCS):
- Provides targeted relief for chronic nerve-related pain
- Reduces reliance on pain medications, including opioids
- Minimally invasive with a relatively quick recovery time
- Adjustable and customizable to your comfort and pain patterns
- Reversible and removable if your needs change
- Includes a trial phase to confirm effectiveness before implantation
- Improves daily function, mobility, and overall quality of life
- Can treat pain that hasn’t responded to other therapies
FAQs
Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator Painful to Implant?
You may feel some mild discomfort after the procedure. The implantation is minimally invasive and performed under sedation or anesthesia to keep you comfortable. Afterward, soreness at the incision sites usually improves within a few days to weeks.
Will I Feel the Stimulation?
Depending on the type of system used, you may feel a gentle tingling sensation or not feel anything at all. Newer technologies offer “paresthesia-free” stimulation, meaning pain relief without noticeable sensations. You can also adjust the settings for your comfort.
How Long Does the Device Last?
The longevity of your device depends on the type of battery used. Rechargeable systems can last several years, often up to a decade or longer with proper care, while non-rechargeable SCS systems may need replacement sooner.
Is the Treatment Permanent?
No, spinal cord stimulation is fully reversible. If your needs change or you no longer want the device, it can be removed. You are not locked into a permanent solution.
Schedule Your Consultation
When’s the last time you felt truly heard and supported in your pain journey? At Arête Health Group in Paramus, you’re a person our providers take the time to understand. We proudly serve patients from Paramus, Fords, and Clifton with personalized care. Schedule your consultation today to explore spinal cord stimulator (SCS) treatment in Paramus.
