Pain Management Procedure - Spinal Cord Stimulator


		Pain Management Procedures

	Dmitri Petrychenko Pain Management Office offers following procedures (to view description of the procedure, click on the name below):

Caudal steroid injection Celiac Plexus Block Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection Dekompressor Discectomy Discography Facet joint injection Femoral Nerve Block Intradiscal Elektrothermal Therapy Intrathecal Pump Implant Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy Lumbar Sympathetic Block Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection Percutaneous Disc Nucleoplasty Peripheral Nerve Block RACZ Caudal Neurolysis Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS)/Implant Stellate ganglion block Trigger Point Injection Vertebroplasty

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	Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS)/Implant


	This Page in Russian

Spinal cord stimulator is used to eliminate pain in the lower back in sciatic nerve. It uses electrical impulses which prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. Usually SCS is used for patients, for whom conservative treatment was found to be ineffective and surgery also will not help. Using local anesthetics with the help of a needle through a small incision near the spinal cord physician places one or more electrodes, which prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. Patient helps doctor to determine, where the electrodes have to be placed, by feeling where the stimulation blocks pain.

The electrodes are connected to temporary stimulator, which will be used for several days to determine if SCS helps the patient. If during the approbation period pain reduces by 50%, a permanent system may be placed. Second procedure is usually carried out under general anesthesia. Temporary electrodes are removed and through a needle or incision permanent electrodes are placed. Receiver is implanted subcutaneously in the breech or abdominal cavity. Power supply for the implant may be internal (impulse generator) or external (transmitter or antenna). Electrical impulses of the implant are controlled with an external device, which lets patient to turn the system on or off and change intensity, frequency and length of impulses.

After implantation the patient may feel moderate discomfort and swelling in the incision site for several days. With time electrodes may move or be damaged by intense using and may need replacement.

Possible side-effects are comparable with side-effects of a simple injection: patient may have allergic reactions, bacterial infection or bleeding, which occurs rarely.

It is obligatory to inform your physician about pregnancy or the use of ‘blood thinning’ medications.


	Dmitri Petrychenko, M.D., 1660 East 14th Street, second floor, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY 11229, Tel: (718) 336-5123 info@freeofpain.org


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