Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS)
Leg, Foot, Knee and Chronic Back Pain Relief
Spinal cord stimulation offers pain relief for patients suffering with chronic back pain, leg, foot, or knee pain that has not responded to other interventions such as medication, physical therapy, or injections. The spinal cord stimulator is a very small battery powered device, like a pacemaker, which is inserted under the skin. This relatively less invasive surgical procedure allows patients to control their own pain relief via electrodes implanted to stimulate the nerves above the epidural space in the spinal cord.
Patients complete a 7-day trial period, in which a trial stimulator is used to determine whether pain relief has been achieved. If the trial is successful, the permanent system will be implanted.
Spinal cord stimulation may reduce or eliminate the need for pain medication, and it is adjustable to accommodate variable pain levels. While spinal cord stimulation may not work for everyone, most people experience a 50% to 70% reduction in pain.
