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Spinal Cord Stimulator
A spinal cord stimulator is surgically implanted into the epidural space (the same area where steroids are injected for inflamed nerves) and uses electric signals to distract the brain from feeling pain. The stimulator is thought to generate electrical stimulation that feels like tingling, essentially counteracting the pain signals so that the sensation at the spinal cord is not perceived as pain.
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How does it work?
The spinal stimulation alters the perception of pain. It works in the same way as rubbing your elbow after you have jarred the funny bone-it produces an alternate or masking sensation so that the pain signal cannot get through.
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Procedure:
This type of laser surgery offers the same presently available surgical treatment in a less invasive and potentially less risky manner.
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* Let's address WHY your back hurts!
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Discogram:
A discogram is a procedure where a needle is placed into a spinal disc in the back. The disc is then injected with contrast material, i.e., dye, that allows the disc to be examined under X-ray. This X-Ray (which is also called "fluoroscopy") is used to guide the procedure. The purpose of the discogram is two-fold: 1) to examine the integrity of the disc — that is, to determine if it is bulging or bursting. A burst disc is what physicians call a "herniated disc." Fluoroscopy may also determine if there are irregularities in the shape of the disc, which will appear under the X-ray as stretch marks — marks that are bulging out from the disc. This is called a "disc bulge." Either a herniation or disc bulge are referred to commonly by the term "slipped disc."
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IDET:
If the disc is the source of the pain, there are some potential treatments available to the patient. One of these treatments is called an "IDET" or Intra-Disco-Electrothermal-Annuloplasty — which is a big term for simply threading a thin filament into the disc and applying heat to the inside surface. The heat serves to do many different things, one of which is to reduce pain. However, physicians are not absolutely sure what exactly the mechanism is for reducing disc pain, but we believe it may have to do with melting the pain nerves within the disc, or by helping the disc to restructure itself and become more supportive and sealed.
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Great Expectations:
The best sign of the success is a noticeable improvement in a patient's daily activities and the ability to reclaim a normal routine. Quick gains are not useful unless they persist. The key is to increase and improve activities gradually, so that there is not further damage and long-term success is achieved.
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What should I do?
Back surgery may be another possibility to repair the disc and reduce the pain. Another option is to do nothing and hope the disc heals itself naturally. However, we don't know the long-term consequences of utilizing this notherapy approach for patients with disc problems. In other words, we don't know how many patients will get better on their own, without any medical or surgical intervention. These are important facts that hopefully will be revealed by ongoing scientific research in this area of pain medicine.
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