Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement Near You in New Jersey
Living with treatment-resistant pain can be difficult. When everything else has failed, it is easy to feel hopeless about your quality of life. If you are struggling with pain that does not respond to treatment, NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute can help. We offer spinal cord stimulator placement and other spine surgery procedures at locations across New Jersey. Learn more about how stimulators can provide effective relief when other measures fail, helping people get back to pain-free living and the activities they love.
What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator?
Spinal cord stimulators are implanted devices that relieve pain by interrupting signals from nerves that convey information using electrical impulses. When the body experiences a painful sensation, nerves generate a signal that is carried along nerve fibers to the brain. All the signals pass through the spinal cord, the body’s informational superhighway.
Stimulators consist of thin wires called electrodes and a small battery pack like those found in pacemakers. The electrodes are placed alongside the spinal cord, while the battery pack sits under the skin. The patient controls the device using a remote. When the patient experiences pain, they can activate the device to send an electrical impulse that interrupts pain signals for immediate relief.
Why Might I Need Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement?
Spinal cord stimulators can interrupt any pain signal that moves along the spinal cord. This makes them effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions. While stimulation cannot address the root cause, it can relieve pain from:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
- Myelopathy (spinal cord compression)
- Failed back syndrome
- Diabetes-related neuropathy
- Chest pain (angina)
- Other causes
Chronic pain treatment typically begins with conservative methods. Physical therapy, pain management medications, relaxation methods, and steroid injections are just a few of the options available for pain conditions. In some cases, however, the pain does not go away after conservative treatments. When this happens, spinal cord stimulator placement may be recommended. The stimulator may provide lasting relief where other methods fail.
Who Performs Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement at NU-Spine?
The resident neurosurgeon at NU-Spine is Dr. Branko Skovrlj. He is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in all kinds of back surgery, with a special focus on complex procedures and minimally invasive spine surgery. He also contributes to research to improve treatments for back pain. These contributions have earned him multiple awards and recognition around the world.
Despite his accolades, Dr. Skovrlj has not given up his small-town values. When a new patient visits NU-Spine, he takes the time to get to know them individually. This personal touch helps him build trusting relationships with patients, making it easier for them to discuss painful conditions with him.
How Is Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement Performed?
Spinal cord stimulator placement is performed at NU-Spine’s state-of-the-art surgical facilities, which are equipped with the latest in surgical technology. General anesthesia is not typically used but may be an option. The operation takes one to two hours to complete and follows these steps:
- Skovrlj administers local anesthesia to numb the surgical site.
- The surgeon makes an incision along the lower abdomen or buttocks. He makes a second incision along the spine. Each incision is two to three inches long.
- The battery pack and electrodes are inserted and anchored with sutures (stitches).
- Skovrlj closes the incision using sutures or staples.
After the surgery is complete, the patient will rest in a recovery room until the anesthesia wears off. Spinal cord stimulator placement is performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning that patients can go home the same day of the surgery.
Recovery After Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement
The surgery site may remain painful for several days after spinal cord stimulator placement. This pain will fade as the sites heal. Dressings will be placed over the incisions to prevent bleeding and protect against infection. NU-Spine will provide further guidance for recovery, which may include:
- When to remove the dressings
- Restrictions on strenuous activities
- How to protect incisions while bathing
- When to alert the doctor to signs of infection
- When to schedule follow-up appointments
Patients should be careful to follow these instructions to help the site heal successfully. In most cases, patients can go back to normal activities like working and driving within a week or two after surgery. The site should be fully healed within two to four weeks.
Living With a Spinal Cord Stimulator
Most patients experience a significant increase in their quality of life after spinal cord stimulator placement. Stimulators provide relief from chronic pain, reducing a person’s reliance on pain medications. They may also help a person sleep better for an overall improvement in health and mood.
Patients can participate in most normal activities with a stimulator, including swimming, exercising, and more. While operating a vehicle or heavy equipment, however, the stimulator should be turned off to avoid distraction. The stimulator may set off airport security gates if the patient travels, though NU-Spine will provide an identification card so patients can bypass the machine. Patients should talk with their doctor about any medical or lifestyle restrictions while living with the stimulator.
Get Relief From Back Pain Near You in New Jersey
Living with treatment-resistant pain may seem hopeless. Fortunately, help exists at NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute. Transform your life with the relief brought by spinal cord stimulator placement. We offer this and other surgical treatments at locations across New Jersey. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment at one of our New Jersey locations near you.
Frequently Asked Questions on Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement
What is a spinal cord stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator is a surgically implanted device that emits low-level electrical impulses. The impulses interrupt nerve signals, effectively relieving pain.
Who is a good candidate for a spinal cord stimulator?
Spinal cord stimulators can relieve chronic pain from a wide variety of conditions. They are typically recommended for patients whose pain has not responded to other treatments, including conservative management techniques and prior surgeries.
What are the benefits of spinal cord stimulator placement?
Spinal cord stimulators provide effective relief for chronic pain. They can also improve sleep and reduce a person’s reliance on medications. This leads to an overall higher quality of life.
Can spinal cord stimulators be removed?
If the spinal cord stimulator no longer achieves the desired results, or if the root cause of pain is effectively treated through other means, the stimulator can be removed.