Lasting Relief for Chronic Back Pain: Is Spinal Cord Stimulation Right for You?

As a board-certified pain management specialist who helps Houston-area patients get effective, long-lasting relief from persistent pain conditions, Dr. Okezie N. Okezie knows just how debilitating and disruptive chronic back pain can be. 

Luckily, Dr. Okezie and our expert team at Interventional Sports and Pain Management Associates in Humble and Baytown, Texas, offer a full range of pain-relief procedures for ongoing back pain that hasn’t improved after several months of conservative care. 

One of our most advanced chronic pain solutions is spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Let’s take a closer look at SCS, including how it works to deliver enduring relief and restore a better quality of life — and when it might be a good next step for you. 

Spinal cord stimulation explained 

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an advanced medical treatment that uses electrical impulses to interfere with pain signals from an irritated or damaged nerve, so they can’t reach your brain and be registered as pain sensations in your body. 

Chronic pain pathway

With chronic back pain, affected nerves are in constant, “irritated conversation” with your brain. These pain signals work like this:

• Peripheral or spinal nerves perceive painful stimuli 
• The affected nerves send pain signals to the brain
• The brain translates the signals into pain sensations

The brain may also send instructional signals back to the pain area, prompting you to hold your body differently, tense up, or protect the tender area. 

A pain signal disruptor

Through a small, surgically implanted device called a spinal cord stimulator, SCS takes over the pathway of nerve-brain communication to keep pain signals from reaching your brain. 

The stimulator device is positioned near your spine and controlled by a handheld remote. When your back pain flares, you activate the stimulator, which: 

• Directs a mild electrical current to affected nerve fibers 
• The electrical current engages with the nerve fibers
• The stimulated nerves are unavailable for pain signals 
• Pain signals are displaced and can’t travel to the brain

Instead of feeling intense or persistent pain, you’ll feel a “muted” sensation. With a standard stimulator device, you’ll feel a pleasant, mild tingling sensation (paresthesia) in place of pain; with a “sub-perception” SCS device, you’ll feel nothing but relief.

SCS to manage chronic back pain

SCS is considered a last resort treatment for chronic back pain. Given that it doesn't deliver the same level of pain relief for everyone, the treatment begins with a trial period. If it works well, you receive a permanent neuromodulator implant. SCS can: 

• Treat a range of pain types stemming from various conditions
• Deliver much-needed relief from relentless, uncontrolled pain 
• Reduce your reliance on pain medications and avoid opioids 

SCS may be able to help you avoid back surgery — or cope with unexpected continuing pain following a “failed” back surgery procedure. 

Is SCS the best next step for you?

SCS may be a good next step in your pain management plan if:

1. Your back pain is persistent

Your back pain has persisted for at least six months, despite your efforts to ease it through conservative treatments like anti-inflammatory pain relievers, activity modification, icing, heat therapy, massage, and physical therapy (PT). 

2. Conservative care hasn’t worked 

Your front-line pain management approach hasn’t provided significant or sustained relief; you may have experienced short-term relief from pain relievers, rest, PT, or injections (i.e., nerve blocks), but your pain continues to resurface — or worsen.  

3. Your back pain is debilitating 

Your back pain is frequently severe enough to limit your daily activities, disrupt your sleep, drain your energy, affect your mood, undermine your quality of life, or all the above. 

4. Your pain is responsive to SCS  

SCS can deliver effective, long-lasting relief for chronic back pain stemming from a range of conditions. It’s especially helpful for neuropathic pain conditions like sciatica, peripheral nerve damage, failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). 

5. You understand what to expect

SCS is considered effective if it delivers a 50-70% reduction in pain. Understanding that the neuromodulator device isn’t likely to resolve your pain fully — and that you’ll need to continue with other treatment modalities, like PT — can set you up for successful results.

Spinal cord stimulation in Houston

Ready to move on from chronic back pain? SCS may be the solution you’ve been waiting for. To find out, schedule a visit at Interventional Sports and Pain Management Associates in Humble or Baytown, Texas, today.