Neurostimulation Therapy

Neurostimulation works by altering pain signals as they travel to the brain. It is a pain management therapy that delivers electrical stimulation to the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion (a cluster of nerve cells in a dorsal root of in the spinal cord) and brain. Using an implantable device, or neurostimulator, this treatment aims to reduce the user's perception and experience of certain types of pain inside the body.

Is Neurostimulation Therapy for You?

Only you and your pain specialist can determine if neurostimulation is a good option for you. If your doctor determines you have chronic neuropathic pain and you've tried other forms of pain relief with little or no success, neurostimulation therapy may be the answer.

If you suspect you have neuropathic pain and your current pain management treatment is not working, consult a pain specialist to see if neurostimulation may help. Don't let chronic pain get the better of you — you deserve to live the best life possible.

About the Neurostimulation System

A complete implantable neurostimulation system includes several components:

• Neurostimulator – The device that generates the electrical impulses (placed under the skin in your abdomen or upper buttock)
• Leads – Thin, insulated medical wires that deliver electrical pulses to the epidural space near the spine
• Patient’s programmer – A handheld device you can use after you leave the doctor's office to customise the stimulation (within the settings your doctor has selected)

The neurostimulation system does not make any noise. It may be felt as a small bump under your skin, but does not normally show through your clothes.

Advantages over Other Therapies

Spinal cord stimulation provides advantages over other therapies for chronic pain:

• Unlike other chronic pain treatments or surgeries, you can experience spinal cord stimulation and see if it relieves your pain before committing to the long-term therapy
• A trial serves as a temporary evaluation period. The trial is much like an injection, but instead of medication being placed into the epidural space, leads are positioned and connected to an external neurostimulator
• It does not have to be a permanent procedure. The implanted neurostimulator can be surgically removed if you do not like it or if you decide to pursue a different treatment
• Unlike oral medications that circulate throughout your entire body, spinal cord stimulation targets the precise area where you are feeling pain
• Spinal cord stimulation can be adjusted to address changes in pain as you switch positions throughout the day
• A neurostimulator may provide relief when other treatments – like medications or injections – have not