How Effective is Spinal Cord Stimulation?
Dr. Nichelle C. Renk is a board-certified and fellowship-trained anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist practicing in Anchorage, AK at the Algone Interventional Pain Clinic. Dr. Renk performs a thorough evaluation of a patient's symptoms, imaging, and physical exam to create an individualized plan for the patient.... more
Persistent chronic pain involves abnormal pain signals transmitting through your spinal cord to register as sensations in your brain. For some types of chronic pain, effective treatment involves stopping these pain sensations at the spinal cord, a procedure called spinal cord stimulation (SCS).
Expert interventional pain management specialist Dr. Nichelle C. Renk and her team at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness of Anchorage, Alaska, offer SCS treatment to new and existing patients. Here’s a chance to understand whether spinal cord stimulation could be the solution for your chronic pain.
How does spinal cord stimulation work?
Dr. Renk provides spinal cord stimulation using the revolutionary Nevro HF10® spinal cord stimulation device.
After a 3-8 day trial, Dr. Renk implants your SCS device in a one-hour outpatient procedure. The incision for implantation goes in the middle of your back, with wires running under your skin from your spine to your buttock, where Dr. Renk positions a battery-powered pulse generator before closing the incision.
This small, implanted device sends a low-voltage electrical current running consistently through your spinal cord. After implantation, your SCS device blocks pain signals from traveling through your spinal cord to your brain, resolving your chronic pain sensation.
How effective is spinal cord stimulation?
Your results from spinal cord stimulation can be long-lasting and consistent, keeping your pain management treatment in your direct control. You can turn off or remove your implants at any time, and you can use your device at any time of the day, even while recharging.
Studies show that the long-term success rate of SCS is 47-74%. SCS tends to be more effective if you seek implantation early in the development of your chronic pain issues.
The HF10 system in use at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness has a track record of superiority over traditional SCS treatment throughout the process. After 24 months of HF10 SCS treatment in a study, 6 in 10 patients saw their back pain reduced by more than 50%, and 7 in 10 patients had more than 50% reductions of leg pain.
What are the FDA-approved indications for spinal cord stimulation?
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates that the Senza®, Senza II™ and Senza Omnia™ SCS systems from Nevro effectively manage chronic pain in the trunk or limbs. Specifically, spinal cord stimulation can alleviate pain from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Failed Back Syndrome, neck and low back pain, and peripheral neuropathies.
The Senza systems are also the only implantable SCS systems with FDA approval for 3T (tesla) conditional MRI. Traditionally, MRI capability is performed at 1.5T. (A tesla is a measure of magnetic flux density.)
Also, at a frequency of 10 kHz, the Senza systems are FDA-approved for pain associated with painful peripheral diabetic neuropathy.
The FDA indicates that HF10 therapy is the only SCS therapy that can be used without restrictions while you operate a motor vehicle, an added benefit for you in terms of lifestyle and flexibility.
To learn more about SCS, and find out if this pain relief treatment could be right for you, schedule your appointment with Dr. Renk online or over the phone today.
