Have you ever suffered from a ‘small’ injury that has led to years of chronic pain?
A Spinal Cord Stimulator is an out-patient procedure for patients who suffer from chronic back pain and have not found success with other treatments. It uses electrical pulses to prevent pain signals from being received by the brain.
Jeremy, a zookeeper who resides in Rockland County , is hopeful that after years of searching he has finally found a solution to his pain.
Jeremy, who saw about ten other doctors, was referred to me two years ago. Countless treatments have been unsuccessful of curing Jeremy of his pain so we recently turned to a unique and uncommon procedure, a Spinal Cord Stimulator. Jeremy received a trial stimulator to determine effectiveness and to our pleasure, it was a success. Implanted into the spine, a permanent Spinal Cord Stimulator would allow him to control the device and his pain. Jeremy shares some of his trials and tribulations – or lack thereof – below.
Q: How did you feel as a result of the procedure?
Jeremy: The sensations that the unit gave me were confusing. I spent a lot of time focusing on the electrical stimulation and almost missed the fact that the pain I normally felt was absent. For the first day and a half, I was very sore and slept a lot. After that, I began getting more active and was feeling good. After I had the wires removed, it took about a day before the pain returned.
Q: When the pain returned, how did it affect you?
Jeremy: I think it is hard to quantify how much pain you are in when the pain is constant. When the pain is taken away briefly, only to return, I get a fresh perspective on my situation, and am constantly reminded just how much the pain affects my mood, energy level, and attitude
Q: The trial was successful for you. Are you willing to try a more permanent solution?
Jeremy: I am still extremely hopeful and I am only waiting for the insurance company to approve the full surgery. I have no hesitation of doubt in making the decision to have the surgery.
If you suffer from chronic pain and have been unsuccessful in finding a proper treatment, talk to your doctor about a Spinal Cord Stimulator. Like Jeremy, this may be the proper solution for you.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb is a pain management expert and the founder of Gramercy Pain Management. He is the director of Pain Management at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEE) and has treated over 3,000 patients. Dr. Gottlieb is board certified in both pain management and anesthesiology. He has offices in both Manhattan and Montebello , N.Y. in Rockland County .
