Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation treats long-standing nerve pain with a small implanted device that delivers gentle electrical pulses to the spinal cord. Thin leads are placed in the space just outside the covering of the spinal cord, in the segment that carries the painful signals, and are connected to a generator implanted under the skin. The pulses change the way pain signals are processed before they reach the brain, so the pain is reduced rather than masked by medicine. Its distinguishing feature is that it is tested before it is committed to: almost everyone has a trial period of several days with temporary leads, and the permanent system is implanted only if the trial gives clear relief.