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The SCS is used for patients who have had little or no success with previous treatments and/or surgeries. The Los Angeles pain doctor will review all the pros and cons of the procedure with you and schedule a trial. Conditions treated with SCS include:

. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
. Long-term chronic back pain
. Nerve pain or numbness in the legs or arm
. Back pain that continues to get worse
. Failed back surgery syndrome

Before permanent implantation of the spinal cord stimulator, the physician will recommend a spinal cord stimulator trial. This allows a wire to be attached near the spinal cord, without total device insertion into the body.

Before the surgery, you should discuss your medical condition and medications with the doctor. You may be asked to hold certain medicines after midnight the night before the surgery. You are allowed to take necessary medications with small sips of water. Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure, and leave all jewelry and valuables at home.

The procedure is usually done under local, regional, or general anesthesia. It can be done on an outpatient basis. The leads that carry electronic pulses are inserted into the pre-determined location in the epidural space, and the pulse generator device with battery is inserted in the abdomen or buttocks.

Leads connect to send signals from the device to leads to transmit mild electrical current. The doctor will make a small incision of the back to insert the leads. An incision is also made to insert the generator device, which is on the abdomen or buttocks.

As with any minor surgical procedure, there are some risks associated with the spinal cord stimulator implantation. Risks include:

. Soreness and bruising at the incision or needle insertion site
. Allergic reaction
. Infection
. Weakness, clumsiness, paralysis, and numbness
. Battery failure or leakage, which requires another surgical procedure
. Nerve injury
. Worsening of pain

After the spinal cord stimulator procedure, the patient will feel soreness at the incision sites or needle insertion sites. The doctor will recommend that you return to light activity after a couple days of rest. In addition, lifting, twisting, and bending is limited for up to two months to allow the surgical sites and leads to heal without being dislodged. The battery usually last 3-5 years, so another surgical procedure is necessary to replace them.

According to recent clinical studies, the success rate for SCS is 75-85%. One study noted that for patients who had the procedure within 2 years of onset of pain, the efficacy rate was higher. As a rule, the efficacy of SCS is time-sensitive, and an inverse relationship exists between implantation delay and long-term success. Long-term success is defined as greater than 50% reduction in pain, which declines if implantation delay occurs.