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Neuromodulation
& Spinal Cord Stimulation
Advanced Relief for Chronic Pain
At Richmond Spine Interventions and Pain Center, we offer cutting-edge neuromodulation therapies, including spinal cord stimulation (SCS), to help patients manage chronic pain when other treatments have fallen short.
Spinal cord stimulation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses mild electrical impulses to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain, providing significant relief for conditions such as persistent back, leg, or arm pain, failed back surgery syndrome, and certain nerve-related pain disorders. A trial period allows patients to experience the benefits and personalize their treatment before receiving a permanent implant.
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Our comprehensive neuromodulation program aims to improve your quality of life by reducing pain, decreasing reliance on medications, and helping you return to everyday activities with greater comfort and function.
What is Neuromodulation?
Neuromodulation refers to a group of advanced therapies that modulate the nervous system’s activity to relieve chronic pain, with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) being one of the most widely used and studied methods. SCS involves implanting a device that delivers mild electrical pulses to the spinal cord’s dorsal columns. These electrical signals alter pain processing pathways, effectively “rewiring” how pain signals are transmitted to the brain.
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The primary mechanism of pain relief through SCS appears to be the modulation of neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. SCS increases inhibitory neurotransmitters like GABA while reducing excitatory neurotransmitter activity, which dampens the transmission of painful signals. By activating these inhibitory pathways, SCS reduces the hyperexcitability of spinal neurons commonly seen in chronic neuropathic pain.
Beyond the spinal cord, SCS also influences brain regions involved in pain perception and emotional processing, which may help decrease the suffering associated with chronic pain. Different stimulation patterns, such as traditional tonic or burst modes, affect neuronal activity in distinct ways, allowing for tailored pain relief without the tingling sensations (paresthesia) felt by some patients.
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Clinically, spinal cord stimulation has been effective for managing various chronic pain conditions, including failed back syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and neuropathic leg and arm pain. By reducing pain intensity, SCS can decrease reliance on medications, improve function, and enhance quality of life for patients who have not found relief with other treatments.
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In summary, neuromodulation with spinal cord stimulation offers a sophisticated, targeted approach to interrupt pain signals at the spinal cord level, providing significant and often long-lasting relief for patients with complex chronic pain.
How can I try Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)?
If your doctor decides you are a candidate for SCS, you will likely have a temporary evaluation. During the evaluation period, you will use a temporary system, usually termed as "Trial Placement", to see whether or not SCS works for you. If the evaluation is successful, you can have the system implanted.
