Spinal Cord Stimulation Specialist in San Francisco, CA
If you are having extreme pain in the lower back or legs, and you have tried everything to help with the pain with no luck, then our spinal cord stimulation may be the right choice for you. Meet Dr. Robert Savala MD at Presidio Pain Relief.
For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2000 Van Ness Ave, #208 San Francisco, CA 94109.
What is a spinal cord stimulator and how does it work?
A spinal cord stimulator is a device that is implanted into the body and sends low levels of electricity directly to the spinal cord to help relieve any pain the patient is feeling.
Spinal cord stimulators have thin wires and a small pacemaker-similar battery pack. The thin wires which are known as electrodes are placed between the spinal cord and the vertebrae, while the generator is placed just under the skin, closer to the buttocks and abdomen area. When a patient is feeling pain, the stimulators send electrical impulses with the use of a remote control, this device helps to manage the pain the patient is feeling.
What is spinal cord stimulation used for?
Spinal cord stimulation is often used after a patient has undergone a non-surgical pain treatment, and when other options have failed to provide relief. Spinal cord stimulators can be used to help treat and manage many different types of chronic pain, some of which include:
Back pain
Heart pain
Post-surgery pain
Arachnoiditis
Spinal cord injuries
Nerve-related pain
Complex regional pain syndrome
Peripheral vascular disease
Amputation pain
Visceral abdominal pain or perineal pain
Spinal cord stimulators are known to improve the patient’s overall quality of life and sleep while reducing the need for pain medication. It typically is often used along with other pain management treatments, these treatments may include exercises, physical therapy, medication, and relaxation therapies.
Who should get spinal cord stimulation?
Each physician will want to make sure that your spinal cord stimulation is right for their patient. They also want to ensure their patient will see significant pain relief from their chronic pain. Before they can provide a recommendation, the pain specialist will most likely order imaging exams, and psychological screenings to be completed. If you are going through insurance, some insurance companies may also require certain information including psychological screening to ensure any disorders like depression or anxiety are not becoming worse, or that your pain is becoming worse.
Each patient will be dealing with different issues, but normally, people who benefit the most from spinal cord stimulation therapy are individuals who:
Have not dealt with significant pain relief with their medications, or other less-invasive therapies or surgeries
No psychiatric disorders that would decrease the effectiveness of the treatment
Three main types of spinal cord stimulators may be used, they are:
Conventional implantable pulse generator
This battery-operated spinal cord stimulator is placed within the spine during the operation. When the battery runs out, the device will need to have the battery replaced by undergoing another surgery. This certain device is a great choice for individuals who are dealing with pain in just one area of the body due to its lower electrical output.
Rechargeable IPG
This rechargeable one works similarly to the conventional device, but the battery needs to be recharged. This device does not need another surgery for the battery to be recharged. Sometimes, these stimulators can put out more electricity than others. This can be a better choice for individuals that are dealing with pain within the lower back or one/both legs, this is due to the electrical signal being able to reach further.
Radiofrequency stimulator
This device uses a battery which is found on the outside of the body, instead of inside. This simulator is not used as much as the other two, due to the newer designs and better technology constantly coming out. This simulator also has rechargeable batteries, and similar to the rechargeable IPGs, it can be better for individuals who have pain in the lower back and legs due to the device’s power.
What is the downtime for spinal cord stimulation?
On average, we are noticing our patients taking around two to four weeks to completely heal after their spinal cord stimulator surgery. Each medical procedure is different for each person, so the healing time may vary.
For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2000 Van Ness Ave, #208 San Francisco, CA 94109. We serve patients from Daly City CA, Sunset District CA, Bernal Heights CA, Bayview CA, Mission District CA, and surrounding areas.