Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Techniques for Neuropathic Pain

Abstract

When comprehensive medical pharmacological therapy titrated to maximum doses fails to provide an appropriate level of analgesia, or side effects associated with these therapies impair the ability to increase the doses to obtain appropriate therapeutic effects in patients with a variety of chronic neuropathic pain conditions, alternative methods, such as spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation, are effective alternative options. This article discusses important concepts to consider when implementing spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation therapy for the treatment of neuropathic pain conditions other than failed back surgery syndrome. The focus is primarily on post-surgical pain syndromes, which are frequently encountered in daily clinical practice. © 2009 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee.