Spinal cord stimulation

Abstract

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a nondestructive, nonmedicated, reversible neuromodulation technique for the management of intractable neuropathic pain conditions. It is recognized as a valuable additional tool to the pain specialist’s armamentarium. Clinical evidence is now accumulating to suggest that, when used appropriately in a multidisciplinary pain setting, SCS has an important and special role in the treatment of certain pain subgroups who would otherwise remain untreatable. For example, the patient often would have tried all modalities of treatment, ranging from pharmacological manipulation, interventional nerve block or destructive lesioning, to psychological counseling, and complementary therapy, before undergoing SCS with spectacular results.