Spinal Cord Stimulator Specialist
-
- Tweet
Advanced Spine and Pain Specialists
Krishna Chunduri, MD
Anesthesiologist & Pain Management Physician located in Garfield Ridge, Chicago, IL
When you have a chronic pain condition that isn’t getting better even with the best noninvasive treatment, it may be time to consider a more direct approach. At Advanced Spine & Pain Specialists in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, pain management specialist Krishna Chunduri, MD, offers you hope with an implantable pain control device called a spinal cord stimulator. As an expert in pain medicine and anesthesiology, Dr. Chunduri is ideally qualified to help you recover from chronic pain, even when other therapies have failed. Call Advanced Spine & Pain Specialists today to find out more or book an appointment online.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Q & A
What is a spinal cord stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator is a piece of technology that Dr. Chunduri can implant into your spine to help control chronic pain. The spinal cord stimulator works by sending out electrical impulses that interfere with the pain signals going from the spinal nerves to your brain.
Once you have the implant, you can control the electrical impulse's strength using a remote device, enabling you to manage your pain safely and without the need for stronger pain medication.
Spinal cord stimulation can be beneficial for patients who have chronic pain, particularly neuropathic pain caused by nerve dysfunction. As this treatment involves surgery, it's only an option if less invasive therapies aren't improving your symptoms.
Before undergoing total implantation, you can have a trial with the spinal cord stimulator to see if it relieves your pain.
What happens during spinal cord stimulator trial implantation?
A spinal cord stimulator trial still involves a minor surgery at Advanced Spine & Pain Specialists. Dr. Chunduri needs to insert special leads that have electrodes on the ends into the area around your spinal cord, known as the epidural space.
He does this under a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort. Still, you're able to feel the effect of the electrical pulses when the leads are in place so that you can give Dr. Chunduri some feedback on the optimum position for the leads.
You control the electrodes using an external spinal cord stimulator, assessing how well it works during a week-long trial period. If you're finding the trial is helping you manage your pain better, you can discuss permanent implantation with Dr. Chunduri.
What happens during permanent implantation?
When you get the permanent spinal cord stimulator implant, you need to have intravenous sedation or a general anesthetic. Dr. Chunduri removes the trial leads and inserts the permanent ones into the same position.
He then makes a small incision in your abdomen or one of your buttocks and inserts the implantable pulse generator (IPG) battery. The leads connect to the IPG, and Dr. Chunduri programs the device for you to use.
You might feel a little sore where the IPG implant went in, but that should fade after a few days. With the spinal cord stimulator in place, you can use it to control your pain whenever you need to do so with a handheld remote.
Most patients who have chronic pain problems find relief using less invasive treatments. Still, if you have chronic pain that isn't responding to conservative approaches, a spinal cord stimulator could help. Find out more by calling Advanced Spine & Pain Specialists today or book an appointment online.
