In Dove Medical Press’ article relating to spinal cord stimulation, they speak of the positive effects that the stimulation may have on chronic pain and its addition positive effects due to the lack of drugs being introduced into the body. They speak about the widespread chronic pain that many feel and how the stimulation works through the use of a small implanted device.
Key Takeaways:
- Chronic pain affects up to 20% of people in developed countries, and represents not only a profound impact on individuals and their families but also a sizable burden on employers, health care systems, and society in general.
- Spinal cord stimulation, also known as dorsal column stimulation, uses low-voltage electrical stimulation to the spine to block the feeling of pain, via a small device implanted in the body.
- Most importantly, spinal cord stimulation has relatively few side effects compared to other chronic pain therapies, and reduces the risks of complications. Spinal cord stimulation should now be considered earlier in the treatment continuum and not simply as an end-stage salvage therapy.
“Now, a study published in the Journal of Pain Research finds another safe and effective drug-free treatment option for chronic pain sufferers — spinal cord stimulation (SCS).”
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160714100315.htm