Spinal Cord Stimulation is used to treat chronic pain when nonsurgical pain treatments have not provided sufficient relief.

People who suffer from chronic pain that isn’t sufficiently relieved by conservative, nonsurgical treatments may finally find relief through Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS). Dr. Scheid uses SCS to treat and manage different types of chronic pain, including:

• Nerve-related back pain
• Spinal cord injuries
• Post-surgical pain
• Arachnoiditis (painful inflammation of the arachnoid, a thin membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord)

SCS works by disrupting the pain signals that travel between the spinal cord and the brain.

During the SCS treatment procedure, Dr. Scheid surgically implants a small device similar to a pacemaker under the skin, in close proximity to the spine. The device – called a neurostimulator – then sends a mild electric current to the spinal cord. Thin wires – called leads – carry current from a pulse generator to the nerve fibers of the spinal cord. When activated, the SCS stimulates the nerves in the area where pain is felt. Pain is reduced because the electrical pulses modify and mask the pain signals before they reach your brain.