Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery

Chronic neck pain or back pain impacts your quality of life. When you think that you’ve run out of options to relieve your discomfort, spinal cord stimulation may provide a way to finally get some pain relief. It eliminates or reduces your discomfort when other treatment methods haven’t been successful. Avoid the consequences of long-term pain medication use; call on an expert in the field of spinal surgery in Edison, New Jersey. Dr. Branko Skovrlj, founder of NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute, is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon who’s committed to attaining the best possible outcomes for all his patients. Call NU-Spine today to stop the pain and improve your life.

What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator?

A spinal cord stimulator (also called SCS) is a device that’s implanted near your spine. It generates mild electrical impulses that interfere with the transmission of pain signals traveling along the spinal cord to your brain. Traditional spinal cord stimulators produce a gentle tingling sensation that masks the feeling of pain, while high-frequency stimulators reduce pain without this sensation. A spinal cord stimulation system (SCS) is made up of components that include:

• Neurostimulator, which is a small device that sends the electrical signals
• Lead wire, a thin wire that delivers the electrical impulses sent by the neurostimulator
• Remote control, the device that allows you to adjust levels of stimulation or turn the neurostimulator on or off

Some spinal cord stimulators include a rechargeable battery, but others don’t require charging at all. When other forms of back pain or neck pain treatment haven’t worked for you, spinal cord stimulation surgery may be able to help reduce or eliminate the need for prescription pain medication so that you can return to a more active lifestyle without the threat of addiction.

Who Benefits from Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery?

SCS surgery may be the ideal solution if you haven’t found pain relief in prior surgeries, medications, or other conservative forms of treatment, such as physical therapy. After a thorough assessment and medical history, your top-rated spine doctor at NU-Spine in Edison, NJ can tell you if you’re a good candidate for the treatment.

Dr. Branko Skovrlj is a leading neurosurgeon and a champion of minimally invasive spine disorder treatment. With extensive experience treating complex spine conditions, he knows when the stimulator is the best fit for your unique situation. Some conditions that benefit from this type of surgery include:

• Failed back surgery syndrome
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathic pain
• Chronic back, leg or neck pain
• A pinched or compressed nerve in your mid-back
• Degenerative disc disease in your neck
• Stenosis in your lower back
• Post-laminectomy syndrome

A spinal cord stimulator overrides other chronic pain causes too, such as the trauma from a spinal cord injury or a neck injury. This treatment does not resolve the pain; it simply stops you from feeling it. The primary requirements for being a candidate include:

• Your pain has not responded to any other treatment.
• You’re not a candidate for further surgical procedures.
• Your chronic pain won’t cause other physical degradation.

What Happens During Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery?

Once you’ve been identified as a candidate for spinal cord stimulation, your spine specialist still must test to ensure the treatment works in your case. Two procedures are required to implant a spinal cord stimulator:

• Temporary spinal cord stimulator surgery. This procedure is done with one small incision in your back to place the electrodes, guided by a live CT scan. If this temporary test proves unsuccessful, these electrodes can be easily removed. You wear the stimulator itself, which stays outside your body, for about a week. If it relieves at least 50 percent of your pain, surgery can be scheduled to implant a permanent stimulator.
• Permanent spinal cord stimulator surgery. During this procedure, the lead is surgically implanted in the epidural space near your spine, and the neurotransmitter is implanted under your skin. Once the device is connected and running, the incision is closed.

Both procedures are usually done on an outpatient basis. A local anesthesia may be used to numb the location of the incision or you may go under general anesthesia. You’re normally allowed to go home the same day, once the anesthesia wears off.

What Can I Expect During My Recovery?

Immediately after your spinal cord stimulator surgery, you likely some temporary pain and swelling at the incision site. Your spine experience surgeon gives you clear instructions for your recovery, such as removing the dressing over the incision after a few days. For several weeks after the procedure, you must limit some activities, such as:

• Twisting
• Bending
• Lifting
• Stretching

Restart your regular activities gradually. It may be one or two weeks after surgery before you can drive, for example. As you heal, your doctor encourages you to participate in light exercises, such as walking, to build your strength. In most cases, you’re fully healed and back to your normal routine within six to eight weeks.

What Kind of Doctor Knows about Spinal Cord Stimulation?

If you believe you’d benefit from a spinal cord stimulator, talk to a doctor who’s experienced in advanced surgical techniques and state-of-the-art technology. That’s exactly what you’ll find in Dr. Skovrlj at NU-Spine in Edison, New Jersey. He’s dedicated his career to applying evidence-based spinal treatments to help those in pain, and he’s received multiple awards for his contributions in spine surgery.

When chronic pain is starting to degrade your quality of life, consider spinal cord stimulation. When you can’t see any way else to stop your pain, contact the experts at NU-Spine to begin your journey back from pain.

Dr. Branko Skovrlj, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon and a fellowship-trained spine surgeon specializing in complex and minimally invasive spinal surgery, spinal revision surgery, and spinal deformity surgery for acute and chronic back pain relief. He combines advanced surgical techniques, vast skills, knowledge, and training to provide evidence-based treatments focused on successful long-term outcomes, with importance on both functionality and an aesthetically pleasing result with minimal to no visible scarring.

Dr. Skovrlj received his undergraduate degree from Clayton State University in Atlanta, GA, and his Doctorate of Medicine from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He then completed the Neurosurgery Residency, Complex Spine and Deformity Surgery Fellowship, and Minimally Invasive, Complex Spinal, and Deformity Surgery Fellowship programs at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine in New York City. A member of numerous professional societies with multiple nominations and awards for his contribution to spine surgery, Dr. Skovrlj has over 50 peer-reviewed publications in the field of spine surgery and has presented over 150 clinical research papers at prestigious national and international meetings. He is also affiliated with multiple medical facilities and hospitals in NJ, including Chilton Medical Center and Saint Joseph's University Medical Center.

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