Spinal Cord Stimulation To Treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a term that describes prolonged pain and inflammation that develops after an injury or surgery. CRPS typically affects an arm or a leg, and the pain is out of proportion to the seriousness of the initial injury. Spinal Cord Stimulation has been shown to be effective in treating CRPS. The pain medicine physicians at Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska are experienced in using this treatment to help patients with CRPS and will work with you to determine the cause of your pain and treatment plan.
Signs and Symptoms of CRPS
Some people develop CRPS while others with similar injury or trauma do not. Damaged nerve fibers that lead to CRPS can be caused by:
Fractures
Surgery
Infections
Sprains or strains
A limb being in a cast
Poor circulation
Symptoms can vary from person to person and may change over time or be reduced during recovery. CRPS symptoms may include:
- Pain that comes on spontaneously and can be constant or change with activity
- Continuous burning or stabbing pain in the affected limb
- Color and temperature skin changes
- Skin and nail changes in the affected limb
- Swelling in the affected area
- Decreased muscle strength and ability to move in the affected body part
- Excess pain due to touch, cold, or normal physical contact
In some people, signs and symptoms of CRPS go away on their own. In others, signs and symptoms may persist for months and even years. Treatment is likely to be most effective when started early in the course of the illness.
Treating CRPS with Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a treatment that has been effectively used to treat complex regional pain syndrome. SCS uses a device called a spinal cord stimulator. This device is implanted near the spinal cord to send small amounts of electrical pulses to the brain to relieve pain and is controlled with a remote.
The first step in the process is to be evaluated by one of our providers, including imaging and a psychological screening, prior to trialing the spinal cord stimulator. It’s one of the only procedures that you can test in advance to see if it will work before you and your physician decide if it is the right treatment. The trial period is from three to seven days wherein adjustments are made to the device to tailor it to your pain level. If the device has reduced your pain by the end of the trial period, you and your physician will discuss the next step.
Our interventional pain medicine physicians at Innovative Pain & Spine – Drs. Phillip Essay, Kelly Zach, and Thomas Brooks – surgically insert small electric leads between the spinal cord and vertebrae. These leads operate with a battery pack that is implanted under the skin in the patient’s back.
SCS is Safe and Effective
Studies show that approximately 83% of spinal cord stimulator patients see a 50% decrease in their pain. This improvement in a patient’s quality of life can be very impactful. As a non-opioid procedure, the spinal cord stimulator not only helps eliminate the pain but can also provide enough relief for patients to ween or ultimately eliminate their pain medications.
- SCS is safe and doesn’t interact with pain medications
- SCS doesn’t interfere with sensory perception
- SCS doesn’t affect cognitive abilities or motor functions
If you suffer with chronic pain and think you might be a candidate for Spinal Cord Stimulation, call Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists, located in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, at 402-413-5010 and schedule an appointment today.
Sources:
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crps-complex-regional-pain-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20371151