Your sciatic nerve starts near the base of your spine and travels from your bottom down each leg. It helps your legs and feet move and helps you feel sensations such as touch, pain, and temperature in your legs.
If your sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed due to an accident or injury, it can cause pain, numbness, and tingling that extends down your leg. (This is actually one of the most common causes of leg pain.)
Treatment typically begins with conservative options such as cold or heat therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and injections; however, if these don’t provide relief, you may need to explore more long-term solutions.
At ReGen Pain Management in Plano and Frisco, Texas, Dr. Jonathan Koning understands how much pain can affect your life. We love to offer our patients solutions that work, and in this case, a spinal cord stimulator may be just the ticket for you. Here’s how it works.
A spinal cord stimulator is a small device implanted near your spinal cord to deliver low-level electrical impulses to your spinal cord, blocking pain signals from reaching your brain. Just as a pacemaker uses electrical impulses to control your heartbeat, a spinal cord stimulator controls your pain.
The equipment consists of electrodes that are placed near your spinal cord and attached to a small, battery-powered device implanted under your skin. You’ll also have a remote control that allows you to adjust how much stimulation you receive.
Sciatica occurs when your sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed. This commonly happens with herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or other spinal issues.
When your nerve is compressed, it sends pain signals to your brain to alert your body of the problem. A spinal cord stimulator works by blocking those pain signals so they can’t get through.
Many patients report they’re able to reduce their use of traditional painkillers after receiving a stimulator. You should eventually begin to notice a difference in how you feel and how you’re able to complete more tasks.
We won’t jump straight to implanting an electrical device in your body. We first review your medical history, medications, and current goals.
Next, we perform a trial to determine whether the stimulator is effective. This involves placing temporary electrodes and using an external stimulator.
If this successfully blocks your pain, we implant the actual device under your skin near your lower back or abdomen. The procedure is minimally invasive, and you go home to recover the same day.
If you think you might need a spinal cord stimulator, our ReGen Pain Management team is here to help. To schedule an appointment to discuss whether this device could benefit you, call our location most convenient to you or book online today.
