What is Spinal Cord Stimulator?
Category: Surgeries
Generic name: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
A spinal cord stimulator (SCS), also known as a dorsal column stimulator, is a device surgically placed under your skin to send a mild electric current to your spinal cord.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain | 29 | 19 | |
| Complex regional pain syndrome type I | 14 | 6 | |
| Complex regional pain syndrome type II | 12 | 9 | |
| Back pain | 4 | 1 | |
| Failed back syndrome | 4 | 4 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 1 | |
| Moderate | 2 | |
| Mild | 12 | |
| None | 19 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Spinal Cord Stimulator
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Pain in lower back | 3 | |
| Muscle spasms | 2 | |
| Confusion | 1 | |
| Difficulty speaking (dysarthria) | 1 | |
| Headaches | 1 | |
| Irritability | 1 |
Why patients stopped taking Spinal Cord Stimulator
Multiple reasons could be selected
| Reason | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Did not seem to work | 1 | |
| Side effects too severe | 1 |
Duration
Stopped having Spinal Cord Stimulator
| Duration | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | 24 | |
| 1 - 6 months | 1 | |
| 5 - 10 years | 1 |
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