How Does a Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial Work?

Back pain can be mysterious. While some cases have an obvious trigger — like a herniated disc or a strained muscle — sometimes the root cause of back pain can be difficult to pinpoint. And even if your doctor knows what’s causing the pain, treating it effectively is another matter entirely.

Fortunately, there’s one treatment that works for back pain stemming from a variety of causes. Because a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) targets the pain signals in your body, it gives you a potential way to find lasting relief.

An SCS requires an implant, so Dr. Jonathan Carlson wants to ensure this treatment will give you effective results first. That’s why he offers spinal cord stimulation trials from our Hawai’i Pain and Spine office on the Windward side of O’ahu in Kailua.

When to give SCS a trial run

Spinal cord stimulation could be right for you if you have persistent back pain and other treatments haven’t worked. Talk with Dr. Carlson about your pain level, how frequently you have discomfort, and other things you’ve tried for your back.

SCS works by using the stimulator to send electrical impulses. These impulses interrupt the pain signals between your spine and your brain. 

While an SCS doesn’t work for everyone, if Dr. Carlson does recommend it, there’s a relatively high likelihood that it will bring you at least some relief. The National Center for Biotechnology Information, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, summarizes the current research: SCS treatment delivered more than 50% pain relief to more than 70% of people who tried it. 

This information was gathered from folks at the six-month mark after SCS placement, indicating that this technology can bring lasting relief. 

Getting your trial started

You need a minor procedure to trial run an SCS, but you won’t need general anesthesia. Instead, Dr. Carlson numbs just the local area. He then places the small wire leads into your back. 

These leads connect to a trial stimulator unit that allows you to adjust the electrical impulses — and, consequently, the amount of pain relief — as needed. You wear this temporary stimulator outside your body (on a belt) for a week to see how your back responds. 

Moving toward pain relief

At the end of your weeklong trial run, you come back to our office so you can discuss your results with Dr. Carlson. If you experienced pain relief of 50% or greater, our team considers the trial a success.

If you decide to get a permanent SCS, it requires another procedure. This time, Dr. Carlson places the permanent stimulator — a tiny device called an implantable pulse generator (IPG) — in your body. This way, you don’t have to constantly wear a belt with a device to get back pain relief when you need it. 

Dr. Carlson and our team have extensive experience in spinal cord stimulation, so we can help you find out if this treatment option is right for you. To explore SCS and get started with a trial run, call our office today.