How Do You Work With A Spinal Cord Stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is a device surgically implanted at the spine to send a mild electric current to block pain impulses traveling on your spinal cord. According to the Mayfield Clinic, a small wire carries a current from a battery-operated generator to the nerve fibers along the spinal cord. When the device is turned on using a remote-control like device, the stimulation feels like a mild tingling in the area where pain is usually felt. Most patients report feeling a 40 to 50 percent reduction in pain while equipped with a spinal cord stimulator. Review your device with the attending physician or nurse. Before you leave the hospital after the surgery to implant your spinal cord stimulator, a nurse or consultant will program your device and show you how to work the remote-control-like equipment that operates the implant. Experiment with the control. After watching the instructional DVD or reading the manual, it is time to test which programs work best for your pain managemen
