Managing Chronic Pain with Spinal Cord Stimulation

When it comes to treating stubborn, chronic pain in the torso, arms or legs, one of the most innovative, effective methods is spinal cord stimulation (SCS). This safe, minimally invasive pain therapy has helped people take control of their chronic pain since 1967.

Billions of dollars are spent on the treatment of low back pain—but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the pain is alleviated. SCS not only offers patients relief from constant pain, but also increases their ability to perform common tasks and activities. As a result, SCS can truly improve patients’ overall quality of life. With a success rate of 65% to 75%, spinal cord stimulation is literally changing lives.

SCS is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adults with chronic, intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs. SCS is offered locally by the Interventional Pain division at Pacific Medical Centers. Dr. Marshall Bedder, the director of Interventional Pain Management at PacMed, has been involved with spinal cord stimulation since 1985 and is a world authority on the treatment.

“Often, patients are unaware of options that may help them decrease their pain and enhance their lives,” says Dr. Bedder. “We try to educate our patients and offer them realistic treatments that may benefit them and their families. In the end, the correct treatment will also reduce overall health care costs, which is a big benefit to all.”

SCS works by producing an electrical field over the patient’s spinal cord, which creates a pleasant “tingling” feeling in the places where the patient experiences pain. To evaluate the effectiveness of SCS for a particular patient, a simple non-surgical trial is performed. The doctor carefully places temporary electrical leads (or electrodes) at the patient’s spine to direct the electric fields. These are then connected to an external trial generator. After a five-day trial, the patient is evaluated for pain improvement, functional improvement and reduction in pain medications.

Spinal Cord Stimulator System

If there has been significant improvement (greater than 50 percent), the patient is deemed a good candidate for permanent implantation of the leads together with an implantable pulse generator (IPG). Dr. Bedder uses a state of the art spinal cord stimulator system. This system features smooth wave technology to interrupt pain impulses before they reach the brain, replacing them with a smooth, soothing feeling. The best candidates for the implant are those who suffer from neuropathic pain or who have failed back surgery and have not found relief through more conservative treatment.

Hear what one of Dr. Bedder's patients has to say about how spinal cord stimulation changed his life:

Dr. Marshall Bedder practices Interventional Pain Management at the Pacific Medical Centers First Hill location. He received his training at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. He is also certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine. In addition to treating patients at PacMed, he teaches locally, nationally and abroad on topics related to SCS.

To make an appointment or to learn more about Dr. Bedder, click here or call 206.505.1300.

April 2011

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Read more about the author, Marshall Bedder, MD,  FRCP(C) or call for an appointment: (206) 505-1300.