Spinal Cord Stimulation for Pain Management Q&A

Spinal stimulators can provide significant, life-changing results for many patients who have unsuccessfully tried other pain management options to treat their specific type of pain. Not all types of pain-inducing physical conditions will be treatable using spinal stimulators, but if this treatment option proves to be most likely beneficial, patients can experience significantly reduced pain or even complete relief from their pain once the spinal stimulator is up and running. It is not typically the first course of treatment attempted for managing pain, so if spinal stimulators are recommended for a patient, it is very likely that the patient is currently experiencing significant debilitating pain that is interfering with their ability to live a normal, good-quality life. This means that finding a treatment option that helps to restore that quality of life and allows patients to return to work and spend more time doing activities with their loved ones will be worth it.

Many different studies have been able to provide promising results for the efficacy of spinal stimulators for chronic pain relief, with most patients who have been deemed a good fit to try this treatment option experiencing significant improvement in their pain levels. Results from these studies show that at least 50% and up to 80% of patients were able to experience at least a 70% relief of their pain, with many studies providing results for even more substantial pain reduction. Many patients who receive spinal cord stimulation have reported that they were even able to return to work that they previously were unable to do due to their significant chronic pain. Those who are unsure whether they would find any or sufficient pain relief from the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator can actually try an external version of the spinal stimulator that provides very similar results to help them decide if they wish to undergo the operation,

Since the success of the spinal cord stimulation depends on the type of health condition and pain that is being treated, physicians will want to make sure that only those who are likely to experience at least noticeable pain relief from this procedure will be good candidates. This means that patients will need to not have any health conditions or disorders that may interfere with the procedure or may lead to an increased risk of complications following the operation. As well, the physician will need to assess all potential candidates for any untreated psychological disorders such as substance addiction or depression as that may interfere with the success of this treatment option. Good candidates will have already tested out the external version of the spinal cord stimulator to determine that the more invasive procedure will most likely provide substantial pain relief for them. Additionally, they will need to fully understand and be knowledgeable regarding what all this procedure entails, including prep, recovery, outlook, and both short- and long-term risks.

Patients who have experienced significant pain relief through less invasive measures or prescribed medications will most likely not be good candidates for spinal cord stimulation, as the least-invasive treatment options will always be favored over something that will involve more risk.

As with most medical procedures, the price of having a spinal cord stimulator implanted will depend on several factors, including the location and experience of the physician who is providing the operation, as well as the insurance coverage of the patient. In the United States, patients without any form of health insurance coverage can expect to spend anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 on their spinal cord stimulation. Typically, patients who are receiving spinal cord stimulators will have had the operation deemed as medically necessary by their physician, meaning that they are much more likely to receive coverage from their health insurance provider if they have one, or by Medicare if they have qualified for this type of coverage. For a more accurate total cost estimate, it is recommended that patients speak both with the physician who is providing the spinal cord stimulator procedure as well as their insurance provider to see if they are qualified to receive at least partial coverage for the treatment.

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