Recurrent Sciatica Relief: 4 Benefits of Spinal Cord Stimulation

Your sciatic nerve is very long and wide. It starts in your lower back, runs through your buttocks and upper legs, and ends at your knees. When your sciatic nerve becomes irritated or pinched, it can cause a variety of nerve-related symptoms, such as pain and tingling. 

Sciatic nerve pain is often referred to as sciatica, and it’s actually not a condition in itself, but rather a side effect of a condition or injury that impacts your sciatic nerve. Once the root issue has been diagnosed and treated, the sciatica should subside. 

However, some people deal with recurrent or chronic sciatica, meaning it never goes away or gets worse over time. Recurrent sciatica can really affect your quality of life, and although conservative treatments and lifestyle changes are often sufficient to address it, in other cases, more aggressive options are necessary. One of these is spinal cord stimulation.

At Genesis Pain and Regenerative Medicine in Colleyville, Texas, pain management expert Don Enty, MD, leads our team in offering expert-level treatments to effectively reduce chronic pain. In this month’s blog, we discuss when spinal cord stimulation might be the best option for your recurrent sciatica. 

When is spinal cord stimulation necessary?

Oftentimes, sciatica is triggered by a herniated or bulging spinal disc that puts pressure on your sciatic nerve. Other common causes of sciatica include spinal stenosis and arthritis. 

Finding ways to strengthen your spine can help alleviate whatever is irritating or pinching the sciatic nerve, allowing it to heal properly. Common treatments for sciatica and its underlying cause include physical therapy, exercise, muscle relaxants, and steroid injections. 

However, if arthritis, degenerative disc disease, or another trigger continues to damage your sciatic nerve, it may no longer be possible to reverse the damage and eliminate pain. When permanent nerve damage is present or your pain has progressed significantly, spinal cord stimulation is a likely next step. 

What is spinal cord stimulation? 

Spinal cord stimulation is a pain management strategy that’s used when first lines of treatment have failed. It uses electrodes connected to a generator to deliver bursts of low-voltage electricity to your spine, blocking pain signals. 

The first stage of spinal cord stimulation is known as the trial period. During this time, we place just a few wires connected to electrodes in your spine and then leave the generator outside your body. You then practice sending electricity with the generator for a week. If your pain is reduced by 50% or more, we permanently implant the device. 

Once the device has been permanently placed, you can control when it sends electricity with a remote.

What are the benefits of spinal cord stimulation?

Spinal cord stimulation has many advantages, including but not limited to:

1. Being able to undergo a trial period before fully committing to it
2. Reducing sciatica symptoms when other methods have failed
3. Reducing your need for strong painkillers
4. Being able to control when the device is needed 

If sciatica has significantly impacted your mobility and quality of life, spinal cord stimulation might be right for you. To schedule a consultation for spinal cord stimulation, simply call our office or use our online booking feature today.