Easing pain with electrical stimulation...Effective alternative to spinal nerve stimulation for intractable pain

Dec 24, 2024

X-ray of a patient who received microelectrodes and electrical signal control devices through spinal nerve stimulation.

For patients with pain syndrome after spinal surgery that does not disappear even after spinal surgery 'spinal nerve stimulation' is emerging as a new hope.

Pain syndrome after spinal surgery is a condition in which symptoms do not improve or new pain occurs after spinal surgery, and chronic pain can continue for months to years. Complex pain syndrome', which occurs after trauma or surgery, also has the characteristic of continuing severe pain. In many cases, the pain is not controlled by conventional treatment even with 'cancerous pain' caused by cancer. Spinal nerve stimulation can be an effective alternative for patients with such intractable pain.

Spinal nerve stimulation is a treatment that relieves pain by applying electrical stimulation to the spinal cord to block the transmission of pain signals to the brain or by converting bad stimulation into good stimulation.

Pain can be controlled by inserting a fine electrode into the patient's spine and implanting a control device that controls electrical signals in the body. After the electrode is inserted, the pain is controlled in detail through the process of setting and testing the intensity of the stimulus through an external program.

One of the main advantages of spinal nerve stimulation is that it does not cause damage to nerve tissue or changes in body structure. If it is ineffective during the test stimulation stage, the implanted device can be removed at any time. In June 2014, the economic burden on patients was eased as the scope of benefits was expanded in accordance with the government's policy to strengthen coverage for the four major diseases.

At Korea University Ansan Hospital, neurosurgery and rehabilitation medicine departments form a team to perform spinal nerve stimulation treatment. Professor Park Hong-beom of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is in charge of active pain treatment such as pain medication and nerve block before the installation of the spinal cord stimulator, and Professor Kim Myung-ji of neurosurgery is in charge of installing the spinal cord stimulator for uncontrolled intractable pain.

Professor Park Hong-beom said, "While the number of patients with spinal diseases continues to increase due to the aging population, the number of new patients among young people in their 20s and 30s is increasing rapidly`"In this situation, spinal nerve stimulation can be a new hope for patients who continue to suffer even with rehabilitation medical treatment,' he said.

Professor Kim Myung-ji said, `This treatment has begun to attract attention relatively recently, but studies on its effectiveness and safety have been steadily conducted"According to a study published by the World Neuromodulatory Society, the initial success rate of patients undergoing spinal nerve stimulation reached about 90%, and after 10 years, the satisfaction rate was about 80%."