If a patient appears to be an appropriate candidate for spinal cord stimulation, a trial of stimulation can help determine whether this therapy is likely to be effective. If the patient determines that the stimulation is effective during the trial screening period, he or she may elect to have the system implanted. The physician will implant the receiver typically in the abdominal area and tunnel under the skin to connect the leads and extensions. How is the system Programmed A clinician enters the amplitude, rate, and other variables with the transmitter. The patient can adjust these settings, within limits established by the clinician, using control buttons on this transmitter.
Many patients use different settings for sleeping and exercising.
In addition to reducing chronic, intractable pain, the spinal cord stimulation system may improve a patient's ability to function and provide a better quality of life. . The probable effectiveness of the therapy can be determined during a screening trial before implanting the system, thus saving unnecessary costs. . The neurostimulation system has the further advantage of added therapeutic flexibility to treat patients with either bilateral or multifocal pain. The system's two leads and two stimulation modes allow for independent programming of amplitude and pulse width, delivering appropriate stimulation to the appropriate sites. Stimulation parameters can be changed to address changing pain relief needs.