Spinal cord stimulation in Parsippany-Troy Hills is a minimally invasive treatment that helps manage chronic neck, back, arm, leg, and nerve pain when other therapies have not provided relief. Dr. Dipan Patel, double board-certified interventional pain physician, offers both trial and implant procedures to reduce pain signals and help you regain daily function.
Relieve Chronic Back and Nerve Pain
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an advanced therapy that uses a small device to deliver mild electrical impulses to the spinal cord. These impulses help block or modify pain signals before they reach your brain, reducing discomfort and pain. SCS is commonly recommended for chronic neck, back, arm, leg, and nerve pain that has not improved with other treatments. Dr. Patel offers both trial and permanent implants, allowing you to test the therapy first to see if it provides meaningful, lasting relief before committing to a permanent solution.
How Does Spinal Cord Stimulation Actually Work?
Spinal cord stimulation works by sending mild electrical pulses to the nerves within the spinal cord. These pulses interfere with or mask the pain signals before they reach your brain, so you feel less discomfort. Instead of constant pain, you may feel a gentle tingling or no sensation at all, depending on the type of stimulator used. This process does not cure the underlying condition but helps manage symptoms so you can function better.
What Does Spinal Cord Stimulation Treat?
Spinal cord stimulation in Parsippany-Troy Hills is done to help people living with chronic pain that hasn’t improved with medications, injections, or surgery. By altering pain signals before they reach your brain, this therapy can provide significant relief from conditions that affect your neck, back, arms, legs, or nerves. It is especially effective for patients whose pain limits their mobility, sleep, or overall quality of life.
Benefits of Spinal Cord Stimulation:
- Provides drug-free relief for chronic back, leg, or nerve pain
- Can be tested first with a temporary trial before a permanent implant
- Adjustable settings tailored to your specific pain patterns
- Minimally invasive procedure with no major downtime
- Helps reduce reliance on pain medications, including opioids
- Improves the ability to perform daily activities and quality of life
- Long-term pain control for patients who have not found relief from other treatments
What Happens During Spinal Cord Stimulation?
The process begins with a trial phase to test if spinal cord stimulation reduces your pain. Under local anesthesia and light sedation, Dr. Patel inserts thin electrical leads into the epidural space of your spine using a specialized needle guided by fluoroscopy (real-time X-ray). These leads are connected to an external pulse generator that you wear on a belt or small pouch.
Over the course of several days, you can adjust the stimulation with a handheld controller to determine whether it provides meaningful relief. If the trial is successful, you move to the permanent implant procedure. The leads are placed in the same epidural space, but this time they are connected to a small, battery-powered pulse generator that is implanted under the skin, typically in the buttock or abdomen. The system is fully programmable, allowing you and Dr. Patel to fine-tune settings for long-term pain control.
Is Recovery Difficult After the Procedure?
Recovery is generally smooth, as spinal cord stimulation is a minimally invasive procedure. You may experience mild soreness at the incision site for a few days. Most patients return to light activities within a week and resume normal routines soon after. Dr. Patel will give you specific guidelines for activity restrictions and follow-up care to ensure optimal recovery.
How Long Does the Implanted Device Last?
Most spinal cord stimulators have batteries that last several years. Rechargeable systems can last 10 years or more with proper use, while non-rechargeable models typically last 5 to 7 years. When the battery runs low, it can be replaced during a minor procedure.
Why Choose Dr. Patel for Spinal Cord Stimulation?
Dr. Dipan Patel is a double board-certified interventional pain physician specializing in minimally invasive treatments for chronic pain. With fellowship training at NYU Langone and expertise in spinal cord stimulation in Parsippany-Troy Hills trials and implants, he helps patients regain mobility and improve quality of life without relying on long-term medications. If you are living with persistent back, leg, or nerve pain that has not responded to other treatments, schedule your consultation today to explore your options.
