Spinal Cord Stimulation

Aarti A Singla, MD, MBA

Spine and Pain Management Specialist located in the Greater Cincinnati Area, West Chester and Anderson, OH

When medications or surgery fail to provide relief from a chronic pain condition, it may be time to consider spinal cord stimulation. Aarti Singla, MD, MBA, specializes in non-surgical treatments for chronic pain conditions and offers spinal cord stimulation. To schedule a consultation with a pain management expert, call the office in West Chester or Cincinnati, Ohio, or book online today.

Spinal Cord Stimulation Q & A

What is spinal cord stimulation?

Spinal cord stimulation is one of the non-surgical pain management treatment options offered by Dr. Singla. It’s a neuromodulation device that uses mild electrical currents to modify pain signals and reduce discomfort.

In addition to spinal cord stimulation, Dr. Singla offers many fluoroscopically guided pain injections, including epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, facet blocks, and radiofrequency ablation.

She works one-on-one with you to design a pain management plan that provides the best results so you can get back to living your life pain-free.

How does spinal cord stimulation work?

Researchers are still investigating how spinal cord stimulation works. They theorize that the pain device may either alter pain signals in the brain or replace your pain sensation with a slight tingling sensation.

For spinal cord stimulation, Dr. Singla places electrodes in the epidural space of your spine near the source of your pain. She attaches the electrodes to a generator — similar to a pacemaker — that delivers the mild electrical current to the spinal cord to alleviate your symptoms.

You control the spinal cord stimulator with a special remote, activating the generator to deliver the electrical current when you have pain.

Am I a candidate for spinal cord stimulation?

Dr. Singla may consider you a candidate for spinal cord stimulation if more conservative interventions fail to alleviate your chronic pain condition, such as physical therapy, oral medication, or injections.

Some of the pain conditions that benefit from spinal cord stimulation include:

Chronic back pain
Failed back surgery syndrome
Nerve-related pain
Complex regional pain syndrome
Spinal cord injuries

Before recommending spinal cord stimulation, Dr. Singla conducts a comprehensive evaluation to make sure the device makes the right fit for you.

What can I expect from spinal cord stimulation?

Results from spinal cord stimulation vary. Before permanently placing the electrodes and generator, Dr. Singla has you go through a spinal cord stimulation trial.

During the trial, she places the electrodes in your epidural space and attaches the leads to an external generator you wear around your waist. If you experience significant pain relief during the trial, she proceeds with the placement of the spinal cord stimulation device.

Though results vary, many patients experience a significant reduction in pain and overall quality of life after placement of their spinal cord stimulator.

To schedule a spinal cord stimulator consultation with Dr. Singla, call the office or book an appointment online today.

What we offer