Spinal Cord Stimulation: Principles & Practice

Spinal cord stimulation is a neuromodulation therapy for the treatment of chronic, intractable, neuropathic pain. It involves the implantation of electrodes over the dorsal columns of the spinal cord, in order to activate the dorsal column-medial lemniscal sensory system, thus closing the gate on pain transmission. This therapy is used in patients with neuropathic pain conditions such as post-laminectomy syndrome, spinal arachnoiditis, lumbar radiculitis, and complex regional pain syndrome. Spinal Cord Stimulation:: Principles and Practice is written by experts in the field, with a multidisciplinary approach to the chronic pain patient in mind. There are chapters describing the history of this therapy, and the fundamentals of indications and patient selection. The psychological considerations of spinal cord stimulation are described, and there are chapters describing various trialing/implanting techniques, with an emphasis on patient outcomes and complication avoidance. Finally, chapters on spinal cord stimulator programming and emerging indications round out the volume. Spinal Cord Stimulation:: Principles and Practice is a valuable resource for clinicians to help direct decision-making when treating patients with chronic pain. Patients and their caretakers will also find value in this book as a guide through the spinal cord stimulation candidacy and implantation process. The authors hope this book serves to improve the care of chronic pain patients while providing a beacon of hope to patients, their caretakers, and medical providers.