Spinal cord stimulation

It does not act on the cause, it acts on the message: placed over the spinal cord, it interferes with the transmission of the pain signal to the brain. That is why it is an option once there is no structural cause left to correct.

That is what the trial stage is for, and it is the best feature of this technique. First the electrode is placed, under partial anaesthesia, and connected to an external generator for one to two weeks. Only if the pain is significantly reduced is the permanent generator implanted.

If you get through the trial stage, yes: the permanent generator is implanted under the skin, like a pacemaker, and you control it yourself with a remote.

For failed back surgery syndrome with radicular pain, and for chronic neuropathic pain that does not respond to medication. In other words, it is reached after a correctable mechanical problem has been ruled out, not before.