Spinal Cord Stimulation

Yancey Pain & Spine

William L Yancey, MD

Interventional Pain Specialist & Anesthesiologist located in The Woodlands, TX & Houston Medical Center, Houston, TX

Finding an effective treatment that alleviates your chronic pain can leave you feeling frustrated and defeated. At Yancey Pain & Spine in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas, interventional pain specialist William Yancey, MD, combines proven therapies with advanced treatments to help you get the long-term pain relief you need, including spinal cord stimulation. To learn more about spinal cord stimulation and how it can benefit you, call the office nearest you or request an appointment online.

Spinal Cord Stimulation Q & A

What is spinal cord stimulation?

Spinal cord stimulation is an implant device that provides pain relief for those who can’t get relief from traditional methods. The device works by sending mild electrical impulses to your spinal cord that masks your pain sensations and stops the signals from reaching your brain.

Spinal cord stimulation may benefit many types of chronic pain conditions, including:

Back pain
Postsurgical pain
Nerve pain
Complex regional pain syndrome
Phantom limb pain

Dr. Yancey takes a tailored approach to spinal cord stimulation that goes beyond matching the therapy to your pain condition. He makes sure your therapy is customized to meet your needs and lifestyle.

Am I a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation?

Dr. Yancey determines if you’re a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation during a consultation. Though effective at alleviating many types of chronic pain, you may only be considered a good candidate if:

You’ve tried and failed to get relief from conservative pain-management methods
You’re not a good candidate for surgery
You want to avoid surgery
You’re not suffering from untreated depression
You experience relief from your pain during your spinal cord stimulation trial

If you're curious about your candidacy for spinal cord stimulation, schedule an appointment at Yancey Pain & Spine.

What happens during a spinal cord stimulation trial?

Before the spinal cord stimulation device is implanted in your body, Dr. Yancey requires you first undergo a trial, which is sometimes conducted at the office. During your spinal cord stimulation trial, Dr. Yancey inserts trial leads under your skin and over the nerves responsible for your pain, which are then attached to a spinal cord stimulation device you wear on your clothing.

After placing your trial leads, Dr. Yancey provides specific instructions on how to use the device and requests you keep a log that tracks your activities and pain level. Your trial may last 4-7 days.

What happens during the spinal cord stimulation surgery?

If your spinal cord stimulation trial is successful, then Dr. Yancey proceeds with the operation for the implant. He reviews the specifics of your procedure with you during your surgical consultation, so you know how to prepare, what happens during your procedure, and what to expect after. Dr. Yancey’s techniques are optimized to minimize scarring and reduce recovery time.

Though results vary, most people experience excellent long-term relief from their pain after the placement of their spinal cord stimulation device.

To schedule a consultation to learn more about spinal cord stimulation, contact Yancey Pain & Spine by phone or request a consultation online today.

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