What Is a Neurostimulator?
Chronic Pain
An implantable neurostimulator is a surgically placed device about the size of a stopwatch. It delivers mild electrical signals to the epidural space near your spine through one or more thin wires, called leads.
How It Works
Neurostimulation provides pain relief by disrupting the pain signals traveling between the spinal cord and the brain. In other words, it outsmarts your pain.
Pain can move and intensify as you change positions. You can adjust the strength and location of stimulation to address these changes in pain with a handheld programmer. For example, if your pain moves or intensifies at different times of the day or during various activities - such as walking, sleeping, or sitting - you can accommodate these changes with different stimulation settings.
If your neurostimulator features AdaptiveStim® technology, then it will automatically adjust stimulation when you are upright (sitting or standing), lying down, or active while in an upright position.
About the Neurostimulation System
A complete implantable neurostimulation system includes several components:
- Neurostimulator – The device that generates the electrical impulses (placed under the skin in your abdomen or upper buttock)
- Leads – Thin, insulated medical wires that deliver electrical pulses to the epidural space near the spine
- Patient’s programmer – A handheld device you can use after you leave the doctor's office to customise the stimulation (within the settings your doctor has selected)
The neurostimulation system does not make any noise. It may be felt as a small bump under your skin, but does not normally show through your clothes.
Advantages Over Other Therapies
Spinal cord stimulation provides advantages over other therapies for chronic pain:
- Unlike other chronic pain treatments or surgeries, you can experience spinal cord stimulation and see if it relieves your pain before committing to the long-term therapy
- A trial serves as a temporary evaluation period. The trial is much like an injection, but instead of medication being placed into the epidural space, leads are positioned and connected to an external neurostimulator
- It does not have to be a permanent procedure. The implanted neurostimulator can be surgically removed if you do not like it or if you decide to pursue a different treatment
- Unlike oral medications that circulate throughout your entire body, spinal cord stimulation targets the precise area where you are feeling pain
- Spinal cord stimulation can be adjusted to address changes in pain as you switch positions throughout the day
- A neurostimulator may provide relief when other treatments – like medications or injections – have not
Our Products
Medtronic offers a variety of neurostimulation systems with different features tailored for different chronic pain symptoms. If you are a candidate for neurostimulation, your doctor can work with you to determine if Medtronic products, such as RestoreSensor® SureScan® MRI neurostimulator, are possible pain treatment options for you.
Find out why Medtronic is the right choice
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