What is Neurostimulation?

Neurostimulation is one of the most exciting new therapies in the treatment of chronic pain.  It is actually not new.  The first neurostimulator was developed in the late 1960's by a neurosurgeon looking for new ways to treat intractable pain.  Since the first implant in 1967, neurostimulation technology has undergone significant advancements, including refinements in patient selection criteria, equipment design, reliability, and lifespan.  These changes have dramatically improved the efficacy of neurostimulation and broadened the spectrum of its uses.  Patients who have failed the treatment in the past are now getting significant relief from their symptoms without the side effects or stigma seen with chronic opioid therapy. 

Neurostimulation is the application of an electrical current near the spinal cord or peripheral nerves to help relieve chronic pain, insufficient blood flow, spasticity, or other undesirable symptoms.  The term neurostimulation encompasses a variety of techniques, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulations (TENS), peripheral nerve stimulation (PNM), spinal cord stimulation (SCS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and cortical stimulation.