Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS)

Highly invasive: large incision and excessive cutting of normal tissues between skin and spine during Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery.

Excessive and unnecessary bleeding during and after surgery from muscle trauma by the surgeon

Normal stabilizing bones of the spine including lamina and spinous process are destroyed by the surgeon during Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery

Normal stabilizing ligaments including supraspinous, interspinous and ligamentum flavum are destroyed by the surgeon during Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery

Normal muscles around the spine are destroyed by the surgeon during Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery

Excessive scar tissue forms around the spinal cord and nerves after Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery

Complications are common after Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery

Spinal instability is common after Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery

Disc herniations and degenerated discs are not treated by Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery is performed. They are the most common cause of back and leg pain. Treating the disc injuries would cure back and leg pain. The stimulator is unnecessary when the source of back pain is properly treated.

Stenosis is not properly treated by Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery and will require additional surgery

Excessive postoperative pain occurs after Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery due to muscle trauma and necrosis (death of muscles). During Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery, the muscles are torn off the spine by the surgeon in order to get down to the lamina. The permanently damaged muscles cause severe postoperative pain that requires opioid painkillers and muscle relaxers. Opioid painkillers are highly addicting, can cause tolerance, abuse and even death from breathing failure.

Back pain often becomes worse after Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery. Fusion may be recommended

Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery does not treat back pain

A laminectomy is performed during Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery.

Invasive surgery is required for Spinal Cord Stimulator placement

General anesthesia is needed for Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery

Additional surgery may be necessary in over 90% of patients having Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery

Many Spinal Cord Stimulator placement surgery patients end up in pain management for their lifetime because the stimulator doesn’t work.

Lead migration and scar tissue formation is common and the SCS stops working.

Spinal Cord Stimulator does not treat the source of pain so patients will be dependent on the device for their lifetime.

Nerve root or spinal cord injury

Spinal fluid leak

Infection including meningitis and spinal epidural abscess and osteomyelitis or discitis

Instability from surgery

Fractured bones in spine

Residual stenosis

Lead migration

Scarring within the spine

Paralysis