Neurological Associates

Pain Management Center

Vero Beach, Florida

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RSD PUZZLE # 106                                                                                   Complications Of Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS)                                                                                                                   

Please see RSD Puzzles 23 and 74 also regarding SCS

We have had extensive experience with treating patients who have already undergone spinal cord stimulator (SCS). The SCS is helpful in some patients who suffer from chronic back pain, neck pain, or failed back syndrome. On the other hand, when it is applied to patients suffering from RSD, it may help reduce the pain for anywhere from 7 days to 6-7 months. On average, it helps reduce the pain a little over 2 months. Afterward, SCS will become a new source of pain by stimulating the neuropathic pain sensory fibers in the spinal canal.

Worst of all, the SCS as a foreign body in the spinal canal that instigates a lot of severe pain and inflammation because of the fact that patients with RSD have a tendency to have an abnormal function of sympathetic system, and invariably they suffer from attacks of inflammation in the form of swelling of the extremities, reddish discoloration of the skin, etc. The SCS invariably causes severe inflammatory pain in the spinal canal region. The inflammatory pain is far worse than the original RSD for which the SCS was tried.

The above experience has been the result of treating over 200 patients who already have had SCS treatment. The situation is so bad that when a patient wants to schedule to come to see us for treatment, we first ask the patient to ask the surgeon to remove the SCS before we can give her any effective treatment.

Please ask your doctor to read this letter. At least it will put him on warning that you have more than 95% chance of developing the above mentioned complications.

Another problem with SCS is that it causes disturbance of plasticity and causes rapid acceleration and deterioration of your RSD to later stages of the disease. Another complication of SCS treatment is the fact that it stimulates the sensory neuropathic pain fibers in the spinal canal facilitating the spread of the disease to other extremities.

H. Hooshmand, MD

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Copyright © 1997-2006 H. Hooshmand, M.D. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system other than this specific media, transcribed, or translated into any language without the expressed written permission from the author; H. Hooshmand, M.D. and Eric Phillips and CMNE. This material is for informational and education purposes. It is not meant to take the place of your physician. Before starting, changing, or stopping any treatments or medicines consult your physician.

Send e-mail to Eric Phillips: EricmP9512@aol.com with questions or comments about this media and content.

The material on the Neurological Associates Pain Management Center Homepage and all it's associated, linked or reference pages is for informational and education purposes. It is not meant to take the place of your physician. Before starting, changing, or stopping any treatments or medicines consult your physician. H. Hooshmand, M.D., Neurological Associates Pain Management Center and Associates will not be held liable for any damage or loss as a result of information provided on this page or associated documentation. Again, this WEB SITE is simply published as an information source and should not be used to treat or make judgments on RSD/CRPS. All associated material on this web site may not be copied, reproduced or quoted without expressed written permission from the owner; Copyright © 1999-2006 H. Hooshmand, M.D.

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This page was last updated on 3/11/2000.