Spinal cord stimulation: what is it and how does it work?
The spinal cord is a vital part of the central nervous system, acting as a communication highway between the body and the brain. It transmits both sensory information, such as touch, temperature, and pressure, and also pain signals. In many cases of chronic pain, the spinal cord becomes overly sensitive or processes pain signals abnormally, even in the absence of ongoing tissue damage. This altered processing can lead to persistent pain, often disproportionate to any clear physical injury. When traditional pain treatments have failed or provided only limited relief, spinal cord stimulation may play a valuable role in providing relief, as a consultant in pain medicine describes in this article.
