Spinal Cord Stimulation vs. Repeat Injections: Which Path Is Right for Your Chronic Pain?

When you’re dealing with chronic pain — pain that’s lasted for three months or longer — your whole life can feel off kilter. Thankfully, a range of treatments can help alleviate your symptoms and restore your quality of life. 

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, provides compassionate chronic pain care for a range of conditions, including:

• Bone spurs
• Chronic back pain
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Failed back surgery syndrome
• Herniated discs
• Pinched nerves
• Sciatica
• Spinal stenosis

Let’s explore two of our most effective chronic pain treatments, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and epidural injections, including signs one or the other is best for you.

How spinal cord stimulation works

For spinal cord stimulation, we use a medical device to block pain signals to your brain using mild electrical impulses. It starts with a trial to see if it successfully reduces your chronic pain. If it does, our team implants the device beneath your skin.

If SCS reduces your pain by at least 50%, it’s considered successful. That’s the case for over 85% of patients.

How repeat spinal injections work

Spinal injections deliver medications, typically the steroid cortisone and an anesthetic, to the nerve fueling your pain. The anesthetic provides immediate relief by numbing the pain. The steroid adds longer-lasting benefits by gradually reducing inflammation.

While one injection may help during an acute flare-up, you may need a series of injections to manage chronic pain. Many patients who receive multiple injections spread months apart have reported pain relief lasting for two years. 

Choosing between SCS and injections

Whether spinal cord stimulation or repeat injections best suit you depends on the cause, intensity, and length of your chronic pain, as well as your overall health. Because injections are less invasive and require less time, we may recommend starting there, especially if your pain is severe. 

Epidurals often pair well with other noninvasive treatments, such as physical therapy (PT). 

Our team often recommends spinal cord stimulation when more conservative options aren’t sufficient. If you’ve had treatment-resistant neuropathic pain for more than six months and PT and injections haven’t helped, you may be a prime candidate.

Spinal cord stimulation may also be your best bet if you have a complex pain condition, such as CRPS or failed back surgery syndrome. SCS and injections may help prevent or delay the need for spinal surgery.

The best way to determine your strongest path to chronic pain relief is through an exam and consultation. To learn more or get started, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment.