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How does electrical stimulation successfully treat chronic pain? Explore the magical power of spinal cord stimulation!
Chronic pain is a problem that troubles many patients, and traditional drug therapy often fails to effectively control the pain.Therefore, scientists and medical experts continue to explore new technologies, among which electrical stimulation therapy has attracted much attention because of its success rate.The core of this therapy is how to adjust neural activity through precise electrical stimulation to effectively relieve pain.
The basic principle of electrical stimulation therapy is to change the function of the nervous system by applying electric current, thereby achieving pain management and neuromodulation.
Spiral cord stimulation is the most common among many forms of electrical stimulation therapy.Spinal cord stimulation therapy has been widely used since the 1980s and is mainly used to treat chronic pain.This method helps patients relieve pain by implanting electrodes in the spinal cord and delivering mild electrical impulses.Studies have shown that successful patients can report 50% or more pain reduction in clinical trials and may further consider permanent implantation.
The basic operational procedure for spinal cord stimulation is to first perform temporary testing in a suitable patient, during which an external pulse generator is connected to the epidural electrode located in the lower thoracic spinal cord.
With the advancement of technology, today's spinal cord stimulation systems have developed novel stimulation parameters, such as "surge stimulation" of 10 kHz and 500 Hz, in addition to traditional pulse stimulation.These different stimulation patterns allow medical experts to adjust treatment options according to the patient's specific requirements and may provide more significant results.
In-depth research shows that spinal cord stimulation therapy has good efficacy for various refractory pain syndromes, such as postoperative pain, back pain, and complex regional pain.After the patient undergoes implant surgery, it usually takes a while to recover, and the doctor will then turn on and set up the system.During the setting process, the system's stimulation may produce a slight numbness that replaces part of the pain and brings a better quality of life to the patient.
The key to any successful course of treatment is to select the right patient and ensure that the patient's pain symptoms are indeed difficult to control by the medication.
In addition to spinal cord stimulation, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is another invasive regulation therapy that is valued for its effectiveness.The therapy was first developed in the 1980s and can effectively relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease, movement disorders and other diseases.The effectiveness of deep brain stimulation was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and was subsequently applied to the treatment of some mental illnesses, such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
At present, the medical community is constantly exploring more electrical stimulation methods, including auditory nerve implantation, functional electrical stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation, and is also actively developing non-invasive regulatory technologies, such as ethical and economic development. Cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).The common goal of these technologies is to regulate the function of the nervous system and improve the quality of life in those who face chronic pain or other neurological disorders.
In the face of chronic pain problems, non-invasive technology provides another possibility to affect the nervous system without surgery.
According to the latest research, the potential of electrical stimulation therapy is being continuously explored with the development of technology.The goal of the future is to develop more precise stimulation even in complex situations and enhance efficacy with the help of automatic feedback control systems.The development of this direction will not only have a positive impact on patients' lives, but may also bring greater convenience to the medical system.
With the deepening of understanding of electrical stimulation therapy, especially the rise of non-invasive technologies, the scope and effectiveness of this technology still need to be further explored and verified.In addition to the physical level, we should also think about how future neuromodulation technologies can provide greater help to patients in various situations so that they can restore their hope of healthy and normal life?
