Know what you can do for your patients with chronic pain.
Chronic pain has a disruptive impact on patients’ lives. Because of its symptoms, they could lose the ability to perform simple, everyday tasks leading to limited independence and poor quality of life.
Many patients suffering from chronic pain are not adequately managed with pharmaceutical medical treatments, so their symptoms could be out of control, increasing depression and self-isolation: Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) may offer to these patients the hope of having a whole new life. In this page, you will be able to explore SCS resources to support your conversations with chronic pain patients.
What is Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)?
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is a safe and effective way to manage chronic pain, even in cases when other therapies have failed.¹ SCS systems are small implanted devices that use leading-edge technology to send electrical impulses through the body, helping mask pain.
Explore frequently asked questions below to discover how this therapy could help your patients.
Learn more about SCS here.
How does SCS work?
A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) – or Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) – is implanted under the skin and connected to thin, flexible ‘leads’ placed near specific nerves in the back. The SCS (or IPG) sends mild pulses through the leads to the nerves. These pulses interrupt pain signals on their way to the brain – before patients can sense them. SCS systems can be turned on and off with an external remote control and can deliver different types of therapy tailored to your patient’s individual needs and preferences.
What will you find in the SCS Handbook?
The handbook is designed to guide you through the referral process, with seven easy steps to referring, and help you support your patient’s decision, with specially designed patient support materials.
Seven easy steps to referring movement disorder patients
Frequently asked questions by referrers and patients
Resources to support your conversations with patients
Stories from SCS patients
Frequently asked questions
SCS can treat chronic pain in one or more areas, such as the upper and/or lower back, neck and shoulder.
Chronic pain:
- 25%–35% of adults in European countries experience chronic pain².
- On average, people live with chronic pain for up to 7 years³
- One fifth of people with chronic pain will endure the pain for 20 years or more⁴
- One third are in constant pain³
- 68% of respondents are still in pain for more than 12 hours a day despite conventional treatment⁵
The Spinal Cord Stimulation Handbook includes the access to a free e-health tool, developed by experts to simplify the patient selection process.
The SCS Handbook includes a physician locator tool to find the right SCS expert for your patient.
In the SCS Handbook will support your conversations with patients suffering with chronic pain. With seven easy steps to referring, frequently asked questions by referrers and patients and patient support materials, the handbook is designed to guide you through the Spinal Cord Stimulation referral process.
Spinal Cord Stimulation therapy is clinically proven to reduce chronic pain, with the latest data demonstrating a 90% success rate.¹ SCS has already helped hundreds of thousands of people around the world.⁶
Download the handbook to access to more information or click here to reach out to an expert from Boston Scientific.
SCS Handbook
A learning resource on SCS therapy for patients with chronic pain.
Contact and support
1. Thomson SJ, Kruglov D, Duarte RV. A spinal cord stimulation service review from a single centre using a single manufacturer over a 7.5 year follow-up period. Neuromodulation. 2017;20(6):589-599. N=321.
2. Han A, Carayannopoulos AG. Spinal Cord Stimulation: The Use of Neuromodulation for Treatment of Chronic Pain. R I Med J (2013). 2020 May 1;103(4):23-26. PMID: 32357589.
3. Vallejo R, Bradley K, Kapural L. Spinal Cord Stimulation in Chronic Pain: Mode of Action. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2017 Jul 15;42 Suppl 14:S53-S60. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002179. PMID: 28368982.
4. Fontaine D. Spinal cord stimulation for neuropathic pain. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2021 Sep;177(7):838-842. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2021.07.014. Epub 2021 Aug 9. PMID: 34384626.
5. Breivik H et al. The individual and societal burden of chronic pain in Europe: the case for strategic prioritisation and action to improve knowledge and availability of appropriate care. BMC Public Health 2013; 13: 1229.
6. Kumar K, Taylor RS, Jacques L, Eldabe S, Meglio M, Molet J, Thomson S, O’Callaghan J, Eisenberg E, Milbouw G, Buchser E, Fortini G, Richardson J, North RB. The effects of spinal cord stimulation in neuropathic pain are sustained: a 24-month follow-up of the prospective randomized controlled multicenter trial of the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation. Neurosurgery. 2008 Oct;63(4):762–70.
CAUTION: The law restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician.Indications, contraindications, warnings and instructions for use can be found in theproduct labelling supplied with each device or at www.IFU-BSCI.com. Products shownfor INFORMATION purposes only and may not be approved or for sale in certaincountries. This material not intended for use in France.