A Case of Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy for Lower Limb Pain Due to Conus Medullaris Syndrome

A 49-year-old woman experienced persistent right lower limb pain and numbness after laparoscopic colon resection surgery. Initial treatments, including nerve blocks, provided only temporary relief. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was then used, leading to significant pain reduction and improved mobility. Conus medullaris syndrome can cause varied symptoms, including muscle weakness, atrophy, and radicular pain. In this case, the injury at the T11-T12 level presented with pain localized to the L2-L3 nerve root area, complicating the diagnosis. SCS, known for its efficacy in managing neuropathic pain, proved to be a suitable treatment for this patient, whose pain was refractory to conservative therapies. The treatment led to sustained pain relief and facilitated rehabilitation.

• 1
  The patient experienced electric shock-like pain during epidural anesthesia for laparoscopic colon resection, which persisted postoperatively, leading to the diagnosis of conus medullaris syndrome.
• 2
  MRI revealed edema at the T11-T12 spinal cord level, and the patient reported pain from her right thigh to knee, with muscle weakness noted in the right leg.
• 3
  SCS therapy significantly reduced the patient's pain and allowed her to engage in rehabilitation and resume her daily activities after previous treatments had only provided temporary relief.