Spinal cord stimulation for neuropathic pain following traumatic spinal cord injury: a case report

Neuropathic pain is a common and difficult-to-treat complication after a spinal cord injury (SCI). This pain can be caused by damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots, such as from a gunshot wound (GSW). This report describes a case where a 30-year-old man with a spinal cord injury from a gunshot wound experienced significant pain relief after receiving a spinal cord stimulator (SCS). The SCS improved his symptoms by more than 80%. The case suggests that spinal cord stimulation could be a helpful treatment for neuropathic pain that doesn't respond to other methods. It's believed that the therapy affects the body at a cellular level, going beyond simply blocking pain signals.

• 1
  A 30-year-old male with a T12 AIS B incomplete spinal cord injury secondary to multiple GSW experienced severe bilateral lower extremity dysesthesias and muscle spasms.
• 2
  Oral antispasmodic medications failed to improve the patient's symptoms.
• 3
  The patient experienced significant pain relief (greater than 80% improvement) following a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) trial and subsequent implantation.