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Dr. David Maine, Director, Center for Interventional Pain Medicine.

Dr. David Maine Of The Center For Interventional Pain Medicine Offers Spinal Cord Stimulator For Chronic Pain Relief

Patients who suffer from chronic back pain can currently get relief through the click of a remote control that allows spinal cord stimulation to block out the pain.

For years, Marilyn Cole suffered from chronic back and leg pain. She had five surgeries and was barely able to walk, so her doctor suggested one last option to ease her back pain — a spinal cord stimulator.

Dr. David Maine of the Center for Interventional Pain Medicine at Mercy said the spinal cord stimulator works by delivering electrical pulses to block pain in the arms, legs and back.

"It actually stimulates part of the spinal cord that is responsible for the transmission of pain," Dr. Maine said.

First, Cole wore a temporary trial stimulator to see if it could stop her constant back pain.

"I was allowed to have it for five days, and so I had it removed and I said, 'This is for me,'" she said.

Three weeks later, Mercy neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Park surgically implanted the permanent stimulator in her spine.

"We make a small opening and then we just slide this through so it will be on top of the spinal cord," Dr. Park said.

Once it's implanted, the stimulator is programmed for the amount of relief the patient needs, doctors said. When her back flares up, Cole clicks the stimulator's remote control to manage her pain.

"I can have it going all day or I can just use it when I need it," she said.

Cole said the stimulator keeps her pain under control.

"I thought I would never be normal again, and this has given my life back to me," she said.