The takeaway:
A CU Anschutz-led review examined whether spinal cord stimulation can help manage chronic pain in people with spinal cord injuries. Researchers found only 10 eligible studies involving 43 patients, but many participants reported substantial reductions in pain, along with improvements in sleep and quality of life. Because the available evidence is limited and based largely on small case reports and case series, larger studies are needed to determine which patients may benefit most.
It is estimated that more than 300,000 people in the United States live with a spinal cord injury. Of those, up to 80% experience chronic pain.
This includes the older brother of David Gallacher, MD, chief resident in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at CU Anschutz School of Medicine. After a motocross accident left him with a complete C5 spinal cord injury, Gallacher’s brother has spent the years following the accident adapting to life-changing challenges, including chronic pain.
With over 17,000 new spinal cord injuries occurring each year – and pain that’s difficult to treat even with medications, physiological approaches and lifestyle modifications – Gallacher is on a mission to see if an emerging technology can help.
“Spinal cord stimulation is showing promising outcomes in broader chronic pain populations, so we wanted to see how it’s being used in people with spinal cord injury,” Gallacher said.
Here, Gallacher shares more on spinal cord injuries, neuromodulation and what the literature says about using spinal cord stimulation to help people with spinal cord injuries manage chronic pain.