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Opioids may be used for two to four weeks to treat postoperative pain, but because of the potential for addiction and the likelihood of side effects such as constipation, it’s best to use them for as short a time as possible. See Recovery After a Permanent Implant for SCS Treatment To avoid movement of the leads, certain physical activities will be limited for about three months. Light activities can often be resumed after two to three weeks, but complete recovery may take six to eight weeks.
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See All About Electrotherapy and Pain Relief Wires are tunneled from the leads to the generator and connected, enabling the current to flow when the controller is turned on later.See Rechargeable Spinal Cord Stimulators for Chronic Pain (Some rechargeable generators can be left in the body for many years, but the generator will probably need to be replaced at some point, requiring a new surgical procedure.) A person who usually sleeps on her right side, for instance, may prefer to have the generator on the left side. Comfort is a consideration in the generator’s location, and the doctor may ask the patient in advance about the best area. Generators range in size, with the largest ones about the size of a stopwatch. It is usually placed in the abdomen, upper buttocks, or upper chest. The generator is implanted under the skin.A small incision is made where the generator will be placed.When coverage of the painful areas is complete, the leads are fixed in place, and the patient is again sedated. The patient is awakened, and the doctor and patient work together again to ensure the optimal placement of the electrodes.(In some cases, permanent leads were used for the trial period, making this step unnecessary.) Part of the lamina, a small bone covering the back of the spinal cord, may be removed to allow room for placement of the permanent leads via the hollow needle.
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A small incision may be needed to insert the needle. The needle contains thin, insulated wires, called leads, with electrical contacts attached. The doctor inserts a hollow needle into the area around the spinal canal called the epidural space, guided by fluoroscopy (a type of X-ray).Local anesthesia is applied to the injection site and the patient is sedated.