Spinal Cord Stimulation Alleviates Chronic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Due to Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Case Report

Cureus. 2024 Sep 14;16(9):e69383. doi: 10.7759/cureus.69383. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Refractory neuropathic pain can be treated using opioids. We present a case of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to ameliorate neuropathic pain and successfully stop opioid administration in a patient with median nerve injury. A woman presented with median nerve neuropathy. The intractable pain required opioids, with the dosage being gradually increased due to insufficient analgesia. The patient underwent nerve blocks and rehabilitation to reduce the opioid dosage, followed by SCS, which allowed the patient to stop opioid intake. Combined treatment modality involving nerve blocks, rehabilitation, and SCS improved the patient's pain score and quality of life.

Keywords: case report; opioid; peripheral nerve injury; peripheral neuropathic pain; spinal cord stimulation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports