CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Spinal stimulation
Treatment for chronic back pain through spinal cord stimulation
How can spinal stimulation help back pain?
Pain impulses are conducted by fine nerve fibres entering the back of the spinal cord at each vertebral level.
With spinal stimulation, an implanted electrode stimulates the dorsal columns (nerve fibre bundles at the back of the spinal cord), to impair the transmission of the pain fibres and reduce or eliminate the pain.
This procedure may be carried out under general or local anaesthetic, and you will be lying on your stomach. Spinal stimulators are electrodes attached to a wire connected to an implantable electrical pulse generator. The electrodes will be placed on the outer covering of your spine (the dura), either through a small incision or via a large bore needle.
Sometimes there will be a trial of the implanted electrode, connected to a box outside the body. If the pain is relieved, a battery powered generator will then be implanted in a pouch under the skin, either over the stomach or at the top of the buttocks.
Your consultant will explain the spinal stimulation procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. Because you may be having general anaesthetic, they'll let you know how long you should avoid eating and drinking before surgery.
Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you.
When you have recovered from the surgery, your consultant will activate the device and give you a small hand control.
The relief can vary from person to person. The aim is to achieve a 50-70% reduction in pain. A small reduction can be enough to improve your quality of life.
Your consultant will monitor your progress and answer any questions you may have.
Our Spinal stimulation consultants
Mr Ramsey Chammaa
Orthopaedic Surgery
Mr Rohit Shetty
Orthopaedic Surgery
Mr Colin Natali
Orthopaedic Surgery
Mr Neil Dorward
Neurosurgery
Our Spinal stimulation locations
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Chelsea Outpatients
280 King's Road SW3 5AW London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David's gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.