Spinal cord stimulator for neuropathic pain in a patient with severe disability due to transverse myelitis

Abstract

Transverse myelitis is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that disrupts nerve signals’ conduction. The illness is characterised by weakness in the lower limbs accompanied by paresthesia and urinary and bowel incontinence. The most disabling sequel is the onset of chronic neuropathic pain, which can severely limit the patient’s independence and negatively affect her quality of life. We present the case of a patient who received a spinal neurostimulator after a failure of conventional medical treatment. Masking pain through paresthesia, a mechanism provided by the device significantly reduces pain perception. The treatment success in our patient represents an advance in pain therapy.