Your Appointment with A Psychologist for Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy
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What is Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)?
Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment for chronic pain. Pain messages are important indicators that an injured part of your nervous system needs attention. For some people, these pain messages are overactive and cause chronic pain. Patients who struggle with chronic pain may choose to undergo spinal cord stimulation surgery. During this procedure, a small spinal cord stimulator (SCS) device is implanted below the skin and attached to your spine system. When you experience chronic pain, the SCS device will mask the signal before it reaches your brain, relieving discomfort. First your pain doctor will start with a trial. They will insert a temporary electrode in your spine, to see if it helps your pain. The electrode(s) will then be connected to a pulse generator that you wear outside your body and control for pain relief. If the temporary SCS trial is successful, you will return to your physician to permanently implant a pulse generator under your skin.
It’s important to be mentally and physically prepared for the procedure. Insurance providers typically require pre-surgical psychological evaluations for SCS placement. The goal is to avoid preventable risks. SCS evaluations can surprise you. Sometimes they reveal challenges in your life that can make the pain worse, but that you don't even think about because for you, it's just life. Examples of life events/stresses that can worsen pain include things like: moving, divorcing, losing a mother/father or spouse to death or murder, living alone with no support, getting fired from a job, etc. If you would like to see a more comprehensive list of life events that are know to be stressful to MOST people, review the stress questionnaire below. The "Mean Value" next to the life event is a type of average score for how stressful the life event is for most people.
Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment for chronic pain. Pain messages are important indicators that an injured part of your nervous system needs attention. For some people, these pain messages are overactive and cause chronic pain. Patients who struggle with chronic pain may choose to undergo spinal cord stimulation surgery. During this procedure, a small spinal cord stimulator (SCS) device is implanted below the skin and attached to your spine system. When you experience chronic pain, the SCS device will mask the signal before it reaches your brain, relieving discomfort. First your pain doctor will start with a trial. They will insert a temporary electrode in your spine, to see if it helps your pain. The electrode(s) will then be connected to a pulse generator that you wear outside your body and control for pain relief. If the temporary SCS trial is successful, you will return to your physician to permanently implant a pulse generator under your skin.
It’s important to be mentally and physically prepared for the procedure. Insurance providers typically require pre-surgical psychological evaluations for SCS placement. The goal is to avoid preventable risks. SCS evaluations can surprise you. Sometimes they reveal challenges in your life that can make the pain worse, but that you don't even think about because for you, it's just life. Examples of life events/stresses that can worsen pain include things like: moving, divorcing, losing a mother/father or spouse to death or murder, living alone with no support, getting fired from a job, etc. If you would like to see a more comprehensive list of life events that are know to be stressful to MOST people, review the stress questionnaire below. The "Mean Value" next to the life event is a type of average score for how stressful the life event is for most people.
“Why Do I Need to Have A Psychological Evaluation?”
Because of the effects and potential risks of the SCS procedure, most insurances require a psychological evaluation before the procedure. The evaluation is used to see if your psychologically ready for the procedure, and if there are any issues that might impact your success with the procedure. This information will help your pain provider tailor your pain treatment to your needs. Don't worry if you have a mental health diagnosis like depression or anxiety. Having a diagnosis or seeing a counselor/psychiatrist doesn't necessarily mean you aren't a good candidate for the SCS procedure. Knowing your mental health needs can ensure that proper support is in place before the procedure and can improve your chances for success.
What to Expect During your Pre-Surgery Evaluation.
When you arrive at our office for your scheduled appointment, you will be asked to fill out six healthcare questionnaires (4 are paper and pencil and two are on the computer). It takes most people no more than three hours to complete ALL the questionnaires. The questionnaires are not created to pass or fail you as a candidate for SCS placement. Instead, Dr. Foster (and your insurance provider) uses the pre-surgical psychological evaluation to guide your care to optimize success. Don't worry if you are seeing a counselor or have a psychiatric diagnosis, that doesn't necessarily mean you are not a candidate for SCS treatment. Every patient is different, and Dr. Foster will assess your situation individually.
Everything we ask you to do is designed to give us a better understanding of your pain. We want to understand what caused your chronic pain and what you expect from the surgery. psychologist’s role during the clinical interview isn’t to judge you. Instead, we’re here to collect the necessary information for your doctor or insurance provider. We will also educate you by providing some information about what may happen before, during, and after SCS treatment, so you’re prepared mentally and physically for the process. As we talk about your history of pain and any past psychiatric symptoms, diagnoses, or treatment, you may experience some emotions that surprise you. When this happens, we’ll help you address the concerns right away to put your mind at ease. In addition to preparing you for the treatment process, we will also want to know more about your current lifestyle and support system. Before, during, and after any kind of surgery, it’s essential that you have family and friends who will help you succeed.
During the clinical interview, Dr. Foster will ask you questions about your chronic pain, your other medical conditions, how you’re feeling and functioning and how much you understand the SCS procedure. The face-to face appointment is really a caring conversation to help you talk about the emotional stress that comes with making big life changes and to help you succeed and usually takes about one hour. You will also be asked how much you are aware of the risks and benefits of the procedure. Once your evaluation is over, Dr. Foster will review her findings with you and answer your questions. For medical and SCS procedure questions you will be referred to your pain doctor. After you're all done, a summary consultation report will then be sent to your referring physician, notifying them of the Dr. Foster's findings.
Your Appointment for Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy is not confidential.
Since this appointment is considered a consultation to your pain doctor, your answers to Dr. Foster's questions are not considered confidential and they will be used to generate a report with recommendations to your pain physician. If there is something you want to keep private, you are free to ask that it not be disclosed. However, please understand that if it relates to your pain profile and potential success with the SCS, Dr. Foster probably not be able to keep it confidential.
After your pre-surgical psychological evaluation, we will compile your information and provide a report for you, your insurer, and your pain sugeon. If you have questions before or after your appointment, give us a call. We want you to feel good about your future and if we can play even a small part in supporting you, we're happy to serve. If you want more information, we've included the introduction to the SCS process below.
Because of the effects and potential risks of the SCS procedure, most insurances require a psychological evaluation before the procedure. The evaluation is used to see if your psychologically ready for the procedure, and if there are any issues that might impact your success with the procedure. This information will help your pain provider tailor your pain treatment to your needs. Don't worry if you have a mental health diagnosis like depression or anxiety. Having a diagnosis or seeing a counselor/psychiatrist doesn't necessarily mean you aren't a good candidate for the SCS procedure. Knowing your mental health needs can ensure that proper support is in place before the procedure and can improve your chances for success.
What to Expect During your Pre-Surgery Evaluation.
When you arrive at our office for your scheduled appointment, you will be asked to fill out six healthcare questionnaires (4 are paper and pencil and two are on the computer). It takes most people no more than three hours to complete ALL the questionnaires. The questionnaires are not created to pass or fail you as a candidate for SCS placement. Instead, Dr. Foster (and your insurance provider) uses the pre-surgical psychological evaluation to guide your care to optimize success. Don't worry if you are seeing a counselor or have a psychiatric diagnosis, that doesn't necessarily mean you are not a candidate for SCS treatment. Every patient is different, and Dr. Foster will assess your situation individually.
Everything we ask you to do is designed to give us a better understanding of your pain. We want to understand what caused your chronic pain and what you expect from the surgery. psychologist’s role during the clinical interview isn’t to judge you. Instead, we’re here to collect the necessary information for your doctor or insurance provider. We will also educate you by providing some information about what may happen before, during, and after SCS treatment, so you’re prepared mentally and physically for the process. As we talk about your history of pain and any past psychiatric symptoms, diagnoses, or treatment, you may experience some emotions that surprise you. When this happens, we’ll help you address the concerns right away to put your mind at ease. In addition to preparing you for the treatment process, we will also want to know more about your current lifestyle and support system. Before, during, and after any kind of surgery, it’s essential that you have family and friends who will help you succeed.
During the clinical interview, Dr. Foster will ask you questions about your chronic pain, your other medical conditions, how you’re feeling and functioning and how much you understand the SCS procedure. The face-to face appointment is really a caring conversation to help you talk about the emotional stress that comes with making big life changes and to help you succeed and usually takes about one hour. You will also be asked how much you are aware of the risks and benefits of the procedure. Once your evaluation is over, Dr. Foster will review her findings with you and answer your questions. For medical and SCS procedure questions you will be referred to your pain doctor. After you're all done, a summary consultation report will then be sent to your referring physician, notifying them of the Dr. Foster's findings.
Your Appointment for Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy is not confidential.
Since this appointment is considered a consultation to your pain doctor, your answers to Dr. Foster's questions are not considered confidential and they will be used to generate a report with recommendations to your pain physician. If there is something you want to keep private, you are free to ask that it not be disclosed. However, please understand that if it relates to your pain profile and potential success with the SCS, Dr. Foster probably not be able to keep it confidential.
After your pre-surgical psychological evaluation, we will compile your information and provide a report for you, your insurer, and your pain sugeon. If you have questions before or after your appointment, give us a call. We want you to feel good about your future and if we can play even a small part in supporting you, we're happy to serve. If you want more information, we've included the introduction to the SCS process below.