Infographic: Spinal cord stimulators

A spinal cord stimulator is a device designed to help patients who are trying to combat chronic pain. A small pulse generator sends signals to the spinal cord, masking the pain messages travelling to the brain. The American Chronic Pain Association found that one in three Americans suffers from chronic pain, pain that persists for months and sometimes years. Chronic pain costs as much as $635bn yearly, more than the cost of cancer, heart disease or diabetes