TUPELO, Miss.—North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo recently made history by implanting north Mississippi’s first Inceptiv™ spinal cord stimulator for chronic pain relief.

On Jan. 23, neurosurgeon Dr. Jason Stacy and pain medicine specialist Dr. Jimmy Windham implanted the new device to improve pain control for three local patients.

A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) delivers controlled electrical impulses that disrupt pain signals before they reach the brain. Spinal cord stimulators can target specific pain points and are typically recommended when other treatments, like medications, injections or physical therapy, haven’t provided enough relief.

While doctors at NMMC have been implanting spinal cord stimulators for years, this new device is different because it uses closed loop, neural sensing technology.

Most spinal cord stimulators deliver a fixed level of stimulation. As a person’s body moves or posture changes, the distance between the device’s lead and spinal cord shifts—resulting in inconsistent dosing. 

Because the Inceptiv device adapts automatically, patients get more consistent pain relief. 

In addition, the device is rechargeable and engineered for longevity, which can reduce the frequency of replacement surgeries. 

NMMC’s Neuroscience Institute encompasses specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, pain management, addiction, rehabilitation and imaging.