ABSTRACT
Neuromodulationmay be defined asmanipulation of the function of the nervous system to alter a nervous system response. Neuromodulation occurs within the nervous system as a part of everyday neuroprocessing. However, clinicians may use a range of external neuromodulation tools to manipulate the nervous system with the aim of reducing an aberrant nervous system response such as chronic, persistent pain. This may be done through the use of neuromodulatory drugs or by means of surgically implanted technology. Such implanted technology can achieve neuromodulation electrically, i.e., spinal cord stimulation (SCS), sacral nerve stimulation, or chemically by delivering medication into the region of the spine, i.e., intrathecal drug delivery system. This chapter will focus not only on sacral nerve stimulation as a pain relief treatment but also consider other forms of stimulation and briefly intrathecal therapy.
