For individuals with chronic pain who don’t find sufficient symptom relief through medications, physical therapy, or other conservative treatments, pain management physicians may recommend a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) trial.
This temporary procedure allows patients to experience the potential benefits of spinal cord stimulation before committing to permanent implantation.
SCS is one of the many services we offer at Pain Care. We’re a multispecialty practice with six convenient locations in Georgia. Our team uses advanced technology and significant expertise to deliver personalized care focused on restoring your quality of life.
We’ve learned that understanding what happens during procedures such as SCS trials can help ease anxiety and ensure you feel prepared for each step of the process.
Here’s what you can expect before, during, and after a spinal cord stimulator trial.
A spinal cord stimulator trial is designed to determine whether spinal cord stimulation effectively reduces your chronic pain. The device works by delivering mild electrical impulses to specific nerves in the spinal cord, which can alter pain signals before they reach the brain.
Because every patient's pain condition is unique, the trial period provides an opportunity to evaluate how well the treatment works for your specific symptoms. We look for a significant reduction in pain, along with improvements in daily function and overall comfort, before recommending permanent implantation.
Before the trial, your Pain Care provider will review your medical history, discuss your pain symptoms, and explain the procedure in detail. You may receive instructions regarding medications, eating, and activity restrictions before your trial begins.
The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient setting, meaning you can return home the same day. Many patients receive local anesthesia along with mild sedation to ensure comfort during the process.
It is important to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure, as sedation may temporarily affect your ability to drive safely.
During the procedure, your provider inserts thin wires called leads through a needle into the epidural space near the spinal cord. Using imaging guidance, the leads are carefully positioned in the area most likely to target your pain.
Once the leads are in place, they are connected to a small external trial stimulator that remains outside the body. The physician may ask for your feedback during placement to help ensure optimal positioning.
The procedure generally takes less than an hour, and most patients experience minimal discomfort.
The trial period usually lasts about a week, although the exact duration may vary. During this time, you will carry the external stimulator (attached to a belt or in a pocket) and use a handheld controller to adjust settings as directed by your Pain Care team.
You will be encouraged to engage in many of your normal daily activities to assess how well the device controls your pain. However, certain movements, such as excessive bending, twisting, stretching, or heavy lifting, may be restricted to prevent the leads from shifting.
Many physicians recommend keeping a daily journal to track pain levels, activity improvements, sleep quality, and overall satisfaction throughout the trial.
At the end of the trial period, you will return to the office to have the temporary leads removed. Lead removal is generally quick and straightforward.
Your provider will review your experience, including the amount of pain relief achieved and any noted improvements in mobility or daily activities. Patients who experience meaningful pain reduction often move forward with a permanent spinal cord stimulator implant.
Even if the trial does not provide the desired results, it offers valuable information that can help guide future treatment decisions.
Schedule an evaluation at Pain Care today.
