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What Is Spinal Cord Stimulation?

A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is a small implanted device that sends gentle electrical pulses to the nerves in your spine. These signals interrupt pain messages before they reach the brain, often replacing them with a mild tingling or soothing sensation.

How Does a Spinal Cord Stimulator Work?

The stimulator delivers gentle electrical pulses along the spinal cord, interrupting pain signals before they reach the brain. These impulses can substitute the sensation of pain with a light tingling or, in some cases, remove it altogether.

What Can Spinal Cord Stimulation Treat?

Spinal cord stimulation is used to manage chronic pain that persists despite other treatments. It’s especially helpful when pain cannot be clearly traced to a repairable injury or when nerve block injections and other conservative therapies haven’t worked.

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Do I Need Spinal Cord Stimulation?

You may be a candidate for spinal cord stimulation if you’ve experienced chronic pain for at least three months and haven’t found relief through other treatments. Your pain specialist will perform diagnostic tests to pinpoint the source of your pain, allowing the therapy to be tailored for maximum effectiveness.

A psychological evaluation may also be part of the process to ensure emotional or mental health factors don’t interfere with results. Many insurance providers require this assessment before approving the implant procedure.

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What Can Spinal Cord Stimulation Help Relieve?

Spinal cord stimulation can ease many types of chronic and neuropathic pain, including but not limited to:

  • Persistent back or leg pain, even after surgery
  • Arm or neck pain
  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Cancer-related pain
  • Phantom limb sensations
  • Diabetic nerve pain (burning or tingling in the legs and feet)
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
  • Inflammation or scarring affecting spinal nerves
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How Is Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery Performed?

The implantation process is divided into two stages to ensure the treatment is both practical and tailored to your specific needs.

Stage 1: Trial Phase

  • In the first step, temporary leads are placed within the epidural space of your spine
  • These are connected to an external device worn on the outside of your body for several days to a week
  • This short-term test allows you and your physician to determine whether stimulation meaningfully reduces your pain before proceeding with a permanent system
  • The procedure is done using local anesthesia, and fluoroscopy (a live X-ray) guides precise placement
  • During the trial, you can adjust settings and record how much relief you experience
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Stage 2: Permanent Implantation

  • If the trial is successful, a compact pulse generator—similar in size and function to a pacemaker—is implanted beneath the skin, typically in the lower back or upper buttock area
  • Leads are positioned to deliver continuous stimulation
  • The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia through a small incision
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What Are My Regenerative Therapy Options in Fort Lauderdale?

At Advanced Relief Institute, patients can explore regenerative medicine as a less-invasive alternative to spinal nerve procedures. Options such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cell injections, and amniotic fluid therapy use the body’s natural healing mechanisms to repair tissue and ease pain.

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Is There a Recovery Period After Spinal Cord Stimulation?

After implantation, patients are advised to rest and avoid strenuous activities for the first one to two weeks, although light walking is encouraged. Around two weeks after the procedure, most individuals can safely return to work and start driving, provided the device is turned off while driving. Full recovery typically takes two to four weeks, after which your doctor may gradually clear you for more vigorous activities.

FAQs

What Is the Purpose of a Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial?

How Long Does the Trial Last?

What Happens During the Procedure?

Is It Painful?

What If the Trial Works?

What If It Doesn’t?

Are There Any Risks?

How Does It Compare With Other Treatments?

Can I Be Active During the Trial?

What Is the Purpose of a Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial?

The trial allows patients to test how well spinal cord stimulation reduces chronic pain before committing to a permanent implant. This short phase helps you and your pain specialist decide if the treatment is likely to provide lasting relief.

How Long Does the Trial Last?

Most trials run for several days up to a week. Temporary leads are placed in the spine and attached to an external pulse generator you’ll wear throughout the period. During this time, you can assess how effectively the stimulation alleviates your pain and adjust the settings as needed.

What Happens During the Procedure?

The trial is a minor, outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. Thin leads are inserted into the epidural space and connected to an external device. Patients usually tolerate the process well and feel only slight pressure or soreness afterward.

Is It Painful?

Discomfort is typically mild. Local anesthetic numbs the area where the leads are positioned, and the procedure itself is brief. Some tenderness or bruising may occur for a few days but resolves quickly.

What If the Trial Works?

If you achieve meaningful pain relief, the next step is a permanent implant. A small generator—similar to a pacemaker—is placed under the skin, usually in the lower back or abdomen, and attached to the spinal leads for continuous stimulation.

What If It Doesn’t?

If results fall short of expectations, the temporary leads are removed, and your provider will discuss other pain-management options. The trial serves as an informative, risk-limited test to guide next steps in your care.

Are There Any Risks?

Although the procedure is considered safe, minor side effects, such as temporary soreness, bruising, or light bleeding, may occur. Infection is rare. Following all post-procedure instructions significantly reduces these risks.

How Does It Compare With Other Treatments?

Spinal cord stimulation works by directly interrupting pain signals before they reach the brain. It delivers targeted relief without many of the systemic effects of medication and is less invasive than most surgeries. The system can also be adjusted or removed if needed.

Can I Be Active During the Trial?

Light activity is fine, but avoid bending, twisting, or lifting heavy objects to keep the leads in place. Many patients continue daily routines while noting how the therapy affects their comfort in real-life situations.

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