After Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) Trial

You had a procedure to place a spinal cord stimulator in your spine. During the procedure your doctor placed stimulator leads in your back. The stimulator leads are connected to a trial stimulator that is outside of your body. You will use this system for one week to see if this treatment will relieve your pain. As you recover, follow the instructions below.

Activity

Immediatly after your implant:

• You can be up and out of bed if somone helps you.  Do not get out of bed by yourself.

• The head of your bed can be raised up to 30 degrees.  The health care team will help you with this.

• You may use your screener box whenever you feel ready.

Preventing movement in your SCS leads:

When the stimulator leads move you may notice changes in where you feel stimulation and how strong the stimulation is.  You may feel the following changes in sensation:

• Stonger or more stimulation when you bend your neck back, lean back, lie down, or sit.

• Less stimulation when you stand.

• No stimulation when you bend your neck forward or lean forward.  Stimulation will come back when you change positions.

To keep the stimulator leads from moving follow these instructions:

• Do not drive or operate heavy equipment. You will need someone else to drive you.

• Do not lift more than 5 pounds.

• Do not reach your arms over your head or stretch.

• Do not bend or twist at the waist.

• Do not sit in a chair or a car for too long.

Trying the SCS

• Do the activities that cause your chronic pain.  Use the SCS to see if it helps with your pain.

  • First do the activity without the SCS and then repeat the activity using the SCS.  Make a note if it helped your pain.

• Do not overdo activity and rest when you are tired.

Home Care

• Sponge bathe only, do not take a shower.  Do not get the incisions or dressing wet.

• Have a family member or friend look at your back to the check the following

  • Look for signs of infection at the incision site. (Redness, drainage, or pus)

  • Look at the bandage.  It should cover the incision site with no openings.

• Take your temperature daily.

• Take all medications as prescribed by your doctor.

• You may feel pain after this procedure.  Your spinal cord stimulator will not treat this pain.  Take pain medicine as recommended by your provider. 

• When sleeping:

  • Sleep on your side or back.  Do not sleep on your stomach.

  • Sleep on a firm mattress that will give the same support to your legs and back.

  • Use a log roll when you are in bed.

Spinal cord stimulator care

• If the stimulator setting is to high,  you may feel uncomfortable and have feelings of numbness.  Turn your stimulation down.

• Turn your stimulation down or off when you change positions. This will help you feel less changes in stimulation.

• For the screener box:

  • Follow the instructions on how to use the screener box as instructed.

  • Do not drop the box or get it wet.

When to call your doctor

Call your doctor if if you have:

• Fever above 100.4°F (38.0°C)

• Chills

• Increased pain or discomfort at the incision site

• Redness or pus at the incision site

• Problems using your stimulator

• Problems with the bandage staying in place

• Severe back pain or leg weakness