Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial

If you’re considering a spinal cord stimulator to relieve chronic pain, a trial period is essential to determine whether it’s the right treatment for you. At Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain in LaGrange, Georgia, skilled pain management physicians, can guide you through the trial process to prepare you for a spinal cord stimulator trial. Call the office today or request an appointment online to learn more about spinal cord stimulator trials.

What is a spinal cord stimulator trial (SCS trial)?

SCS trial is a minimally invasive pain relief procedure. The treatment involves inserting small leads that are connected to a handheld device, in a similar fashion to an epidural for pregnancy. The device highjacks pain signals going to your brain and replaces them with something your brain interrupts as more pleasurable such as vibrating or massaging sensations. The sensations can be increased, decreased, or turned off at the press of a button.  You will have this device for 4-5 days.

This short trial period helps your physician ensure you’re a good candidate for the procedure. It’s like test-driving a new truck, you don’t have to keep it unless you like how it drives!

Who is a good candidate for a spinal cord stimulator?

A spinal cord stimulator is ideal for patients who have musculoskeletal pain that hasn’t responded to nonsurgical interventions, such as corticosteroid injections, pain relief medications, and physical therapy. 

Your physician may recommend an SCS to treat:

• Failed back surgery syndrome
• Degenerative disc disease
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Post-surgical pain
• Spinal cord injuries
• Herniated disc
• Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
• Phantom limb pain

What can I expect from a spinal cord stimulator trial?

Before your trial begins, the provider carries out an array of tests at Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain. Your provider performs a head-to-toe physical exam and evaluates your medical history. To gather more information, your provider may also order imaging scans, such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and nerve conduction studies.

Call Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain today or request an appointment online to learn more about spinal cord trials.