How Does a Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial Work?

Living with chronic pain often means trying every treatment under the sun, from surgery to acupuncture, to get long-term relief. Unfortunately, you may be all too familiar with many of these treatments, falling short of effectively treating your pain. 

One treatment option that has proven to be effective for chronic and debilitating pain is spinal cord stimulation (SCS). SCS uses mild electrical pulses to interfere with pain signals before they reach your brain. Some studies show it can reduce pain by more than 50%.

But no two people experience pain the same way, and a spinal cord stimulation trial helps you determine if it’s the right solution for you. The trial lets you see how much relief you get and how the device fits into your daily life. 

At SEPA Pain & Spine in southeastern Pennsylvania, we understand how exhausting it can be to find the right treatment for chronic pain. That’s why we make the entire spinal cord stimulation process seamless and stress-free. 

In this article, we walk you through how a spinal cord stimulation trial works and what to expect.

What is spinal cord stimulation, and who is it for?

Spinal cord stimulation is an advanced pain management treatment for people with chronic pain, particularly in their back, legs, or arms. It uses a small device to send low-level electrical pulses to your spinal cord, interrupting pain signals before they reach your brain. 

SCS doesn’t completely get rid of your pain, but most patients experience a significant reduction in discomfort. We typically recommend this treatment for people who:

• Have chronic pain that hasn’t improved with other treatments
• Experience nerve-related pain, such as sciatica or neuropathy
• Have had surgery but still experience persistent pain 

Because the permanent implant is a minimally invasive procedure, we typically suggest a week-long trial phase to ensure you’ll benefit from the treatment. 

Preparing for the trial

The spinal cord stimulation trial is an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home the same day. Before the trial begins, you have a consultation with one of our doctors to discuss your pain history, goals, and expectations. 

We carefully explain exactly how the trial works and ensure you’re fully prepared. The trial is minimally invasive, and the device remains outside your body during the trial, making it easy to adjust or remove.

What happens during the trial?

The trial procedure is simple and typically takes 30-60 minutes. Here’s how it works. 

After administering local anesthesia to numb the area, we carefully place thin wires (leads) near your spinal cord. We use a needle to do this so there are no large incisions or stitches.

Once the leads are in place, we temporarily connect them to an external device that delivers the electrical pulses. During this step, we ask you where you feel the stimulation and how it affects your pain. The goal is to ensure the leads are placed in the best position to relieve your discomfort.

After we’ve placed the leads, we program the external device, and you go home with a small, portable controller. This device lets you adjust the stimulation over the next few days.

Living with the trial 

The spinal cord stimulation trial usually lasts a week. During this time, you continue your regular routine while journaling how the device affects your pain levels. Pay attention to how much relief you experience. 

Many patients find that activities that were once impossible, like walking or sitting for extended periods, become manageable again.

You have control over the device’s settings, allowing you to increase or decrease stimulation as you need. Record how the treatment affects your pain throughout the day, noting improvements or any concerns.

After the trial

At the end of the trial, you meet with your doctor to review the results. Together, we discuss:

• How much pain relief you experienced
• How the stimulation affected your quality of life
• Whether you want to move forward with a permanent implant

If you experienced significant pain relief and an improved quality of life, the next step is scheduling the permanent procedure. If not, we simply remove the leads without any long-term effects.

A spinal cord stimulation trial is a safe, effective way to see if this advanced treatment is right for you. From the trial phase to the permanent procedure, our team takes charge of every step of the process.

Call us today to schedule a consultation at any of our offices in Horsham, Langhorne, Meadowbrook, Chalfont, East Norriton, or Limerick in southeastern Pennsylvania. You can also request one online here.