How Does a Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial Work?

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans, and while traditional therapies like medication and physical therapy can help many manage their symptoms effectively, millions of others are left struggling to find a solution that offers real relief. For those women and men, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) could provide an answer.

This state-of-the-art treatment targets pain at its source, disrupting pain signals as they travel between your body and brain. But before the permanent device is implanted, you’ll have a “trial run” to ensure it’s a good option.

In this post, the Advanced Spine and Pain Center team offers a brief overview of SCS and what you can expect during and after an SCS trial.

Understanding spinal cord stimulation

Running along the length of your spine, your spinal cord is the central communication highway between your brain and the rest of your body. Composed of nerve tissue, your spinal cord transmits electrical messages that control everything from movement to sensation — including pain. 

While some pain signals are relatively brief or acute and resolve after a period of time, other signals become chronic and last long after the original injury has occurred. Researchers are still learning about many of the mechanisms behind chronic pain, but they believe faulty, overactive nerve signaling may be to blame, at least in part. 

This type of overstimulation is at the root of many underlying pain conditions, like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), fibromyalgia, or postherpetic neuralgia. 

SCS works by interrupting overactive nerve signals, preventing those signals from reaching your brain. As a result, your brain doesn’t “recognize” pain, and you don’t feel the uncomfortable symptoms, either.

SCS trial run: how it works

SCS uses an implanted device, and before final implantation, you’ll have a trial run to ensure the device effectively relieves your symptoms. Most trials last a couple of weeks. If the trial run is successful, the temporary device is removed, and the permanent device is implanted.

During the trial run, your doctor implants tiny wire leads into the space around your spine (the epidural space). The leads are inserted using local anesthetics and a special insertion device during a simple in-office procedure.

The other ends of the wires are attached to a small device you control. Throughout your trial, you’ll use the device to trigger tiny bursts of electrical energy whenever you feel painful symptoms. Then, you’ll record how well the device manages those symptoms.

Permanent implantation

If your trial run is successful — that is, if the device provides you with the level of relief you need to feel comfortable and enjoy a better quality of life — the next step is to implant the device permanently. This step is performed using sedation or general anesthesia.

During permanent implantation, the leads are inserted into the epidural space while the device is placed in your belly or buttock area. After implantation, you’ll control the device using a wireless handheld device. While you might have mild discomfort around the incision site for a few days, full recovery only takes a week.

Find relief for your chronic pain symptoms

Without proper medical management, chronic pain can lead to mobility problems, isolation, and depression. If traditional therapies haven’t helped, spinal cord stimulation might be the solution you need to feel better and improve your quality of life.

To learn more about SCS, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team today at our two locations in San Antonio, Texas.