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A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) trial is becoming a common minimally invasive treatment option for patients with difficult-to-treat chronic pain. Unlike most invasive spine surgeries, the spinal cord stimulator offers a unique advantage in that you a have a 7-day trial period before implantation is considered. This trial period allows patients to evaluate the amount of relief an SCS implant would provide.
spinal cord stimulatior trial
Before the Trial:
Before a patient can be authorized for a trial, they must first undergo a neurologic psychological evaluation to determine if you are a candidate. Once this evaluation is complete and you have been cleared by a psychologist, an authorization for a trial can be requested. Once authorization is received, the patient will be scheduled for an SCS trial to be performed here in our procedure room.
After the Trial:
If the patient has a successful trial, you are now a candidate for the implant. The patient is then referred to a surgeon for implantation after authorization is received from your insurance.
What are the benefits?
The goal of this procedure is to not only improve your pain and symptoms, but to also improve your quality of life and allow you to participate in your daily activities with less pain. While the greatest benefit of having an SCS trial and implant is achieving relief of your pain, for some patients, there are many other benefits! The other benefits to achieving relief of your pain with this treatment are:
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limiting or discontinuing the amount of medication taken to relieve your pain
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returning to the activities that make you happy