Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)

What Is it and how does it work?

Commonly used to treat persistent back or leg pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments, SCS produces meaningful pain relief in 50 to 70 percent of carefully selected patients.

Before committing to a permanent implant, Spine West guides patients through an SCS screening trial. Temporary electrode leads are placed in the epidural space and connected to an external generator that you wear on a strap outside your body, typically for about a week. During this time, patients test if the stimulation effectively reduces pain in daily life.

Most guidelines require at least 50 percent pain relief with stable or reduced pain medication. If the trial meets that standard, patients move forward with permanent implantation at a surgery center. If not, the temporary leads are simply removed with no lasting changes to your spine. Some patients find the trial period uncomfortable because of the external wires, but it serves as a practical safeguard against implanting a device that won’t help.

    • Prior to a permanent placement procedure, temporary, flexible wire leads are placed in the epidural space (outside the spinal cord) using a procedure similar to an epidural injection.

    • Leads are connected to an External Trial Stimulator (ETS), usually worn on your waist.

    • For 3-7 days, the ETS sends mild electrical pulses through the leads to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain.

    • Patients control the pulses under guidance from your Clinical Specialist www.pain.com.

    • The procedure itself takes 60–90 minutes

    • Patients are typically at the clinic for several hours to recover from sedation and ensure the device is working properly

    • Immediate post‑procedure: You will go home the same day, but you may feel mild soreness or discomfort at the insertion site

    • Most patients notice improvement in pain within 24 hours, and daily activities can resume with light restrictions

    • Many people feel “back to normal” within a week, though some may experience lingering tenderness or stiffness