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The trial period for SCS is very important. It allows the healthcare provider and the patient to confirm that he or she will respond to therapy. Performed on an out-patient basis, during the trial, electrode leads (wires) are temporarily placed into the spine through a needle without any cutting, but the generator — a device similar to a pacemaker that transmits the electric current — remains outside (to sit in a back pocket, for example).
A patient is also given a remote control to manage their stimulation within prescribed ranges. A local anesthetic is injected in the skin prior to placing the needle to manage pain from the placement of the wires advanced into the spine. The trial usually lasts 4-7 days and during that time the patient will be asked to assess how they feel during different times of the day or doing certain activities. |
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