FAQ

SCS therapy has been proven safe and effective in clinical studies. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have been treated with SCS. Prior to the surgery, your physician will outline the risks of the surgery and ask for your consent. This is a normal part of the process. SCS systems are CE-marked for adults with chronic pain of the low back and limbs.

Every person differs in how they respond to SCS therapy. For some patients, SCS therapy is so effective that pain medications might no longer be needed. For others, successful with the therapy can lead to a reduction in pain medication. Always consult your doctor before changing your medication dosage.

Every patient is unique, so system use will depend on your condition and what your physicians decide is the best course of action. Some patients may be able to use their remote to change therapy in specific pain regions, while others may only use it to manage symptoms in the overall area.

Pain centres may have different practices, including or excluding trials, so ability to trial a SCS system depends upon an individual centre's policies. Please discuss with your pain management centre.

It is highly unlikely that you will be able to see the device under your skin. Our SCS systems are small and feature contoured, oval shapes. Most patients report that they can feel the unit by pressing on their skin. In most cases, the device is not visible to others.

For several weeks after the implant procedure, you will be asked to restrict your physical activity. Once that period is over, SCS systems are designed to help you have a healthy and active lifestyle. However, you should always consult your physician before resuming activity after surgery or before engaging in physical activities.

This completely depends on the system you have and whether it is rechargeable. A rechargeable device can last up to 12 years. A non-rechargeable device can last between one and seven years depending on the therapy’s settings and your personal usage.*

Yes. Even though your leads and IPG are surgically implanted, they can be disengaged or removed by your doctor if ever needed.

Yes. Your SCS system's remote control lets you turn stimulation on and off, increase and decrease the level of stimulation and shift between the programs that have been by your physician specifically for you.

You decide when to use SCS therapy and how much to use. Some SCS systems have rechargeable battery technology and are designed so that you can keep them on for 24 hours a day. Other SCS systems are not rechargeable and in that case, you may wish to use yours for only part of the day to extend the longevity of the implant. However, you should always consult your doctor about how to best use your SCS therapy.

Recharging needs vary depending on the therapy’s settings and your personal usage. You decide on a recharging schedule that best fits your needs and your usage of the device. Most people choose to charge based on a routine that fits into their lifestyle, such as during their favourite weekly TV show or for shorter cycles daily during breakfast.

Depending on your system, the charging process may differ. With the wireless technology systems, recharging the implant battery is designed to be very simple. The charger is lightweight, wireless and portable, so you can charge on the go. To help place the charger over the device, you can use either a soft cloth belt (included with the charger kit) or medical bi-adhesive tape.

SCS patients have many imaging options. Commonly used methods such as X-rays, CT scans, PET scans and ultrasounds can image many different parts of the body, including soft tissue. Moreover, some SCS systems offer full-body MRI conditionality under specified conditions. SCS systems have varying limitations and conditions related to MRI scans. Talk to your doctor to learn which option is right for you.

Your therapy is determined by your specific condition, any associated symptoms and the system with which you have been implanted. Your physician may decide to give you a variety of therapies, such as one that generates a tingling sensation (paraesthesia), ones that do not (sub-perception options) or multiple ones that run at the same time. Please remember that patients can respond to the therapies in different ways and it is not possible to make a direct comparison with other patients.

Directly contact your pain specialist and their team for any problem with your SCS system. Most centres will have a direct phone line or email address. Not all accident and emergency departments will know details about SCS, so only attend these in case of an emergency.

Patients using therapy that generates paraesthesia should not operate motorized vehicles such as automobiles or potentially dangerous machinery and equipment with the stimulation on. Stimulation must be turned off first in such cases. Therapy that does not generate paraesthesia, like sub-perception therapy, is less likely to result in distraction from sudden stimulation changes and can be used while driving.

It is highly unlikely that you will set off store security detectors and your location cannot be tracked by using this device. In the very unlikely chance that a security detector is set off, you can show your patient ID card, which is provided to you on the day of implant, which outlines that you have a medical device implanted.

Patients should advise security staff that they have an implanted medical advice and request assistance to bypass security scans. The patient ID card you receive on the day of implant will indicate to personnel that you have an implanted medical device.  If you must pass through security scans, you should turn off stimulation, move through security screening quickly and stay as far as allowed from the scan doors.

Boston Scientific does not support the use of a hyperbaric chamber or scuba diving with their SCS system. Some pressure-related functional testing has been performed for the SCS systems but no specific tests have been performed with these devices inside a human body during/after a scuba diving activity. There is no guarantee that these devices will operate as intended or that there will be no harm to a patient during/after these environmental conditions.

The hospital may not cover costs of the replacement for a damaged or lost external component. Most centres recommend that you put these two pieces of equipment on your house insurance. Ask your pain specialist team for more recommendations.

Please be aware that online patient forums are NOT official sites and are therefore not monitored by any pain centres or SCS system manufacturers. For any issue or concern with your SCS system, always consult your pain specialist team. In addition, keep in mind that pain patients may have a variety of symptoms and may have been implanted with different systems, so your experiences may not directly mirror those of others who post.

The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Most patients are allowed to return home with few restrictions as soon as the effects of the local anesthesia dissipate.

Your pain could return if the treated nerves regenerate. If this happens, the procedure can be repeated.

If your pain returns due to nerve regeneration and you choose not to undergo RFA again, you should be able to try another pain management method. Be sure to discuss this decision with your doctor first.