1. Revisit the goals established during the trial
A trial helps assess whether stimulation may be useful for selected patients, but it does not guarantee the same experience indefinitely. Ask which goals supported moving forward and how those goals will be followed after implantation. Pain scores are only part of that conversation.
Choose a few practical measures you can describe consistently, such as an activity, sleep disruption, or a task important to independence. Ask what improvement would be meaningful and how the team will respond if the initial benefit does not translate into those daily goals.
Sources: Spinal Cord Stimulator · Evidence-based consensus guidelines on patient selection and trial stimulation for spinal cord stimulation therapy for chronic non-cancer pain
2. Learn the controls before relying on them at home
Ask for hands-on instruction with the controller and any charging equipment used by your specific system. Have the team explain which settings you may adjust and which changes require their input. Request written information you can find easily later.
Practice describing a problem in concrete terms: a controller message, difficulty charging, a change in sensation, or an unexpected loss of benefit. Confirm whom to contact for a technical question and whom to contact for a medical concern. Those roles should be clear before you need help.
Sources: Spinal Cord Stimulator
3. Make wound and activity instructions specific
Implantation involves a surgical wound and an internal device. Ask the implanting team for instructions about wound care, movement, bathing, and follow-up. Do not transfer a generic spine-surgery or injection schedule to your device procedure without confirmation.
Describe your sleeping arrangements, lifting duties, work tasks, and transportation needs. Ask which tasks need temporary help and how restrictions will be reassessed. If you receive advice from a therapist or another clinician, make sure it is consistent with the implanting team's current instructions.
Sources: Spinal Cord Stimulator · Spine surgery — discharge
4. Keep device details available for medical care
MRI eligibility depends on the exact implanted system and the conditions under which scanning is performed. Do not assume that every stimulator is MRI-safe. Tell the imaging team about the device before scheduling and provide the identification information they request.
Keep the device card and implanting team's contact details accessible. Ask what you should tell dentists, emergency clinicians, or other procedural teams before treatment. Your device instructions, rather than a general internet list, should guide precautions around medical equipment and procedures.
Sources: Spinal Cord Stimulator · Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine and Brain
5. Discuss travel and everyday routines
Ask how to carry device information, equipment, and charging supplies when traveling. Request guidance about security screening and any manufacturer-specific precautions. If you will be away for an extended period, clarify how to obtain support and whether a scheduled follow-up should happen first.
At home, identify a reliable place for equipment and instructions. If hand dexterity, vision, or memory makes device management difficult, tell the team before implantation. A family member may be able to learn the routine with you, but the plan should fit your preferences and available support.
Sources: Spinal Cord Stimulator
6. Know which changes need clinical assessment
Infection, lead movement, and loss of benefit are among the issues discussed with implanted stimulation systems. Ask which wound changes, new symptoms, or device changes require prompt contact. New severe neurological symptoms or another medical emergency should be assessed urgently rather than handled as a routine programming question.
When reporting a change, say when it began and whether anything else happened at the same time. Avoid trying to solve a possible medical problem only by repeatedly changing settings. The team should tell you when a device check, examination, or another assessment is needed.
Sources: Spinal Cord Stimulator · Preprocedural Recommendations for Reducing Surgical Site Infections
7. Understand the plan if benefit fades
Ask what steps the team would take if stimulation becomes less helpful. Possible discussions may include reassessment, programming changes, investigation of a new problem, or consideration of further procedures. Ask for the rationale before assuming another intervention is inevitable.
Keep reporting function, side effects, and treatment burden as well as pain. If the system is no longer meeting the goals you agreed on, say so. A useful follow-up considers whether ongoing treatment remains worthwhile to you and explains the available options, including their limits.
Sources: Spinal Cord Stimulator · Evidence-based consensus guidelines on patient selection and trial stimulation for spinal cord stimulation therapy for chronic non-cancer pain
8. Clarify long-term support and costs
Before implantation, ask who provides continuing programming, routine medical follow-up, and urgent advice. Clarify how battery or device replacement is handled for the proposed system and what insurance or out-of-pocket questions should be checked in advance.
Write down the responsibilities of the implanting practice, other clinicians, and any manufacturer representative. A representative can assist with device questions, but medical decisions belong with your treating clinicians. A clear long-term support plan helps you evaluate the full commitment rather than only the initial procedure.
Sources: Spinal Cord Stimulator · 10 Questions to Ask Before Having an Operation
Make the most of your visit
Questions to bring to your consultation
Choose the questions that matter most to you. Bring them along, and ask us to explain anything that is unclear.
- Which trial goals will we continue to track after implantation?
- Can I practice using the controller and charging equipment before discharge?
- What activity restrictions apply to my exact implant and when are they reassessed?
- What information does an MRI or procedural team need from me?
- Who handles technical questions and who handles medical concerns?
- What changes require urgent assessment rather than reprogramming?
- How will we reassess treatment if the benefit fades?
- What long-term visits, replacements, and costs should I plan for?
Sources & further reading
- Spinal Cord StimulatorJohns Hopkins Medicine
- Evidence-based consensus guidelines on patient selection and trial stimulation for spinal cord stimulation therapy for chronic non-cancer painASRA-led multisociety guideline / Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
- Spine surgery — dischargeNIH / MedlinePlus
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine and BrainJohns Hopkins Medicine
- Preprocedural Recommendations for Reducing Surgical Site InfectionsASRA Pain Medicine
- 10 Questions to Ask Before Having an OperationAmerican College of Surgeons
We use these medical sources to help explain your options and prepare you for a conversation with our team. Our guides feature our own clinicians; patient reviews describe individual experiences.
