Deciding to have a spinal cord stimulator implanted is a significant decision. The Hands of Hope physicians will work closely with you and other care team members to determine if spinal cord stimulation is the right choice for you. If you decide to go forward with the procedure, you can expect specialized training and a trial period to ensure the device works as expected.

The device has three main parts:

- Electrodes, which we will place between the spinal cord and vertebrae
- A generator, a small battery pack that powers the electrodes and that we will place under the skin near the abdomen or buttocks
- A remote, which you will use to direct the stimulator

You’ll go through two implantation processes:

- The trial, during which we will implant trial electrodes but not the generator
- The final implantation, in which we replace the trial electrodes with permanent ones and implant the generator

For those living with severe, treatment-resistant pain, spinal cord stimulation can dramatically improve quality of life. However, we do recommend exploring all other options, save full surgery, before moving forward.