What happens next?
Once the decision has been made to try neurostimulation, a test of the stimulation is usually conducted. This allows you and your doctor to see the effectiveness of neurostimulation before committing to a full implant and the associated operation. The test can be done as an outpatient or you may be admitted for a short hospital stay. It has three simple steps:
- You receive a local anaesthetic
- Your doctor then carefully inserts a thin insulated wire (the lead) through your skin via a needle into an area close to your pain, such as your mid-back. This lead allows your doctor to adjust stimulation. Your doctor can implant more leads or use leads of different types to make sure all the painful area is treated
- Your doctor asks you questions about the location and intensity of the stimulation. This process continues until your doctor has found the best place to stimulate to reduce your pain
After the test you may be sent home with a temporary system in place for up to 2 weeks. In this time you will be able to test whether the treatment works for you during everyday use
A measure of success is that after the test you experience less than half the pain you had before in at least 80% of the painful area of your body. If you and your doctor agree the test has been successful you can have an operation to replace the temporary system with a permanent one. This will be fitted under your skin. People who do not experience adequate pain relief during the test will have the temporary system removed.
The stimulation test allows you and your doctor to judge the effectiveness of neurostimulation before committing to an operation
