Permanent Implant

• Completion of successful Test Drive
• Insurance authorization
• Completed psychological assessment (required by most insurance providers)

The permanent procedure is more involved than the Test Drive procedure and is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. One or two leads will be placed in the space above your spinal cord. The leads are then connected to the IPG which is implanted under the skin.

Your system will then be programmed to help relieve your specific pain as much as possible. It is important that you provide the best feedback you can so your SCS programs will cover your areas of pain. Once the system has been programmed, you will be able to use the remote control to adjust the stimulation. This is the same Cordless Remote Control used for the Test Drive. This will allow you to turn the therapy on and off, adjust the intensity and change your settings.

You will receive a Cordless Charger which will be used to charge your IPG battery. Before you are discharged, you will be shown exactly how to use the Cordless Charger and how to charge your IPG battery. The Charger is designed to be simple and gives you the freedom of on-the-go charging.

What to Expect during the Permanent Implant Procedure

• The procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis at a pain clinic, hospital or outpatient surgery center.
• You may have light sedation with local or general anesthesia.
• You will be implanted with one of two types of leads available for the permanent procedure. Your Pain Management Specialist may choose to use percutaneous leads, similar to the leads used during the Test Drive. The other option is a surgical lead, also known as the paddle lead, which is surgically implanted in the space above your spinal cord.
• The IPG, containing the battery and advanced electronics, will be placed in a small pocket created under the skin, usually in the hip, back or upper buttock.
• The leads will then be connected to the IPG.
• The permanent system will be programmed to deliver increased pain relief to help manage your chronic pain.

After the Permanent Implant Procedure

• Be sure to review all the materials you will be given about your Precision Plus^TM SCS System. The better you understand how to operate your system, the better it will work for you.
• Like most other surgeries, there will be discomfort for the first week or two in the areas involved in the procedure – this pain will gradually go away as your body heals.
• Your physician will probably restrict your activities for a few months – particularly activities involving bending, lifting, twisting and extending your arms over your head.
• Your physician may want to see you within the first few weeks after your surgery. These visits are important to make sure you are healing properly and the SCS system is providing maximum pain relief possible.
• Your physician may occasionally reprogram the system to maintain optimum therapy as your body continues to heal and grows tissue around the leads. The programming is always reversible.