Try out Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) first

The first step to managing your chronic pain with SCS therapy is a trial, which is a way to test drive a Boston Scientific SCS System. Talk to your pain management specialist about a temporary trial of the Boston Scientific SCS System so you and your pain management specialist can decide if it is right for you.

How does the SCS trial system work?

Boston Scientific Clinical Care Specialist Kira Trexler explains how SCS therapy works and explains the process of trying out an SCS system.

Watch the Video

Discover if SCS therapy is right for you

The SCS trial starts with an outpatient procedure conducted at your pain management specialist’s office or surgery center. Then, as you go through your regular activities over the next few days, you will use the temporary SCS system to determine if this type of treatment is effective in reducing your pain. If it does, you and your pain management specialist can discuss moving forward with getting a Boston Scientific SCS System implanted.

What can I expect from the SCS trial?

Your doctor will place temporary leads into your back—an outpatient procedure that takes only one to two hours
The leads are connected to an External Trial Stimulator (ETS), usually worn on your waist. The stimulator is programmed to personalize your therapy and your Clinical Specialist shows you how to make adjustments with the remote control
You then go home with your SCS trial system in place to try it over the next three to seven days
During and at the end of your trial, you and your doctor will decide if SCS therapy is effective for you, and whether to move forward with the implanted system

How does the temporary SCS trial system differ from the long-term implant?

Unlike the long-term implant, the temporary trial system has an external stimulator device
If you and your doctor decide to move with a full implant, you will undergo a new procedure with a much smaller implantable stimulator

How is Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial success measured?

Talk to your doctor about how to define success for you and your situation, but SCS is generally considered effective if:

Pain is reduced by 50% or more
You’re able to resume daily activities
The need for pain medication is reduced
Sleep and relaxation improve

See Real SCS Patient Stories

Will SCS allow me to be free of pain medications?

Some find that SCS therapy works well enough that they no longer need pain medications
For others, success with the therapy means using less pain medication
Always consult your doctor before changing your medication dosage

Get the most out of your SCS trial with the mySCS^™ app

While you test how SCS works for you, the app will help you:

Track your daily activity and pain levels
Connect with your Boston Scientific Care Team
Learn more about what to expect at each step along the way

At the end of your trial, you can review your progress with your pain management specialist and Boston Scientific Care Team to help determine if SCS is right for you.

Download to your iOS or Android mobile devices.

Find a pain management doctor near you

Use our Doctor Locator to explore pain management specialists in your area.

Start your search. ⟶

Enter ZIP code or city, state to begin your search.

Indications for Use: The Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems are indicated as an aid in the management of chronic intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs including unilateral or bilateral pain associated with the following: failed back surgery syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Types I and II, intractable low back pain and leg pain, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy of the lower extremities, radicular pain syndrome, radiculopathies resulting in pain secondary to failed back syndrome or herniated disc, epidural fibrosis, degenerative disc disease (herniated disc pain refractory to conservative and surgical interventions), arachnoiditis, multiple back surgeries. The Boston Scientific Spectra WaveWriter™, WaveWriter Alpha™ and WaveWriter Alpha™ Prime SCS Systems are also indicated as an aid in the management of chronic intractable unilateral or bilateral low back and leg pain without prior back surgery.

Contraindications. The Spinal Cord Stimulator systems are not for patients who are unable to operate the system, have failed trial stimulation by failing to receive effective pain relief, are poor surgical candidates, or are pregnant.

Boston Scientific’s ImageReady™ MRI Technology makes safe MRI head scans possible. Patients implanted with the Precision Spectra™ or Spectra WaveWriter™ Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems with ImageReady™ MRI Technology are "MR Conditional" only when exposed to the MRI environment under the specific conditions defined in the applicable ImageReady™ MRI Head Only Guidelines for Precision Spectra™ or Spectra WaveWriter™ Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems.

Boston Scientific’s ImageReady™ MRI Full Body Technology makes safe MRI scans possible. The Precision Montage™ MRI, WaveWriter Alpha™ and WaveWriter Alpha™ Prime SCS Systems with ImageReady™ MRI Full Body Technology are “MR Conditional” only when exposed to the MRI environment under the specific conditions defined in the applicable ImageReady™ MRI Full Body Guidelines for Precision Montage™ MRI or WaveWriter Alpha™ and WaveWriter Alpha™ Prime Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems.

Warnings. Patients implanted with Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator Systems without ImageReady™ MRI Technology should not be exposed to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Exposure to MRI may result in dislodgement of the stimulator or leads, heating of the stimulator, severe damage to the stimulator electronics and an uncomfortable or jolting sensation. As a Spinal Cord Stimulation patient, you should not have diathermy as either a treatment for a medical condition or as part of a surgical procedure. Strong electromagnetic fields, such as power generators or theft detection systems, can potentially turn the stimulator off, or cause uncomfortable jolting stimulation. The system should not be charged while sleeping. The Spinal Cord Stimulator system may interfere with the operation of implanted sensing stimulators such as pacemakers or implanted cardiac defibrillators. Advise your physician that you have a Spinal Cord Stimulator before going through with other implantable device therapies so that medical decisions can be made and appropriate safety measures taken. Patients using therapy that generates paresthesia 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. For therapy that does not generate paresthesia (i.e. subperception therapy) it is less likely that sudden stimulation changes resulting in distraction could occur while having stimulation on when operating moving vehicles, machinery, and equipment. Your doctor may be able to provide additional information on the Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator systems. For complete indications for use, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and side effects, call 866.360.4747 or visit Pain.com. Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

Indications for Use: The Superion™ Indirect Decompression System (IDS) is indicated to treat skeletally mature patients suffering from pain, numbness, and/or cramping in the legs (neurogenic intermittent claudication) secondary to a diagnosis of moderate degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, with or without Grade 1 spondylolisthesis, having radiographic evidence of thickened ligamentum flavum, narrowed lateral recess, and/or central canal or foraminal narrowing. The Superion™ Interspinous Spacer is indicated for those patients with impaired physical function who experience relief in flexion from symptoms of leg/buttock/groin pain, with or without back pain, who have undergone at least 6 months of non-operative treatment. The Superion Interspinous Spacer may be implanted at one or two adjacent lumbar levels in patients in whom treatment is indicated at no more than two levels, from L1 to L5. Contraindications, warnings, precautions, side effects. The Superion Indirect Decompression System (IDS) is contraindicated for patients who: have spinal anatomy that prevent implantation of the device or cause the device to be unstable in situ (i.e., degenerative spondylolisthesis greater than grade 1), Cauda equina syndrome, or prior decompression or fusion at the index level, scoliosis or spinous process fractures, osteoporosis, infection, allergy or reaction to any metal or implant or a high Body Mass Index. Avoid strenuous activity for 6 weeks after surgery, contact your physician if there is fluid leaking from your incision, if you have pain, swelling or numbness in your legs or buttocks or if you fall. Refer to the Instructions for Use provided on www.vertiflex.com for additional Indications for Use, contraindications information and potential adverse effects, warnings, and precautions prior to using this product. Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

Indications for Use: The Boston Scientific Radiofrequency Generators, associated Radiofrequency Lesion Probes and RF Cannula are indicated for use in procedures to create radiofrequency lesions for the treatment of pain or for lesioning nerve tissue for functional neurosurgical procedures. The Boston Scientific RF Injection Electrodes are used for percutaneous nerve blocks with local anesthetic solution for radiofrequency lesioning of peripheral nerve tissue only. The Boston Scientific LCED and Stereotactic TCD Electrodes are indicated for use in radiofrequency (RF) heat lesioning of nervous tissue including the Central Nervous System.

Warnings: The Boston Scientific RF devices may cause interference with active devices such as neurostimulators, cardiac pacemakers, and defibrillators. Interference may affect the action of these active devices or may damage them. For appropriate guidance, consult the instructions for use for these active devices. Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

§The physician locator tool identifies pain management specialists in your area who have met certain qualifying criteria and are experienced with one or more of Boston Scientific pain management therapies. All treatment options should be discussed thoroughly with a pain management specialist.