How Often Do Spinal Cord Stimulators Need to be Reprogrammed?

Spinal cord stimulation is one of our most powerful weapons against back pain, but getting your stimulator is only the start of your pain-free journey. 

Periodically, we need to reprogram your spinal cord stimulator to make sure you continue to receive the highest level of care. 

In this blog, Dr. Raul Lopez and our West Texas Pain Institute team highlight a few of the key points in your treatment plan that prompt us to tweak your stimulation. 

The phases of spinal cord stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation isn’t a one-and-done treatment — it has two stages: trial and permanent placement. Both phases involve the same minimally invasive procedures to place the wires in the correct part of your spine. 

During the trial phase, the temporary wires lead to a small battery-operated generator outside your body. 

If your trial period works well, we recommend — and perform — permanent implantation. During this phase, we place the wires in your spine and implant a generator pack in your lower back or upper buttock. You have complete control over the electrical pulses via a remote. 

When and why to reprogram your spinal cord stimulator 

When you receive your spinal cord stimulator, it comes installed with specific programs that govern your treatment. 

Spinal cord stimulation has four basic parameters: contact (electrode) selection, amplitude, pulse width, and frequency. We consider each aspect when developing a treatment program that works best for you. 

Although these programs are preset, you and our team can control and reprogram them whenever necessary. 

Reprogramming is an important part of both phases of the spinal cord stimulation process. It allows us to fine-tune your treatments to provide superior pain relief. 

There’s no recommended number of times you should have your spinal cord stimulator reprogrammed; it depends on how your treatment goes and how your needs change (or don’t). 

In general, you should see us for reprogramming a few times over the first few months. There’s a lot of calibration involved with spinal cord stimulation, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel pain relief right away — you likely just need a reprogramming. 

You might also need reprogramming if you experience any of the following.

Paresthesia

Paresthesia is a tingling or buzzing sensation that replaces pain sensations. You shouldn't notice paresthesia, or at least you shouldn’t be bothered by it. If you become uncomfortable, we can reprogram your stimulator to reduce the sensation. 

Some newer devices offer “sub-perception” stimulation, guaranteeing you won’t feel paresthesia. 

New pain

If you suddenly develop new or worsening pain, reprogramming your spinal cord stimulator can address your symptoms. 

Device migration

Sometimes, the electrodes in your spine migrate from their original position, ultimately changing your treatment plan. Fortunately, we can accommodate device migration with reprogramming. 

Don’t wait to call

Spinal cord stimulation is incredibly effective but requires some trial and error. If you notice anything different about your pain or if you’ve developed new symptoms, don’t wait to call us. 

Dr. Lopez and our team can quickly identify the problem and help you make the necessary adjustments to keep your pain at bay. To schedule an appointment with our expert, call or click to make an appointment at our El Paso, Texas, office today.