Why is there a trial before a permanent spinal cord stimulator?

The trial lets you experience the therapy before committing to a permanent implant. Temporary leads are placed without surgery to the spine, and you live with the stimulation for several days. Only if it gives you meaningful relief and improved function do you move on to a permanent system — it is a genuine try-before-you-commit step.

How long does the trial last?

The trial typically runs about five to seven days. During that time the temporary leads sit under a dressing on your back and connect to an external device you control with a remote, so you can judge the therapy during your normal routine at home.

What counts as a successful trial?

Most programs look for a substantial reduction in pain — often around 50% or more — along with better function, sleep, or reduced reliance on pain medication. Because you keep a simple diary during the trial, you and Dr. Eaddy can make the decision based on your real experience, not a guess.

Does the trial require surgery?

No. The temporary trial leads are placed through a needle under X-ray guidance with light sedation, and there is no incision to close. At the end of the trial the leads are removed easily in the office. A permanent implant, if you choose one, is a separate minor procedure.

Patient guide

Preparing for a Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial

The best part of spinal cord stimulation is that you try it before you commit. Here's why the trial comes first, how to prepare, and how the temporary period works.

In short — A spinal cord stimulator trial places temporary leads through a needle — no spine surgery — so you can live with the therapy for about a week and judge it for yourself. Prepare by reviewing blood thinners, arranging a driver, keeping the site dry, and tracking your relief. Only a clearly helpful trial leads to a permanent implant. See the spinal cord stimulation service page for the full picture.

Why the trial comes first

Spinal cord stimulation uses gentle electrical signals to interrupt pain before it reaches the brain. What makes it unusual among advanced treatments is the built-in trial: before anything permanent, temporary leads let you experience the therapy during your normal life. If it meaningfully reduces your pain and helps you do more, you can move to a permanent system with confidence. If it doesn't, the leads simply come out — nothing is left behind. It's a genuine try-before-you-commit step, and it's the same idea behind DRG and peripheral nerve stimulation trials.

How to prepare, step by step

Review medications and blood thinners. Give the office a complete list and flag blood thinners — some are paused beforehand, always coordinated with the prescriber. See the general procedure-preparation guide for more.
Arrange a driver and lighter days. Placement is a short outpatient procedure with light sedation, so you'll need a driver and a few lower-activity days during the trial.
Plan to keep the site dry. The temporary leads exit the skin under a dressing, so no bathing, swimming, or soaking — sponge baths only until the leads are removed.
Set up your home. Loose, front-opening clothing and a comfortable place to rest help; avoid bending, twisting, lifting, and reaching overhead so the leads stay put.
Learn the remote. The team programs the device and shows you how to adjust the stimulation across your daily activities.
Keep a relief-and-activity diary. Note your pain levels and what you can do each day versus before — this is how the decision gets made.
Return for lead removal and review. The temporary leads come out easily in the office, and you and Dr. Eaddy review the results together.

What the trial week is like

The trial usually lasts about five to seven days. The leads rest under a dressing on your back and connect to a small external generator you control with a patient remote. You go about a modified version of your normal routine — resting more than usual, keeping the dressing dry, and avoiding movements that could shift the leads — while paying attention to how the stimulation changes your pain and what you're able to do.

Deciding about a permanent implant

A trial is generally considered successful when it produces a substantial drop in pain — often around 50% or more — together with better function, sleep, or less need for pain medication. Because you've tracked your own experience, the decision is grounded in real life rather than a prediction. If you proceed, the permanent implant is a separate minor procedure in which the leads are connected to a small generator placed under the skin; if you don't, the trial ends with a simple lead removal and a conversation about other options.

When to call the office

During the trial, call for a fever, spreading redness or drainage where the leads exit, a dressing that comes loose, a sudden change in the stimulation, or any new weakness or numbness. For any medical emergency, call 911.

Spinal cord stimulation — the clinical service page
DRG stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation — related trial-based therapies
Device troubleshooting & revision — care for an existing stimulator
Preparing for an interventional pain procedure

Considering a stimulator trial?

Call the office to talk it through, or send a question online — office staff will respond by phone during business hours.

Call (904) 453-7976 Send a question

Messages only / callback line: (813) 397-3047

Reviewed by Kenneth J. Eaddy, MD · Updated July 2026