Practice Parameters for the Use of Spinal Cord Stimulation in the Treatment of Chronic Neuropathic Pain

Normal Precautions

What precautions should patients take in their daily lives after implantation of an SCS system?

  • Avoid placing excessive strain on the system.
  • Avoid bending, twisting, or lifting weights over eight pounds (one gallon) in the immediate post-operative period (up to 6 weeks) before the device becomes encapsulated in fibrous tissue. No scuba diving more than 10 meters deep.
  • No entry into hyperbaric chambers with the absolute pressure above 2.0 atmospheres.
  • Disable the SCS system before entering electromagnetic fields produced by anti-theft devices, metal detectors, or other security screening systems.
Strength of recommendation Evidence source(s)/rationale
A = Recommended or required
Valid, useful, or non-negotiable
  • Weighing risk versus potential benefit and expert consensus reveals a high likelihood of a favorable outcome

Eisenberg E, Waisbrod H. Spinal cord stimulator activation by an antitheft device. Case report. J Neurosurg 87(6):961-962, 1997.
Abstract | Wikistim Entry