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Living with chronic pain can wear down even the strongest person. When pain becomes a part of your daily life — limiting how you move, sleep, or even think — it can start to feel like nothing will ever work. You’ve tried medications, injections, maybe even rounds of physical therapy. Some of it helped for a while, but the pain always seems to find its way back. It’s exhausting, both physically and emotionally.
For many of our patients at Medici Orthopaedics & Spine, this is the point where they start asking: “Is there anything else out there that could actually help me?”
The answer for many is yes — and it’s called Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS).
Spinal Cord Stimulation is one of the most advanced, minimally invasive treatments available for chronic pain that hasn’t improved with other approaches. The therapy uses a small device that sends gentle electrical impulses to the nerves in your spine, helping to “retrain” how your brain perceives pain signals. Instead of feeling constant, overwhelming pain, patients often describe a soothing sensation — or no pain at all.
But here’s the part most people find reassuring: before committing to a permanent SCS implant, you can test-drive the treatment through what’s known as an SCS trial. This short, temporary procedure allows you to experience how the therapy feels and see how much it reduces your pain — without any major surgery or long-term commitment.
During the trial, temporary leads (thin wires) are placed near your spinal cord and connected to an external stimulator that you control. You’ll live your normal life for several days, tracking your pain levels and activity to determine if SCS truly makes a difference. Many patients notice life-changing improvement — with some reporting 50–80% pain reduction during the trial phase.
If the trial is successful, you and your physician can then decide whether to move forward with a permanent implant. If not, the leads are simply removed — a process that takes only minutes. Either way, the trial gives you clarity and confidence about your next step.
For patients who’ve spent years searching for relief, the SCS trial represents hope — a chance to finally feel better without relying on strong medications or invasive surgery.
Imagine if you could turn down the volume on your pain — not by masking it with medication, but by changing how your body feels it. That’s exactly what a Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) is designed to do.
An SCS is a small, implantable device that sends mild electrical impulses to specific nerves along your spine. These signals help “retrain” how the brain interprets pain messages, essentially blocking or replacing them with a soothing sensation. Instead of constant burning, aching, or shooting pain, patients often experience significant relief — sometimes describing it as a gentle tingling or simply absence of pain.
The beauty of SCS lies in how it works with your body — not against it. Unlike strong pain medications that can dull the senses or cause unwanted side effects, spinal cord stimulation targets the source of pain directly at the nerve level. And because it’s minimally invasive, there’s no need for major surgery or long recovery times. For many, it’s a life-changing option that restores comfort and control without relying on opioids.
At Medici Orthopaedics & Spine, our team uses spinal cord stimulation to help patients who suffer from chronic pain conditions that haven’t improved with traditional treatments. These include:
For the right patient, SCS can dramatically reduce pain levels, improve mobility, and restore the ability to enjoy daily activities again — all without dependence on narcotics or invasive procedures.
It’s one of the most advanced, non-opioid, and reversible treatments available in modern pain management — and at Medici Orthopaedics & Spine, we specialize in helping patients determine if it’s the right option for them through a simple, safe SCS trial process.
At Medici Orthopaedics & Spine, we know that trying something new for your chronic pain can feel overwhelming — especially after you’ve already been through so much. That’s why we take time to explain every step of the Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) trial process, so you know exactly what to expect. Our goal is to make it simple, comfortable, and completely tailored to your needs.
Here’s what the process looks like from start to finish:
Your journey begins with a detailed consultation with one of Medici’s experienced pain specialists. During this visit, we’ll take the time to truly understand your story — where your pain began, what treatments you’ve already tried, and how your symptoms affect your quality of life.
We may perform imaging studies or diagnostic tests to confirm that your pain stems from a nerve-related source that could respond well to spinal cord stimulation. This personalized evaluation ensures that you’re a strong candidate for the therapy and that it aligns with your specific goals for pain relief and improved function.
Once you’re approved for an SCS trial, the next step is the procedure itself — and most patients are surprised by how quick and comfortable it is.
The trial is performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation, meaning you’ll be relaxed but awake. Using a tiny needle, your provider will gently place temporary leads (thin, flexible wires) near the spinal cord in the targeted area responsible for your pain. These leads are connected to an external stimulator, which you’ll use to control the settings and adjust the level of stimulation.
The entire procedure typically takes less than an hour, and you’ll go home the very same day with your external device in place. There are no incisions, no stitches, and no long recovery time — most patients resume light activity within 24 hours.
This is where you get to “test-drive” the therapy in your daily life. Over the course of several days, you’ll use the stimulator as you go about your normal activities — walking, sitting, working, or sleeping — to see how it affects your pain and mobility.
During this time, the Medici team will stay closely connected with you, monitoring your progress, adjusting settings if needed, and making sure you’re comfortable with the device. Many patients notice significant improvements within the first day or two — often reporting 50–80% reduction in pain and a noticeable improvement in sleep, function, and energy levels.
At the end of your trial period, you’ll meet with your Medici physician to discuss your experience. Together, you’ll review how much relief you felt, how it impacted your daily routine, and whether it met your expectations.
If your pain relief was meaningful — and for many patients, it is — you may choose to move forward with a permanent SCS implant, which is a similar outpatient procedure with long-term benefits. If you decide it’s not the right fit, the temporary leads are easily removed, leaving no lasting effects or downtime.
Either way, you’ll have gained something invaluable — clarity about your options and confidence in your next step toward pain relief.
You don’t have to keep living with chronic pain. If you’ve tried medications, injections, or even surgery and still haven’t found relief, the Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) trial could be your next step toward lasting comfort — safe, reversible, and completely tailored to you.
At Medici Orthopaedics & Spine, our team of specialists is here to help you discover whether spinal cord stimulation is the right fit for your pain and your lifestyle. From your very first consultation through every stage of treatment, we’ll guide you with clarity, compassion, and expert care. You’ll never feel rushed or pressured — just supported and informed as you make the decision that’s best for your health.
Our mission is simple: to help you move, work, and live without chronic pain — using the most effective, least invasive, and least drug-dependent options available today.
If your pain has been controlling your life, it’s time to take it back. Schedule a consultation at your nearest Medici location, and let’s find out whether an SCS trial can help you reclaim the comfort, mobility, and freedom you deserve.
Kennesaw Clinic
2911 George Busbee Parkway, Suite 50
Kennesaw, GA 30144
📞 (770) 545-6404
Marietta Ambulatory Surgery Center
792 Church Street, Unit 101
Marietta, GA 30060
📞 (470) 795-8398
Snellville Clinic
2220 Wisteria Drive, Unit 101
Snellville, GA 30078
📞 (470) 645-9297
Buckhead PM&R (Atlanta)
3200 Downwood Circle, NW, Suite 520
Atlanta, GA 30327
📞 (770) 872-7549
🌐 Visit: www.mediciortho.com
📞 Main Contact: +1-844-328-4624
At Medici, you’re more than your MRI.
We take time to hear your story, understand your pain, and create a plan that actually works for you.
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