Boston Scientific PRECISION SPECTRA SC-6500-52 Manuel page 6

Patient Trial Handbook
What is spinal cord stimulation?
Most pain signals travel from the source problem or injury area to nerve pathways to the
spine, then up the spine and to the brain. SCS uses electrical stimulation of the spinal cord
to block the perception of those signals. To apply the stimulation during the trial phase, a
small electrical pulse generator (ETS), or stimulator, is connected to one or more wires,
called leads, which are placed along your spinal cord. The stimulator, internal or external,
sends pulses of a low electrical current to a series of metal contacts, or electrodes, located
at the end of the lead(s). Depending on the parameters set by your physician, the feeling
produced by pain coverage can vary between a light, tingling sensation called paresthesia
and no sensation at all.
It is important to understand that spinal cord stimulation cannot cure pain or eliminate its
cause. It does, however, provide control of and relief from certain types of pain. Spinal cord
stimulation is a treatment choice designed to provide you with the most effective pain relief
over the widest pain area possible. When that goal is reached with the Precision system,
you should experience good to excellent relief from chronic pain.
Precision Spectra™ System Patient Trial Handbook
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