Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS): The Questions Patients Actually Ask — Answered by Physicians
Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) generates some of the most repetitive phone calls in any pain management practice: trial-week driving limits, shower rules, and what the stimulation should feel like. PrepQ, a patient-education platform built by physicians and operated by PrepQ LLC, maintains 60 physician-written answers about spinal cord stimulator (scs) as part of a library of more than 7,500 answers covering 700-plus procedures across 14 specialties. Practices that subscribe to PrepQ give their patients a dedicated phone number to text or call at any hour, and the platform replies instantly with content the practice's own clinicians have reviewed and approved in advance. Questions outside the approved library are referred back to the office, and any message that suggests urgent symptoms is directed to 911 or the practice instead of being answered by software. The result: patients arrive prepared, day-of cancellations drop, and staff stop repeating the same spinal cord stimulator (scs) instructions dozens of times a week.
Real spinal cord stimulator (scs) questions from our physician-reviewed library
A sample of the 60 spinal cord stimulator (scs) answers in PrepQ's library. Before any practice goes live, its own clinicians review and approve every answer — and can customize each one to their protocols.
Can I drive during the SCS trial?
No. You should not drive while the stimulator is on because the sensation can be distracting, and some settings may cause sudden muscle twitching. Arrange for someone else to drive during the trial week.
Can I eat before my SCS trial?
If you are receiving IV sedation, you will typically be asked to stop eating solid food at midnight before your procedure and stop clear liquids 2 hours before your appointment. Your team will give you specific fasting instructions — follow those exactly.
Can I go back to work during the trial?
Light desk work is generally fine if you feel up to it. Avoid jobs requiring heavy lifting, bending, or twisting. Physical labor, driving, or operating machinery should be avoided during the trial. The goal is also to do enough normal activity to properly evaluate pain relief.
Can I have an MRI during the trial?
No — MRI is not safe while the temporary trial leads are in place. If you need an urgent MRI, the leads would need to be removed first. Alert any emergency medical team that you have a spinal cord stimulator trial in place.
Can I shower during the SCS trial?
No — you'll need to keep the lead site and the external device completely dry during the trial. Cover the area with plastic wrap if needed and take sponge baths instead of showers. Water exposure can cause infection or damage the temporary connection.
Can I sleep with the stimulator on during the trial?
Yes, you can sleep with it on. Many patients find it helpful for nighttime pain and sleep. Try lying still and avoid rolling onto the lead entry site. If a particular setting keeps you awake, you can turn the device down or off and turn it back on in the morning.
Can I take my pain medications during the trial?
Yes — continue your usual pain medications during the trial unless your doctor tells you otherwise. The goal is to see how much additional relief the stimulator provides on top of your current regimen. Do not change your medications mid-trial, as it makes it harder to evaluate the stimulator's effect.
Can I use a heating pad during the trial?
Avoid applying heat directly to the lead entry site or over the external device. Some forms of gentle heat on other areas of your body should be fine, but ask your care team first. Heat over the device can damage components or cause discomfort.
Do I need a psychological evaluation before SCS?
Yes — most insurance companies require a psychological evaluation before approving an SCS trial. This is standard practice and not a judgment on you. The evaluation helps identify factors that might affect outcomes and ensures you have realistic expectations about what the device can and cannot do.
Do I need anesthesia for the trial?
General anesthesia is not used. Most patients receive a local anesthetic to numb the skin and a mild IV sedative to help them relax. You will be comfortable but awake enough to give feedback during lead placement. Tell your team if you have had reactions to sedatives in the past.
Your staff answers these 60 questions by phone. PrepQ answers them by text, instantly.
PrepQ gives your pain management practice a dedicated number patients text or call 24/7. Physician-written answers, approved by your doctors, delivered in English and Spanish — with urgent messages escalated to your office or 911, never improvised. HIPAA-compliant, BAA provided, no EHR integration required.