How to Charge a Battery in a Spinal Cord Stimulator

After a doctor surgically implants a Spinal Cord Stimulator, also known as a Dorsal Column Stimulator, many patients feel immediate relief and are able to function much more normally than they did under the effects of chronic leg and back pain. According to Dr. Edgar G. Dawson of SpineUniverse.com, a Spinal Cord Stimulator is surgically placed at the spine and produces low-level electrical impulses that interfere with the direct transmission of pain signals moving along the spinal cord to the brain. Because the device is surgically implanted, many patients initially question how the device operates without frequent charging. It all depends on the type of device implanted. Some models do not require battery recharging; however, some models do.

Things You'll Need

• Spinal Cord Stimulator implant
• SCS remote control
• SCS external recharging device

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Instructions

• 1

  Power down your stimulator. Using your SCS remote control, turn the stimulator device off temporarily. Consult your device's instruction manual if you are uncertain how to do this.

• 2

  Attach the external recharging pack to your back as instructed by your surgeon or device's consultant. As models of SCS vary, the location where you should attach it might vary, but will almost always be slightly above the buttocks near your spine.

• 3

  Wear the external recharging device for up to three hours. Usually a three-hour charge will last your device for two to three weeks.

• 4

  Remove the external recharging device and power on your stimulator. The device should function properly until recharging is needed.