Discharge advice for patients after implantation of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS): The Kent Centre for Pain Medicine and Neuromodulation
Information for patients
This leaflet gives you advice following your discharge from Day Surgery after your procedure. This leaflet explains the following.
What happens before you go home.
How to look after your wounds at home.
When you can start your normal activities again, including work and driving.
We hope this leaflet answers some of the questions you may have. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to your GP or other relevant healthcare professional.
What happens before I go home?
When you are ready to be discharged from Day Surgery, a nurse will:
check your wound dressing; and
give you advice regarding your painkillers.
You will also be given an SCS identity card and SCS product information from the company representative. Please read this. If there is anything that you are unsure about, please ask.
You may feel too drowsy to have the SCS programmed on the day of implant. If this happens you will be given an appointment within a week or two to see the company representative. They will programme your system and give you advice on using the system. This includes switching between programmes and charging your system.
Can I drive after my procedure?
You must not drive for 24 hours following your procedure. Please arrange for someone to drive you home from hospital.
It is strongly recommended that you have someone stay at home with you until the following day.
How do I look after my wounds?
Keep your wound dressing clean and dry.
You can remove the dressing after 5 days.
Please book an appointment with your GP practice nurse to have your sutures (stitches) removed approximately 8 days after your implant.
If you notice any of the following signs, please contact your GP as soon as possible.
Any leakage from your wound; this may be brown, green, or clear.
Any redness or swelling at your wound site or around it.
Persistent pain around your wound sites.
If you have any of the signs and symptoms listed below as a new problem, ask for urgent medical attention from your GP. If out of hours, go to your nearest Emergency Department.
Prolonged numbness and / or weakness in your legs.
Any numbness or pins and needles that you did not have before your implant.
Severe lower back pain.
Any fever or high temperature.
Neck stiffness.
Difficulty passing urine (pee) / incontinence of faeces (poo).
A severe headache that does not resolve with simple painkillers, such as paracetamol.
When can I return to work?
How soon you return to work will depend on what type of work you do. Generally you are the best person to decide how well you feel and your limitations. Your GP can give you a certificate if you need one for your employer.
Will my painkillers be changed?
You will probably need to continue taking painkillers, at least for the first few weeks. This is whilst your wounds heal and the stimulator is adjusted to get the best pain relief that we can. Your medication will be reviewed at your next appointment with the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) after your SCS is implanted.
About the stimulator
You may need to add the SCS programmer and charger to your home insurance policy. The hospital cannot cover costs for accidental damage or loss. Contact your home insurance provider for advice.
The stimulator may be affected by strong magnetic fields. If you see a sign warning people with heart pacemakers to report to staff, this will also apply to you. Stimulators may activate airport detectors and anti-theft devices in some shops. If they are held over the device, stimulators may be affected by some mobile phones. These, along with strong magnets, may turn your stimulator off and affect your battery.
There are a number of medical treatments that should be avoided with your SCS. For example diathermy (heat treatment), lithotripsy (treatment for renal stones), and radiation therapy. If in doubt, please contact the Pain Clinic for advice.
Some SCS systems are not MRI conditional and you will be advised to avoid MRI scans of your body. However, you will be able to have CT scans, ultrasound scans, and x-rays.
Guidance on physical activity following the insertion of a Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS)
Avoid any strenuous activities for at least 1 day after your procedure. However, start normal activities again as soon as possible.
You may feel tender around your implant sites. Make sure you take regular painkillers (such as paracetamol) to help with any discomfort.
A CNS will contact you for a telephone review around 2 weeks after your implant, to check that everything is going well. Please contact the Pain Clinic or Day Surgery if you need further advice before this review.
The following information is a general guide only. Please follow this advice along with your consultant’s recommendations.
For approximately the first 10 days after your full implant or until your sutures / dressings are removed.
So you can fully see how well your SCS is working during this time, you need to move about as normally as possible. This includes standing, walking, and climbing stairs.
There are a few key movements to avoid, so you do not move the SCS leads. These movements include bending, lifting, twisting, and stretching (the ‘BLTS’).
Avoid bending your back all the way forward (such as touching your toes).
Avoid bending your back backwards.
Avoid fully twisting your spine. If you have an upper stimulator for neck pain, this includes turning your head all the way round.
Avoid raising your arms up above your head, and your elbows above your shoulder.
Do not drive during this time.
Do not have a bath or shower following the full implant, until your sutures / dressing have been removed. This is to keep your wound dry while it heals, to reduce the risk of infection.
The first 6 weeks after a full SCS system implant
In order to keep your body healthy and help your tissue to heal, it is important that you remain gently active. During this time you can gradually return to the activities that you may have avoided in the past due to your pain.
However, continue to avoid the following for at least 6 weeks.
Extreme bending and twisting of your back.
Turning your head right round (for upper stimulators).
Elevating (raising) your arms above shoulder height (see ‘BLTS’ above).
The following points provide more specific guidance.
Lifting and carrying
You can lift and carry items. However, for the first 2 weeks try to avoid lifting anything heavier than the weight of a full kettle. Over the following weeks you can build this up gradually.
By 6 to 8 weeks you can progress to carrying heavier items, such as two large shopping bags.
If your work involves heavy lifting, ask for advice from a member of the Neuromodulation team.
Driving
You can begin driving again during this time. However, please note that some SCS devices / programmes need to be switched OFF when you are driving. Check with your Neuromodulation team before driving.
Do not drive until:
you feel you can safely do an emergency stop; and
you are no longer taking medication that would affect your driving. Check with your specialist nurse if you are not sure.
Please make sure you tell your car insurance company about your SCS.
Sex
You can have sex again once you feel able. Take care to avoid fully twisting and bending your spine.
From 6 to 8 weeks after a full SCS system implant
By week 6 scar tissue will have started to form around the leads, anchoring them in place. Once this happens you can begin gently bending and twisting your spine.
Gradually increase any activities at a pace that is comfortable for you.
From 12 weeks and onwards
The leads will be fully anchored in place. You can return to all your normal activities (at a comfortable pace). However, there are a few things that you must continue to avoid in the long-term.
Contact sports, such as rugby, boxing, and judo.
Extreme sports, such as bungee-jumping and parachuting.
Scuba diving, beyond the depth of 30 metres.
High g-forces, such as roller-coasters.
Manipulation of your spine from physiotherapists, doctors, osteopaths, and chiropractors.
Operating power tools with the SCS switched ON.
If using welding machinery, whether you have your stimulator switched ON or OFF please do not go:
within 2 metres of the power unit; and
1 metre of the weld site.
Continue to turn your device off when driving, unless you have been told otherwise by your Neuromodulation team.
Further information
If you have any concerns regarding the information in this leaflet or your procedure, please phone the Pain Clinic.
Kent Centre for Pain Medicine and Neuromodulation (direct lines)
Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
Telephone: 01227 783049Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
Telephone: 01843 235094William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Telephone: 01233 616691
Useful information
For further information on SCS and to see a list of other East Kent Hospitals pain leaflets, please see the links below.
[Web sites last accessed 13 February 2026]
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