Implantable Neurostimulators

Neuromodulation involves direct stimulation of the nervous system with electrical signals. It is used as a treatment for unmanageable chronic pain and/or movement disorders.

For people in Canada who have a Medtronic:

Deep brain stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain
Neuromodulation for bladder or bowel control
ITB Therapy for severe spasticity (Implantable Drug Pump)

Scroll down to the appropriate section to view educational videos and learn more about how to use devices specific to your therapy.

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Deep Brain Stimulation

Daily Living – DBS Therapy

The following guidelines for deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy should be followed.

Recovering at Home

After your surgery, your doctor or nurse will give you instructions about care at home. These instructions often include information about medications, the healing process after surgery, and when to return to your daily activities.

Healing

Making a full recovery from surgery is a process that can take several weeks. During the healing process, you will feel some discomfort at the incision sites on your scalp, and at the implant site for the neurostimulator. If you notice unusual symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

Medication

Always follow your doctor’s instructions for taking medication.

Daily Activities and Exercise

During your recovery, follow your doctor’s instructions about activities that include bending your neck, raising your arms over your shoulders, or strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects.

Be careful when participating in activities that may result in accidents or falls. Sudden jerky movements may cause the lead in your brain to move. Falls may damage parts of the implanted DBS system. Surgery may be needed to replace any damaged DBS system parts.

When to Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if any of the following situations occur:

You experience pain, redness, or swelling along the scalp, neck, or chest where the stimulation system is implanted
You are not getting relief from your symptoms even though the neurostimulator is turned on
You feel uncomfortable or painful sensations during stimulation (turn off the neurostimulator before calling your doctor)
You cannot turn the neurostimulator off (or on)
You experience unexpected changes in your symptoms
You experience any unusual symptoms that you think may be caused by electromagnetic interference (for example, from theft detectors or airport security)
You lose your patient programmer

Helpful Tips

Be sure to let all medical personnel know that you have an implanted DBS system, and tell them where it is located. If they have any questions, they should contact your implanting doctor.
If you experience any unusual symptoms that you think may be related to your neurostimulator, contact your doctor.
Attend all follow-up appointments to make sure you get the best care.
When the neurostimulator is turned off, your symptoms will return. Some symptoms return quickly. Other symptoms may take longer to return.

Changes in Symptom Control

There may be changes in the level of your symptom control over time.

These changes may include:

Reduced symptom relief
No symptom relief
Loss of effective stimulation

In many cases, your clinician can correct these changes by reprogramming your DBS System. However, surgery may be required to reposition or replace the lead, replace the system, or remove the system.

Because your disease changes with time, your condition may improve, may worsen, or may remain unchanged with stimulation.

How to use your DBS Programmer

You can download a digital copy of the DBS programmer manual you were provided with in the programmer box, and watch the video below for a step-by-step guie on how to use your programmer.

pdf DBS Programmer User Manual (.pdf)

7.9MB

DBS Patient Programmer - Activa SC

How to use your DBS Programmer

How to use your DBS Recharger (For rechargeable models only)

If you have a rechargeable neurostimulator, you can download a digital copy of the DBS recharger manual you were provided with in the recharger box, and watch the video below for a step-by-step guie on how to use your recharger.

pdf DBS Recharger User Manual (.pdf)

9.2MB

DBS Recharger

How to use your DBS Recharger

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain

pdf Patient Education Booklet for Spinal Cord Stimulation (.pdf)

880KB

Daily Living

After the initial healing period, neurostimulation therapy for pain relief will become a routine part of your day. Talk with your doctor about activities that may be easier with spinal cord stimulation. Many people experience improvements in their pain symptoms and quality of life after receiving a neurostimulator.

LIFE WITH A NEUROSTIMULATOR

After the initial healing period (6-8 weeks), neurostimulation therapy for pain relief will become a routine part of your day.

The neurostimulator:

Does not make any noise
Does not usually show through your clothes
May be felt as a small bump under your skin
Can be adjusted using hand-held programmers (similar to a cell phone or pager)

A typical follow-up schedule is once every 6 months, although initially the neurostimulation system may require more frequent adjustments. Your doctor may want to see you more or less frequently, depending on your pain treatment plan. Between visits, you should call your doctor if:

You experience additional/unusual pain
You notice unusual changes in the quality of your stimulation or you experience no sensation when the neurostimulation system is turned on
You are increasing stimulation more often than normal
The stimulation pattern changes unexpectedly

How to use your SCS Programmer

You can download a digital copy of the SCS programmer manual you were provided with in the programmer box, and watch the video below for a step-by-step guie on how to use your programmer.

pdf SCS Programmer User Manual (.pdf)

4.2MB

SCS MyStim Programmer Basics Video

See how to use the MyStimTM programmer to adjust the settings of spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain. The video shows how to synchronize the programmer with the neurostimulator and complete various programming tasks with your MyStimTM programmer

How to use your SCS Recharger (Rechargeable Devices Only)

If you have a rechargeable neurostimulator, you can download a digital copy of the SCS recharger manual you were provided with in the programmer box, and watch the video below for a step-by-step guie on how to use your programmer.

pdf SCS Recharger User Manual (.pdf)

9.2MB

SCS Charging the Neurostimulator Video

See how to establish a good connection between the recharger and your implanted neurostimulator, and how to charge your neurostimulator. The recharger is a hand-held device for charging the battery in your neurostimulator.

SCS Charging the Recharger Video

See how to charge your recharger for a Medtronic neurostimulator for pain. The recharger is a hand-held device for charging the battery in your neurostimulator. To recharge your neurostimulator, your recharger needs to be charged.

Neuromodulation for bladder/bowel control

Daily Living – Sacral Nerve Stimulation

Sacral nerve stimulation may allow you to enjoy freedom from frustrating and embarrassing accidents.

Appearance

Your doctor will place the neurostimulator where it is most comfortable. It usually will not show through clothing. Depending on your body build, the neurostimulator pocket may show as a small bulge under your skin.

Bathroom Visits

People with sacral nerve stimulation have reported an improved quality of life and the freedom to live without the worry of leaks. The neurostimulator is designed to help reduce or eliminate your symptoms, which means you can worry less about making it to the bathroom on time or being near a bathroom every moment of your day.

Travel

Please ask your doctor if you have any concerns about travelling with your device. Your neurostimulator may set off the metal detector at the airport or theft detectors in retail stores. You will receive an ID card that you can present to security personnel to document that you have an implanted neurostimulator.

Exercise and Physical Activities

In general, the neurostimulator will not limit any of your activities. However, you should talk to your doctor about performing any strenuous activities such as heavy lifting or vigorous exercise, especially right after the surgery.

Interstim iCon Programmer Stimulation On/Off

How to turn your neurostimulator on and off with your iCon programmer

Changing Programs with Interstim iCon Programmer

How to change programs using the iCon patient programmer

Adjusting Stimulation Amplitude with Interstim iCon Programmer

How to adjust the amplitude with your iCon programmer

Replacing the Batteries of Your Interstim iCon Programmer

How to change the batteries in your iCon programmer

Attach the Antenna to your Interstim iCon Programmer

How to attach the antenna to your iCon programmer and position it over the neurostimulator

pdf SNS Guide (.pdf)

11.6MB

ITB Therapy for severe spasticity

Daily Living

LIFE WITH A Drug Pump

After the initial healing period (6 to 8 weeks), the drug pump will become a routine part of your day.

Your pump is placed near the surface of your skin for refill access. You may be able to see the pump under your skin when it is not covered with clothes, or if you are wearing fitted clothes. Depending on your size and shape, where the pump is implanted, and the size of your pump, the pump may not show at all.

The doctor fills the pump with pain medication using a needle. You and your doctor must work together to find the dose of medication that is most comfortable for you. Dosing can be customized to accommodate your needs at different times of the day/night or week.

DOCTOR VISITS

You will need to return to your doctor's office periodically for checkups and to have your pump refilled. The medication in your pump needs to be refilled every 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on your dosage and the size of your pump. The frequency of refills depends on the drug concentration and the amount of pain medication you receive every day.

CAUTION WITH ACTIVITIES

Some movements may stretch or put strain on the catheter or on the stitches that hold your pump in place. Your doctor may give you guidelines for activities to avoid.

Although the catheter is made of flexible and durable materials, it is still subject to wear. Excessive or repetitive bending, twisting, bouncing, or stretching can move or stretch the catheter. This damage may require surgery to repair or possibly replace the catheter.

How Targeted Drug Delivery Works

How the SynchroMed II Infusion System works

Medtronic Patient Services

We appreciate the opportunity to help you. Our staff is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. If you have additional questions, please contact Medtronic of Canada Patient Services at the following

Cardiac Rhythm, Restorative Therapies, and Care Management Services

1-888-660-4616 (Toll-Free)
99 Hereford Street
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 0R3

canada.patientservices@medtronic.com