Spinal Cord Stimulator Attorney: Lawsuits, Injuries, and Legal Claims

A spinal cord stimulator attorney can investigate whether an injury may be connected to a defective device, device failure, inadequate warning, implantation issue, or another problem associated with the spinal cord stimulation system.

A spinal cord stimulator is an implantable medical device intended to relieve pain by delivering electrical impulses that alter or interrupt pain signals traveling through the nervous system.

When a patient suffers serious complications after having a spinal cord stimulator implanted, an attorney can review the medical records and device history to determine what may have caused the injury and who may be responsible.

Establishing causation is an important part of these claims because the evidence must connect the alleged device failure or implantation problem to the patient’s injuries.

Choosing an attorney with experience handling medical device litigation and access to qualified medical experts can be important when evaluating a potential claim.

A spinal cord stimulator attorney may help by:

• Obtaining and reviewing medical records, implant records, and operative reports
• Identifying the device manufacturer, model, and serial number
• Reviewing recalls, safety warnings, and the device’s history
• Determining whether evidence shows how the device failed or whether implantation contributed to the injury
• Working with medical experts to evaluate causation and the extent of the patient’s injuries
• Identifying appropriate defendants, which may include manufacturers or physicians depending on the facts
• Preserving device and medical evidence needed to support the claim
• Evaluating medical expenses, lost income, long-term treatment needs, and other damages

You need documentation to file a spinal cord stimulator lawsuit, and the strength of a claim often depends on medical records, device information, imaging, surgical records, and other evidence showing what happened.

Successful SCS cases may also rely heavily on testimony from medical professionals who can explain whether the device or implantation caused the injuries being claimed.

An experienced attorney can organize this evidence, evaluate potential defendants, and determine whether the facts support pursuing compensation.

When Device Problems Become Legal Claims

Not every complication after spinal cord stimulator implantation is evidence of a defective device or grounds for a lawsuit.

A legal claim may be possible when medical records, device information, or other evidence suggests that a spinal cord stimulator defect, malfunction, manufacturing problem, or inadequate warning contributed to a serious injury.

Spinal cord stimulator lawsuits may allege that manufacturers sold defective devices, failed to adequately warn patients and physicians about known risks, or failed to address recurring problems involving leads, batteries, hardware, software, or other components.

Establishing a claim generally requires evidence connecting the alleged product problem to the patient’s injuries, additional treatment, revision surgery, device removal, or other damages.

You may qualify for a spinal cord stimulator lawsuit if you suffered serious injuries that may be connected to a defective device, malfunction, inadequate warning, or other product-related problem.

Spinal cord stimulators are associated with recognized complications, including lead migration, infection, hardware problems, neurological injuries, and the need for additional surgery.

Published medical literature has reported overall complication rates of approximately 30% to 40%, although many complications are minor and do not necessarily indicate that a device is defective.

An analysis of FDA data published in 2018 found that more than 80,000 spinal cord stimulator injury reports had been submitted to the agency since 2008, including reports involving shocks, burns, and nerve damage.

Potential injuries and complications associated with spinal cord stimulators may include:

• Worsening or ongoing pain after implantation
• Painful electrical shocks or unexpected stimulation
• Burning sensations or documented burn injuries
• Lead migration, fracture, or other hardware problems
• Device malfunction or loss of effective stimulation
• Serious infections requiring additional treatment
• Revision surgery or removal of the device
• Nerve damage or other neurological symptoms
• Weakness, numbness, or loss of mobility
• Paralysis

Patient safety concerns may become particularly significant when a permanent spinal cord stimulator malfunctions, moves, fractures, or otherwise fails to perform as intended.

A spinal cord stimulator attorney can review the device history, medical records, and resulting injuries to determine whether the evidence may support a product liability claim.

Device Failure, Lead Migration, and Loss of Pain Relief

Spinal cord stimulation systems use implanted leads to deliver electrical impulses near the spinal cord and help reduce chronic pain.

When a lead migrates, fractures, or stops functioning properly, stimulation may be delivered inconsistently or fail to provide the intended pain relief.

Device or hardware problems can also cause uncomfortable stimulation, new pain, or other symptoms that were not present before implantation.

Manufacturer safety materials identify lead migration, device malfunction, and loss of effective stimulation as recognized complications associated with spinal cord stimulation systems.

A potential lawsuit may be considered when evidence shows that a lead or device failure caused serious injury, required revision or removal surgery, or otherwise resulted in significant additional harm.

Infection, Revision Surgery, and Device Removal

Infection is a recognized complication of spinal cord stimulator implantation and may require antibiotics, wound care, hospitalization, or additional surgery.

In more serious cases, the implanted system may need to be revised or removed entirely.

Revision or removal surgery may also become necessary when lead migration, hardware failure, therapeutic failure, or another device-related problem prevents the spinal cord stimulator from working as intended.

Surgical and device records can help show why additional treatment became necessary and whether an alleged product problem contributed to the patient’s injuries.

A spinal cord stimulator attorney can review infection records, operative reports, device history, and explant findings to determine whether the need for revision or removal may support a product liability claim.

Burns, Shocks, Overstimulation, and Neurological Symptoms

Spinal cord stimulator malfunctions may cause painful electrical shocks, jolting sensations, overstimulation, burning sensations, or unexpected changes in the location or intensity of stimulation.

Manufacturer safety information identifies uncomfortable, jolting, or shocking stimulation as possible adverse events associated with spinal cord stimulation systems.

Some patients may also experience neurological symptoms such as numbness, weakness, abnormal sensations, or worsening pain when a device or lead does not function as intended.

Reports of actual burns or tissue injuries should be distinguished from burning sensations and evaluated based on the circumstances surrounding the injury.

A spinal cord stimulator attorney can review device records, programming data, medical records, and other evidence to determine whether painful stimulation, burns, or neurological symptoms may be connected to an alleged device defect or malfunction.

Nerve Damage, Paralysis, and Other Serious Complications

Spinal cord stimulator complications can include nerve damage, weakness, numbness, loss of mobility, neurological injury, and, in rare cases, paralysis.

Severe injuries may occur when device migration, lead-related problems, or other complications affect the spinal cord or surrounding nerves.

Manufacturer safety information also recognizes the possibility of neurological deficits associated with spinal cord stimulation systems.

These injuries can interfere with a patient’s ability to walk, work, sleep, and perform everyday activities, and may require hospitalization, physical therapy, additional surgery, or long-term care.

A spinal cord stimulator attorney can review medical records, imaging, device history, and other evidence to determine whether nerve damage or paralysis may be connected to an alleged device defect, device migration, malfunction, or inadequate warning.

Spinal cord stimulator injury claims may arise when a defective spinal cord stimulator fails to perform as intended and causes serious harm.

Modern spinal cord stimulators rely on leads, electrodes, an implantable pulse generator, batteries, software, and other components to deliver electrical signals used for pain relief.

A defect or failure in any part of the system may cause the device to stop working, deliver inconsistent stimulation, or produce painful and unexpected symptoms.

Battery failure may also lead to unexpected device shutdowns or loss of effective stimulation.

Product liability claims may involve defective device design, manufacturing flaws, inadequate warnings, or other product problems that allegedly contributed to the patient’s injuries.

Common allegations in spinal stimulator lawsuits may include:

• Defective spinal cord stimulator design
• Manufacturing defects or flaws
• Lead migration or lead breakage
• Hardware or component malfunctions
• Battery or implantable pulse generator failure
• Software or device programming malfunctions
• Electrical problems causing painful or inconsistent stimulation
• Failure of the device to provide intended stimulation
• Inadequate warnings about known device risks
• Failure to address known product defects or safety problems

These cases are fact-specific, and the presence of a complication does not automatically mean that a device was defective.

An attorney may review medical records, device information, imaging, operative reports, manufacturer materials, and expert opinions to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to pursue legal claims against a spinal cord stimulator manufacturer.

You may qualify for a spinal cord stimulator lawsuit if you suffered injuries that may be connected to a defective device, malfunction, inadequate warning, or other problem with device performance.

Potential claims may involve patients who experienced severe pain, painful electrical shocks, lead migration, nerve damage, neurological complications, or other serious problems after implantation.

Some patients may also require revision surgery or complete device removal when the spinal cord stimulator fails or causes significant complications.

Potentially qualifying injuries and circumstances may include:

• Lead migration or lead fracture requiring corrective treatment
• Device malfunction causing painful or inconsistent stimulation
• Severe pain that develops or worsens after implantation
• Nerve damage or other neurological injuries
• Paralysis or loss of mobility
• Serious infection requiring additional treatment
• Revision surgery related to an alleged device problem
• Complete device removal
• Repeated procedures caused by device failure
• Loss of effective stimulation accompanied by other serious complications

Qualification depends on more than the presence of an injury or complication.

Medical records, implant information, imaging, device history, revision or removal records, and other evidence may be needed to show how the spinal cord stimulator allegedly failed and whether that failure contributed to the patient’s injuries.

A spinal cord stimulator attorney can review the available evidence and determine whether the facts may support a product liability claim.

A spinal cord stimulator attorney can investigate the device, medical history, and circumstances surrounding the injury to determine whether the evidence may support a product liability claim.

These cases often require both medical and product evidence to establish how a spinal cord stimulator allegedly failed and whether that failure caused the patient’s injuries.

Attorneys may also work with medical and technical experts to evaluate device performance, causation, and the extent of resulting damages.

An attorney may help by:

• Reviewing medical records and surgical history
• Identifying the spinal cord stimulator manufacturer and model
• Obtaining implant cards, device records, and model or serial number information
• Reviewing operative reports, imaging, and revision or removal records
• Checking for recalls, safety warnings, and adverse event reports
• Investigating whether the device or one of its components malfunctioned
• Reviewing why revision surgery or complete device removal became necessary
• Preserving an explanted device or other product evidence when available
• Consulting medical, engineering, or other qualified experts
• Calculating damages related to medical care, lost income, disability, and long-term harm

Establishing causation can be especially important when a patient had chronic pain, degenerative spine disease, or other symptoms before receiving the device.

Defendants may argue that the patient’s condition resulted from an underlying medical problem rather than a spinal cord stimulator defect or malfunction.

An attorney can compare pre-implant and post-implant medical evidence to determine whether new or worsening injuries may be connected to the device.

Evidence Used in Spinal Cord Stimulator Injury Cases

Evidence is critical in spinal cord stimulator cases because symptoms alone may not prove what caused the injury.

A claim may depend on showing that the spinal cord stimulator device, implantation procedure, programming, warnings, or post-implantation care caused serious harm.

Important evidence may include:

• Medical records
• Implant records
• Device model and serial numbers
• Device identification card
• Operative reports
• Revision surgery records
• Removal surgery records
• Imaging studies
• Neurology records
• Pain management records
• Programming records and stimulation settings
• Adverse event reports
• Recall or warning information
• Manufacturer manuals and safety materials
• Physical therapy records
• Photos of burns, swelling, or infection
• Work restrictions and disability records
• Expert opinions

This evidence can help establish liability, causation, damages, and the long-term effect of the spinal cord stimulator complications.

Potential Compensation in Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuits

Compensation in spinal cord stimulator lawsuits may depend on the severity of the injury, the cost of medical treatment, the need for additional surgeries, and the effect on the patient’s daily life.

A person with permanent nerve damage, paralysis, repeated corrective surgeries, or loss of mobility may have different damages than someone who needed a minor device adjustment.

Potential compensation may include:

• Medical bills
• Revision surgery costs
• Device removal costs
• Future medical treatment
• Physical therapy
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Disability
• Loss of mobility
• Loss of quality of life
• Home care or assistive devices
• Wrongful death damages in fatal cases

No attorney can guarantee a settlement or verdict.

A spinal cord stimulator lawyer can review the evidence and explain what damages may be available based on the facts of the case.

The deadline to file a spinal cord stimulator lawsuit depends on the state where the claim is filed, the type of legal claim involved, and when the claim accrues under applicable state law.

These deadlines are called statutes of limitations, and missing a filing deadline can prevent an injured patient from recovering compensation.

Some patients experience problems soon after implantation, while others may not learn that their injuries could be connected to device failure, lead migration, or another spinal cord stimulator problem until months or years later.

Depending on the state, the timing of when an injury or its potential cause was discovered may affect when the filing period begins.

Some states may also have statutes of repose or other rules that impose additional limits on how long a product liability claim can be filed.

Different deadlines may apply to product liability, wrongful death, and other types of claims.

Because these rules vary by state and can prevent an otherwise valid case from moving forward, injured patients should speak with a spinal cord stimulator attorney as soon as possible.

An attorney can review the implantation date, injury timeline, device history, and applicable state law to determine whether a claim may still be filed.

Patients who suffered complications after receiving a spinal cord stimulator may have legal options if their injuries were caused by a defective device, malfunction, inadequate warning, or other product-related problem.

These injuries may include nerve pain, painful electrical shocks, worsening symptoms, lead migration, neurological damage, revision surgery, or complete device removal.

TorHoerman Law can review medical records, implant information, device history, and other evidence to determine whether a spinal cord stimulator claim may be available.

TorHoerman Law handles medical device cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients do not pay attorney fees unless compensation is recovered.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation, or use the chat feature on this page to find out whether you may qualify for a spinal cord stimulator lawsuit.