Who Qualifies for a Spinal Stimulator Lawsuit?

Spinal cord stimulators are used to treat chronic pain, but some patients later experience infections, nerve damage, painful stimulation, device migration, or complications requiring revision or removal surgery.

Potential spinal cord stimulator cases may involve product liability claims against manufacturers, medical malpractice claims against healthcare providers, or both.

Product liability claims may allege design or manufacturing defects, inadequate testing, hardware failures, or insufficient warnings about known risks within the medical device industry.

Medical malpractice claims may involve improper lead placement, surgical injury, poor infection control, programming errors, or inadequate follow-up care.

A patient’s eligibility generally depends on four questions:

• Was a spinal cord stimulator implanted?
• Did the patient develop a documented injury or complication?
• Do medical records connect the harm to the device or implantation procedure?
• Was the claim filed within the applicable legal deadline?

A device that did not provide sufficient pain relief is not necessarily defective.

Stronger claims generally involve objective evidence of defective spinal cord stimulator complications, such as lead migration, abnormal stimulation, hardware failure, infection, or additional surgery.

Types of Spinal Cord Stimulator Injuries and Their Causes

Spinal cord stimulators are intended to reduce chronic pain by delivering electrical stimulation near the spinal cord, but complications may arise from the implantation procedure, the device hardware, or the system’s long-term performance.

Published medical literature has estimated that approximately 30% to 40% of spinal cord stimulation patients experience some form of complication.

Reported rates vary by device, surgical technique, follow-up period, patient population, and the definition used, and not every complication results in a lawsuit.

Recognized surgical complications include infection, bleeding, dural puncture, and injury to nerves or tissue near the spinal canal.

Hardware problems may develop when a lead migrates, fractures, disconnects, or stops delivering stimulation as programmed.

Lead migration can reduce or eliminate pain relief, direct stimulation to the wrong area, and require surgery to reposition or replace the lead.

Lead wire fractures may cause device failure, intermittent stimulation, worsening pain, or complete loss of therapy.

Patients have also reported painful electrical shocks, burning sensations, continuing nerve pain, weakness, and other neurological symptoms after implantation.

The most serious reported outcomes include permanent nerve damage, paralysis, bowel or bladder dysfunction, and other spinal cord injuries.

An analysis of FDA data identified more than 80,000 injury reports involving spinal cord stimulators beginning in 2008.

FDA adverse-event reports can identify possible spinal cord stimulator risks, but individual reports do not independently prove that a device was defective, caused an injury, or created legal liability.

Common spinal cord stimulator injuries and complications include:

• Lead Migration or Dislodgment – Implanted leads may shift from their intended position, causing loss of pain relief, stimulation in an unintended area, worsening symptoms, or the need for revision surgery.
• Lead Wire Fracture or Disconnection – A damaged or disconnected lead may interrupt therapy, cause inconsistent stimulation, or result in complete device failure.
• Abnormal Device Behavior – Inconsistent, unintended, or painful stimulation may cause sudden discomfort, muscle contractions, burning sensations, or painful electrical shocks.
• Nerve Damage or Neurological Injury – Lead placement, migration, bleeding, compression, or abnormal stimulation may contribute to numbness, weakness, loss of sensation, continuing nerve pain, or paralysis.
• Infection – Infection may develop at the incision, lead, or pulse-generator site and require antibiotics, hospitalization, revision surgery, or complete explantation.
• Epidural Hematoma or Bleeding – Bleeding in or near the epidural space can place pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, potentially causing severe pain, weakness, sensory loss, or permanent neurological damage.
• Dural Puncture and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak – Accidental puncture of the membrane surrounding the spinal cord may cause severe spinal headaches, nausea, dizziness, or additional treatment.
• Battery or Pulse-Generator Failure – Battery depletion, charging problems, software errors, or generator malfunction may interrupt stimulation and require surgical replacement.
• Burns or Tissue Damage – Electrical malfunction, overheating, or abnormal energy delivery may cause internal burns, skin injury, or damage to tissue surrounding the implanted components.
• Loss of Pain Relief or Worsening Pain – Some patients experience reduced therapy, new pain, or worsening symptoms after the system migrates, fractures, malfunctions, or becomes difficult to program.
• Bowel or Bladder Dysfunction – Serious neurological injury or spinal cord compression may interfere with bowel or bladder control and require emergency medical treatment.
• Multiple Surgeries or Explantation – Patients may undergo repeated lead revisions, generator replacement, infection treatment, or complete removal of the spinal cord stimulator.

The presence of a complication does not automatically establish that the device manufacturer or healthcare provider is legally responsible.

Product liability lawsuits may allege that safer design, testing, manufacturing controls, or warnings could have reduced the risk of injury.

Medical malpractice claims may instead involve allegations of improper lead placement, inadequate infection prevention, surgical injury, or failure to respond appropriately when complications developed.

Medical records, imaging, device interrogation reports, programming history, and findings from revision or explant surgery may help determine whether a complication resulted from the device, the implantation procedure, the underlying condition, or another cause.

If you or a loved one has suffered severe injuries from a spinal cord stimulator, legal action through a defective medical device lawsuit or medical malpractice claim may be an option to hold the responsible parties accountable and seek compensation for your losses.

Spinal cord stimulation systems are implanted to help manage chronic pain, including severe back pain, leg pain, chronic nerve pain, and chronic intractable pain that has not responded to treatments such as medication, physical therapy, injections, or surgery.

Thin electrical leads are placed in the epidural space near the spinal cord and connected to a pulse generator implanted beneath the skin.

The system is programmed to deliver consistent electrical impulses that alter how pain signals are transmitted to the brain.

Patients generally complete a temporary trial before receiving a permanent implant to determine whether the treatment provides meaningful relief.

Modern spinal cord stimulators may use continuous, high-frequency, or burst stimulation, and some systems allow patients to adjust settings with a handheld controller.

Rechargeable devices require periodic charging, while non-rechargeable pulse generators may eventually require surgical replacement.

Spinal cord stimulators do not treat the underlying cause of pain, and results may change over time.

Patients may require reprogramming, revision surgery, or device removal if the system migrates, malfunctions, causes complications, or no longer provides sufficient pain relief.

You may qualify for a spinal cord stimulator lawsuit if you had a spinal cord stimulator installed and later developed a documented injury, device malfunction, or complication requiring additional treatment.

Potential qualifying injuries include infection, nerve damage, lead migration, painful electrical shocks, worsening pain, numbness, weakness, paralysis, or complications requiring revision or removal surgery.

A poor treatment result or limited pain relief does not, by itself, prove that the device was defective.

Product liability lawsuits against spinal cord stimulator manufacturers generally require evidence that a design defect, manufacturing problem, inadequate warning, or other device-related failure contributed to the injury.

A separate medical malpractice claim may apply when improper lead placement, surgical error, inadequate infection control, or poor postoperative care caused the harm.

The strength of a claim may depend on the manufacturer and model, when symptoms began, the treatment required, and whether medical records connect the injury to the device or implantation procedure.

Relevant evidence may include implant cards, operative reports, imaging, programming records, device interrogation data, and records from revision or explant surgery.

Our spinal cord stimulator lawyers can review the device information, medical history, damages, and applicable filing deadline to determine whether the facts may support legal action.

Gathering Evidence for a Spinal Stimulator Lawsuit

Building a strong spinal stimulator lawsuit requires comprehensive evidence to prove the extent of your injuries and establish liability.

Documents and records can demonstrate whether the complications were caused by spinal cord stimulator placement errors, device malfunctions, or inadequate risk disclosures.

Collecting detailed evidence strengthens your case and helps determine whether you qualify for medical malpractice or product liability claims.

Evidence for a spinal stimulator lawsuit may include:

• Medical Records – Documentation of your persistent pain, spinal cord stimulator implantation, and any complications following the procedure.
• Surgical Reports – Details about the spinal cord stimulator placement, including any errors or deviations from standard procedures.
• Device Manufacturer Information – Model, serial number, and specifications of the spinal cord stimulator, especially if device malfunctions are involved.
• Post-Surgical Complication Reports – Records of infections, nerve damage, significant pain relief failure, or additional surgeries related to the device.
• Expert Medical Testimony – Statements from specialists confirming how the device failed or worsened your condition.
• Pain Journal – A personal record detailing your nervous system symptoms, ongoing pain levels, and how the device has affected your daily life.
• Communication with Doctors and Manufacturers – Any emails, warnings, or complaints filed regarding device malfunctions or adverse effects.
• Employment and Financial Records – Proof of lost wages, medical expenses, and other financial losses caused by your injuries.

Damages in a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit

In a lawsuit, damages refer to the financial and personal losses a victim has suffered due to injury or negligence.

When a spinal cord stimulator fails to provide pain relief or causes severe pain, patients may be left with mounting medical bills, lost income, and long-term physical and emotional suffering.

Filing a spinal cord stimulator lawsuit can help injured patients recover compensation for these damages, holding medical providers or device manufacturers accountable for the harm caused.

Types of Damages in a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit:

• Medical Bills – Coverage for past, current, and future medical costs related to device failure, revision surgeries, infections, and ongoing treatment.
• Lost Wages and Earning Potential – Compensation for time missed from work due to complications and reduced ability to earn in the future.
• Pain and Suffering – Damages for severe pain, emotional distress, and the impact on quality of life caused by spinal cord stimulator injuries.
• Cost of Device Removal or Replacement – Reimbursement for revision surgeries needed due to spinal cord stimulator malfunctions or misplacement.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life – Compensation for the inability to participate in daily activities or hobbies due to chronic pain and mobility limitations.
• Permanent Disability – If the spinal cord stimulator injury leads to long-term nerve damage, paralysis, or permanent loss of function, additional compensation may be pursued.
• Punitive Damages – In cases of egregious negligence or device defects, courts may award extra damages to punish the responsible parties.

If your spinal cord stimulator has failed to provide pain relief and instead caused severe pain or additional medical complications, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Our law firm can evaluate your case and help you pursue the damages you deserve.

TorHoerman Law is reviewing claims from patients who experienced nerve damage, infection, painful electrical shocks, worsening pain, or additional surgery after receiving a spinal cord stimulator.

Current spinal cord stimulator litigation involves several manufacturers, device models, alleged defects, and potential failures to adequately warn patients and physicians about serious risks.

Our attorneys evaluate implant records, imaging, programming history, device data, revision procedures, and other evidence that may connect a patient’s injuries to the implanted system.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation if you suffered serious complications after spinal cord stimulator implantation.

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