An American patient’s temporary spinal cord stimulation treatment at West China Hospital

A 58-year-old American man travelled to Chengdu after more than 20 years of persistent back and leg pain following spinal surgery. In a report published on March 17, 2026, West China Hospital, Sichuan University described his assessment and treatment with temporary spinal cord stimulation (t-SCS), and the early improvement reported after the procedure.

A long treatment history before travelling to China

The patient, identified as Mr T, had undergone several operations in the United States for a lower-back condition over two decades earlier. He subsequently developed pain and numbness in his lower back and both legs. Symptoms worsened over time, and he was diagnosed with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).

Medication, nerve blocks and radiofrequency therapy had not provided satisfactory relief. His pain remained at 7–8 on a ten-point scale, disrupting sleep and daily activities. After learning about the hospital’s experience in refractory pain management, he travelled specifically to Chengdu for a systematic evaluation.

Why the team began with a temporary trial

The Pain Management Department reviewed his medical history, symptoms and imaging in a multidisciplinary discussion. Postoperative scar adhesions and severe spinal canal stenosis made electrode placement more technically difficult and increased procedural risks.

After repeated discussions and explaining the plan to the patient, the team chose temporary stimulation to test pain relief and assess safety. Whether to implant a permanent system would depend on the subsequent response and tolerance; the temporary procedure was not itself confirmation that permanent implantation would follow.

Electrode placement and individual adjustment

Led by Xiao Hong, the team used digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to guide an electrode to the relevant level of the epidural space. Stimulation settings were adjusted during the operation. The patient reported that the stimulation covered the area of pain and produced immediate relief, according to the hospital.

After surgery, a doctor, device engineers and nursing staff followed his progress. They adjusted stimulation intensity, pulse width and frequency in response to daily pain fluctuations, rather than treating the initial settings as a fixed prescription.

Early results and the next decision

The hospital reported that Mr T stopped using an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia pump on the second postoperative day. Back and leg pain eased, sleep improved and daily activities began to recover. These are the early results of this patient’s temporary trial; the report does not establish a lasting outcome from a permanent implant.

Temporary stimulation uses an electrode without implanting a permanent pulse generator. The hospital describes it both as a way to provide phased pain relief and as evidence for assessing suitability for longer-term implantation. Its Pain Management Department introduced the technique in 2022 and had completed more than 170 related treatments by the time of the report.