Life with chronic pain can be agony, and spinal cord stimulators are a popular treatment for those looking for pain relief. Unfortunately, doctors or other healthcare professionals sometimes make mistakes when installing these devices, creating more pain and additional complications for already struggling patients. A spinal stimulator lawsuit can help you recover compensation for your medical expenses and other losses stemming from medical malpractice.
What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator is a medical implant that sends mild electrical signals to the spinal cord to block or alter the way pain signals travel to the brain. The device consists of three main parts: a small pulse generator (powered by a battery), thin wires called leads, and a remote control that allows users to adjust signal settings. Doctors usually recommend spinal cord stimulators when other pain treatments, like medications or physical therapy, have not worked.
How Can a Spinal Cord Stimulator Cause Injuries?
There are several ways that spinal cord stimulators can injure patients if doctors and other healthcare professionals aren’t careful:
- Pre-Op Errors – Doctors must carefully screen patients before surgery to ensure a spinal cord stimulator is the appropriate treatment. Failing to review a patient’s medical history, allergies, or risk factors can cause severe complications. Poor planning can also result in implanting the device in the wrong location or choosing the incorrect device for a patient’s needs. These mistakes can worsen existing pain, cause nerve damage, or even cause the patients to need additional surgeries to correct the problem.
- Post-Op Errors – After implant surgery, patients require close monitoring to detect signs of infection, device migration, or poor wound healing. Doctors who fail to recognize early warning signs and react quickly can leave patients at risk of substantial harm, including nerve injuries, severe infections, and device failure. Poor follow-up care can also cause delays in fixing malfunctions, allowing minor issues to grow into major health problems that can require additional procedures or the device’s removal.
- Device Errors – Spinal cord stimulators can cause harm to patients if they are defective or improperly manufactured. Problems such as battery failure, lead fractures, or short-circuiting can cause unexpected shocks, burns, or loss of pain control. Even minor device defects can have life-altering consequences for patients who rely on the stimulator for relief. In some cases, a poorly designed or rushed product can harm patients even if the surgeon did everything correctly.
How Our Lawyers Can Help with Your Spinal Stimulator Lawsuit
If you have suffered injuries from a spinal cord stimulator, you need a legal team that understands both medical malpractice and product liability cases. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., our spinal cord stimulator attorneys can investigate your situation to determine whether a doctor, hospital, or device manufacturer is responsible for your injuries. We can work efficiently to gather your medical records, consult with experts, and secure evidence demonstrating that your implant surgery or device failed. Whether your injuries resulted from a surgical error, poor post-operative care, or a defective product, we can file a back stimulator lawsuit to hold the right parties accountable. Our team is committed to seeking full and fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and future care needs.
Contact Our Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Trust Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. to fight for your future after a spinal cord stimulator injury. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
