About the Screening Test
With a screening test, you can try a Medtronic pain therapy to see how it may help manage your chronic pain. That way, you can make an informed, confident decision about how the therapy may help you get back to living a fuller life.
The details about your screening test depend on which Medtronic pain therapy you and your doctor choose:
Neurostimulation therapy screening test
You get a temporary neurostimulation system that works similar to a permanent one, and only a lead (thin, flexible wire) requires placement under the skin. The temporary system delivers electrical impulses, interrupting pain signals and replacing them with a tingling sensation, as will the long-term device.
Learn more about the neurostimulation therapy screening test
Drug delivery therapy screening test
Your doctor will administer medication into the area surrounding your spinal cord to target pain directly at its source.
Getting the most of your screening test
Setting some goals for the test and keeping records of how the therapy helps manage your pain will help you decide whether a Medtronic Pain Therapy is right for you. It's a good idea to plan some activities you enjoy doing—such as going for a walk, gardening, biking, or seeing a movie—to see whether the therapy makes those activities easier.
To document your experiences and help you make a decision, your doctor may give you worksheets to fill out. Or you can map your pain and keep a pain journal on the Medtronic Tame the Pain website.
Screening test and medications
Whether you'll continue taking your oral pain medications during your screening test depends on your unique situation and your doctor's instructions. Some patients stop taking oral medications a week or two before the test and don't take them during the test. Others continue taking their pain medications or only take them for breakthrough pain.
