Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuits: Your Legal Rights and Options You May Have

Spinal cord stimulators are intended to relieve pain, but many people have experienced serious health complications that they believe are related to these implanted devices.

Patients nationwide are filing lawsuits alleging that their implanted spinal cord stimulator devices were defective and unreasonably dangerous. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received thousands of adverse event reports involving these devices, citing injuries including burns, infections, and the need for multiple corrective surgical procedures due to device migration and electrical malfunction.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced serious health issues associated with an implanted spinal cord stimulator, you have legal options and can seek possible compensation for the harms you may have suffered. Call us at 1-866-900-7078 today for a free professional opinion on your case.

What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator?

A spinal cord stimulator is a small device placed inside the body that sends gentle electrical signals to the spinal cord to help reduce pain. A spinal cord stimulator has thin wires, called leads, and a small battery pack, called a generator, which looks like a pacemaker. The wires are placed near the spinal cord, and the generator is placed under the skin, usually near the lower back or upper buttocks.

When a person with an implanted spinal cord stimulator feels pain, they can use a remote control outside the body to send electrical signals that may help relieve the pain.

Major manufacturers Abbott and Boston Scientific introduced the devices in the early 2000s, and have allegedly made changes to the design (i.e., to the stimulation modes, leads, and battery systems). Current lawsuits claim that manufacturers Abbot, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Nevro Corp have made design changes – without conducting new clinical trials – that have increased the devices’ risk of malfunction, resulting in lead migration or breakage, electrical overstimulation, and unsatisfactory pain relief.

Some individuals report that the devices have stopped working, and many have had to have surgeries to remove or revise the devices.

Who Needs a Spinal Cord Stimulator?

Spinal cord stimulator implantation is generally prescribed for people with chronic, severe neuropathic pain in the back, legs, or arms after nonsurgical pain treatment options have not worked sufficiently. Johns Hopkins Medicine’s website reports that it is often considered for people experiencing:

• back pain
• postsurgical pain
• arachnoiditis (inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord)
• heart pain
• spinal cord injury
• nerve-related pain
• peripheral vascular disease (progressive disorder of the blood vessels)
• complex regional pain syndrome
• pain after amputation
• visceral abdominal pain and perineal pain

Common Complications and Injuries Linked to Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation

Current court cases against major spinal cord stimulator manufacturers allege that after receiving FDA approval, design changes were made to the devices without adequate testing and that these design changes are resulting in device malfunctions.

Reported complications associated with spinal cord stimulators include:

• lead migration
• electrical malfunction
• device overheating
• hardware failure

Reported injuries associated with spinal cord stimulator implantations include:

• post-surgical infection
• burns
• scar tissue complications
• worsening neuropathic pain
• paralysis or muscle weakness
• autonomic dysfunction
• loss of bowel or bladder function
• cardiac complications
• death resulting from post-operative complications in the most serious cases

Some people have reported needing multiple corrective surgical procedures related to their implanted spinal cord stimulator.

Current Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuits

Spinal cord stimulator litigation is increasing significantly across the United States. Lawsuits allege certain manufacturers knew or should have known about the spinal cord stimulator risks but failed to warn patients and the medical community. In February 2026, a motion was filed requesting that all spinal cord stimulator lawsuits brought against Abbott and Boston Scientific be centralized in Multi-District Litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of Illinois.

Multi-District Litigation is how the court system handles situations where large numbers of people are harmed by the same product. All of the cases are managed together by one federal judge, which keeps things efficient and consistent. Your case is still yours – you’re just part of a larger, coordinated effort to hold these companies accountable.

The device manufacturers, Abbott and Boston Scientific, are currently opposing the request to centralize the claims before one U.S. District Judge. A decision on whether these lawsuits will be centralized is set for late May 2026.

What Types of Compensation Can You Seek?

If you have suffered serious health complications following spinal cord stimulator implantation, you may be owed these and other types of compensation:

• Medical bills incurred
• Medical treatment needed in the future
• Prescription drug costs
• Pain and suffering
• Wages lost due to missed work
• Emotional trauma

Contact Us So We Can Help You Seek Justice – and Compensation!

If you, or a loved one, have experienced any of the above complications following spinal cord stimulator implantation, our legal team is here to help. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin has helped 78,000+ injured people fight for justice since 1997. We know how to help you and offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation to help you better understand your options.

But do not wait – time limits apply to your claim. Call us at 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online for recommendations on what to do next.

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The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin consults with a national network of attorneys on product liability, defective drugs, and defective products cases in an attempt to provide the best representation we can for our clients. Depending on the details of your case, our firm may refer your matter to another law firm with which we associate. We will only do this if we believe it is in your best interests and if you agree.