Spinal Cord Stimulator Failure Lawsuits

Spinal stimulator devices are becoming a popular option for treating chronic back pain and spinal pain syndrome. Spinal stimulators function by delivering electrical impulses to the spine to interrupt pain impulses before they reach the brain. 

However, spinal stimulators may carry a high risk of failure, including the migration of electrical leads, system resets and battery failure. Patients are reporting painful shocks, burns, difficulty swallowing, stomach paralysis, numbness or loss of control of extremities, incontinence, cardiac issues and erectile dysfunction. When the device fails, patients often receive revision surgeries to fix the damaged device or to receive a new one altogether.  

RPWB attorneys are investigating the cases of people nationwide who have received ineffective relief or suffered from serious side effects of spinal stimulators manufactured by Medtronic, Abbott/St. Jude, Nevro and Boston Scientific. 

Please contact us for a free, no obligation case review if you have an implanted spinal stimulator that has caused: 

• Painful shocks 

• Burns 

• Dysphagia/difficulty swallowing 

• Gastroparesis/stomach paralysis 

• Numbness or loss of control of arms and legs 

• Incontinence 

• Erectile dysfunction 

• Ineffective Pain Relief 

• Heart issues 

RPWB representatives are available 24/7 by calling 1-866-639-0366 or by filling out the contact form on this page. 

What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator?

A spinal cord stimulator is a device that is implanted in the body to deliver low-level electrical impulses in order to block pain signals from reaching the brain. The device consists of a battery, implantable pulse generator, wires and electrodes placed near the spinal cord. Often the devices can be controlled by a remote control or an app on a mobile phone.   

Why Choose RPWB for your Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit?

RPWB has an experienced team of medical device pharmaceutical who are currently accepting the cases of people nationwide who have experienced problems with their spinal cord stimulators.  

Our attorneys have led national litigation against the makers of pharmaceutical drugs and other medical products. RPWB is a 2026 Best Law Firm for national mass torts, and many of our attorneys are on the Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers lists. We pride ourselves on providing excellent legal work for our clients as well as personalized care and service. 

If you or your loved one experienced problems with a spinal cord stimulator, please use the form on this page or call us at 1-866-639-0366 to begin your free, no obligation case review. 

How many problems with Spinal Cord Stimulators have been reported?

The FDA maintains a database of adverse reactions to medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. In the case of spinal cord stimulators, the FDA reports receiving nearly 180,000 adverse reaction complaints between 2004 and 2019, including 118,000 injuries. 

What is the status of Spinal Stimulator Lawsuits? 

Litigation concerning spinal cord stimulators is in its beginning stages. As of February 20 2026, at least fifteen lawsuits had been filed against Medtronic and Boston Scientific. It is expected that many more will be filed as more than 50,000 patients a year receive these devices, and the FDA reports more than 100,000 reported injuries. 

It is expected that cases filed in federal court will be consolidated into a Multi-District Litigation. 

The lawsuits filed thus far allege that the makers of these devices may have: 

• Materially deviated from their intended design specifications and from applicable federal requirements governing Class III medical devices 

• Failed to warn and/or adequately warn innocent consumers and physicians about the known risks of their spinal cord stimulator systems 

• Breached their duty to comply with federal medical device regulations in the design, manufacture, sale, and post-market monitoring of their spinal cord stimulator systems 

• Intentionally, deliberately, knowingly, carelessly, recklessly, or negligently misrepresented, omitted, concealed, or suppressed material and important information regarding the true and known risks, benefits, and regulatory status of their spinal cord stimulator systems from physicians and patients 

• Practiced medicine without a license through their conduct, and the conduct of their sales representatives, in marketing, promoting, and participating in the process of recommending, implanting, programing, and reprograming their spinal cord stimulator systems  

• Breached any warranty or warranties recognized by law 

Am I still eligible if I had revision surgery to replace my Spinal Cord Stimulator? 

It depends on the details of your injury. If you had a defective or ineffective spinal cord stimulator that was replaced in a revision surgery, you still might be eligible for compensation if the injuries caused by the faulty device are permanent. Please call us for more information. 

I was injured by a trial run of a Spinal Stimulator. Am I eligible?

Unfortunately, only those with a permanently implanted spinal cord stimulator may have viable lawsuits against the manufacturer at this time. 

How much money can I expect to receive as a result of a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit? 

It is still much too early to speculate about potential financial awards or settlements. Compensation in a lawsuit depends on many factors, including the extent of the injuries, the amount of medical bills, the details of future care and treatment plans as well as the culpability of the manufacturer of the medical device.  

What are the legal fees for pursuing a Spinal Cord Stimulator lawsuit with RPWB? 

At RPWB, qualifying cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay attorney’s fees unless we secure compensation in your case. A contingency fee arrangement means our fee is based entirely on the outcome of your case, not on hourly billing. Under this structure, you benefit from: 

• No upfront legal expenses 
• No hourly billing or retainers
• Less worry over finances during your physical recovery
• Attorney’s fees and case expenses are paid out of your recovery
• If there is no recovery, you do not owe attorney’s fees or case expenses
• ALegal team invested in the outcome of your case

Before you hire us for your case, we will provide you with a fee agreement that clearly explains the percentage of your financial recovery that will go to attorney’s fees and how your case costs will be reimbursed to us. The fee is calculated prior to the deduction of litigation expenses. Our team is happy to walk you through the document and to explain the fee structure in detail so there are no surprises.