How a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawyer Can Help
Spinal cord stimulators are marketed as a way out of chronic pain when medication and surgery haven't worked. A spinal cord stimulator lawsuit may offer a path to compensation through a defective medical device claim for patients who instead experienced electrical shocks, burning, leads that moved or broke, lost pain relief, infections, MRI mode failures, battery or communication problems, and more surgeries to fix or remove the implant.
Patients across the country have now filed lawsuits against the companies that make these devices. In 2026, federal courts grouped those cases into three separate multidistrict litigations (MDLs) for Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Nevro stimulators.
If your spinal cord stimulator stopped working, caused new or worsening symptoms, or required surgical revision or explant, a spinal cord stimulator lawyer can evaluate your potential claim for compensation. Anapol Weiss offers free, confidential consultations. Call 215-735-1130 or contact us online today for a free case review.
What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator?
A spinal cord stimulator is a small, battery-powered device implanted under the skin, usually near the buttocks or abdomen. Thin wires called leads run from the device to the area around the spinal cord. The device sends electrical pulses through those leads to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain.
Patients typically try a temporary trial device first. If the trial helps, a surgeon implants the permanent system. Patients then adjust their settings with a handheld controller or app, and company representatives often help program the device.
What Do the Lawsuits Allege?
The lawsuits claim that manufacturers changed their stimulators significantly over the years without the testing that a new device would normally require, and did not adequately warn doctors and patients about the risks. According to the complaints, problems include:
- Devices that fail, lose connection with the patient's controller, or stop delivering therapy
- Leads that migrate, disconnect, or fracture
- Warnings that did not adequately explain that results from the trial device might not carry over to the permanent implant
- Company sales representatives programming and reprogramming patients' devices
A spinal cord stimulator lawsuit may also raise questions about how closely the FDA reviewed the changes manufacturers made to these devices after their original approval.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Injuries
Patients in these lawsuits report injuries including:
- Sudden electrical shocks or jolts
- Burning sensations and overstimulation
- Lead migration, disconnection, or fracture
- Loss of pain relief, including after using MRI mode
- Nerve damage, numbness, weakness, foot drop, or trouble walking
- Spinal cord compression
- Bowel or bladder problems
- Infection, abscess, spinal fluid leaks, or fluid buildup around the device
- Revision surgery or surgery to remove the device (explant)
You do not need to have had the device removed to speak with an attorney about a potential spinal cord stimulator lawsuit.
FDA Recalls and Safety Reports Involving Spinal Cord Stimulators
The FDA has issued Class I recalls, its most serious type of recall, involving both Abbott and Boston Scientific products.
- Abbott Proclaim recall: The FDA issued a Class I recall for Abbott's Proclaim and Infinity implantable pulse generators after reports that some patients could not exit MRI mode and that the patient controller could lose its connection to the device, leaving patients without therapy. The recall covers more than 155,000 devices distributed between November 2015 and June 2023. In some cases, the FDA said affected devices may need to be surgically removed and replaced.
- Boston Scientific Infinion CX recall: In June 2026, Boston Scientific began recalling unused Infinion CX stimulator leads because stress at the anchor site can cause the leads to fracture, leading to inadequate stimulation and replacement surgery. The FDA has classified it as a Class I recall. Boston Scientific reported 1,081 serious injuries linked to the issue.
- Nevro: Nevro's spinal cord stimulators have not been recalled. However, the FDA has received adverse event reports involving Nevro devices, and patients have filed lawsuits alleging injuries from them.
Which Devices Are Involved?
Abbott (including former St. Jude Medical devices):
- Proclaim XR 5 and 7
- Proclaim Plus 5 and 7
- Proclaim DRG
- Eterna SCS
- Prodigy and Prodigy MRI
- Eon and Eon Mini
Boston Scientific:
- Boston Scientific spinal cord stimulator systems, including systems using Infinion CX leads
Nevro:
- Senza, Senza II and Senza Omnia
- HFX
If you don't know which device you have, your implant card, surgical records, or the app you use to control the device can usually tell you. If you can't find that information, we can request your medical records to identify the manufacturer.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit: Current Litigation Status
Boston Scientific – MDL No. 3181: On June 5, 2026, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized the Boston Scientific cases in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California before Judge Josephine L. Staton. The court has appointed plaintiffs' leadership and allows new cases to be filed directly in the MDL. Plaintiffs filed a master complaint on October 23, 2026, and motions to dismiss are due November 20, 2026.
Abbott – MDL No. 3194: On October 2, 2026, the Panel centralized the Abbott cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins. More than 25 cases were included at the outset, and more are expected. The court entered its first case management order on October 13, 2026, and has scheduled an initial conference for November 12, 2026, to begin organizing the litigation.
Nevro – MDL No. 3195: Also on October 2, 2026, the Panel centralized the Nevro cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where Nevro is headquartered, before Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. About two dozen cases were included at the outset, and more are expected.
All three MDLs are in their early stages. No trial dates or settlements have been announced. An MDL is not a class action: each patient keeps an individual case, but cases are grouped before one judge to make pretrial proceedings more efficient.
Who May Qualify for a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit?
A spinal cord stimulator lawyer can evaluate whether you may have a case if:
- You were implanted with an Abbott, St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, or Nevro spinal cord stimulator
- You experienced a complication such as shocks, burning, lead problems, loss of therapy, nerve injury, or infection
- You needed medical care for the problem, such as reprogramming, lead adjustment, turning the device off, revision surgery, or removal
Why Choose Anapol Weiss?
Anapol Weiss has decades of experience representing patients harmed by defective medical devices. Anapol Weiss Shareholder Kila Baldwin has secured verdicts ranging from $12.5 million to $80 million for clients injured by defective transvaginal mesh implants, and the firm's attorneys currently represent patients in litigation involving implanted devices, including the LINX reflux system and GalaFLEX breast mesh.
We handle medical device and product liability cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay no fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawyer Today
A device that was supposed to ease your pain should not have caused more of it. If you were injured by an Abbott, Boston Scientific, or Nevro spinal cord stimulator, the attorneys at Anapol Weiss can help you understand your options.
Call 215-735-1130 or reach out through our online contact form for a free, confidential case review.