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Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuits for People Hurt by a Failed Implant
Updated November 2026
A spinal cord stimulator lawsuit is a product liability claim by a person who had a permanent stimulator implanted and was hurt by an alleged defect, such as lead migration or fracture, shocks, burns, battery failure or nerve damage. People who needed revision or removal surgery may be able to seek compensation from the manufacturer.
If your stimulator failed or had to come out, call the Law Offices of Jason Turchin at 800-337-7755 for a free review of your situation.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuits at a Glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Which companies are involved? | Claims involve Boston Scientific, Abbott, Nevro/Globus and Medtronic devices. |
| Is there an MDL? | Yes. Boston Scientific, Abbott and Nevro/Globus cases each have their own federal MDL. Medtronic cases are proceeding individually, though an MDL can’t be ruled out. |
| Do trial devices count? | Claims generally focus on permanent implants, not the short trial period before implant. |
| What injuries are alleged? | Shocks, burns, lead migration or fracture, worsening pain, nerve damage, paralysis and bowel or bladder problems. |
| Does it cost money to start? | The firm works on a contingency fee basis, with fees and costs waived if there is no recovery. |
How Does a Spinal Cord Stimulator Work, and What Can Go Wrong?
A spinal cord stimulator sends electrical pulses through leads placed near the spinal cord to interfere with pain signals. When the leads, battery or programming fail, the device may stop helping or may cause new injuries.
The traditional model is gate-control theory, where a tingling sensation called paresthesia masks pain. Newer approaches vary by manufacturer and include low-frequency tonic stimulation, high-frequency (10 kHz) stimulation, burst stimulation and closed-loop sensing. The system usually includes leads, extensions and an implanted pulse generator (IPG) with a battery.
Device failures raised in the litigation include:
- Lead problems: migration, breakage and insulation failure.
- Battery and IPG issues: battery failure, overheating and charging failures.
- Stimulation problems: excessive or unintended electrical stimulation and inconsistent therapy.
- Loss of therapy: abnormal impedance readings and no pain relief.
Which Manufacturers and MDLs Are Involved?
Three manufacturers now face federal multidistrict litigation (MDL), and Medtronic cases are moving forward as individual actions. Many people confuse these tracks, so the table below shows how they differ.
| Manufacturer | Litigation status | Devices named |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Scientific | MDL 3181, Central District of California, Judge Josephine L. Staton, created June 5, 2026 | WaveWriter, Spectra and others |
| Abbott (acquired St. Jude Medical in 2017) | MDL 3194, Northern District of Illinois, Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins, created October 2, 2026 | Proclaim XR, Eterna, BurstDR |
| Nevro/Globus (Globus Medical acquired Nevro in April 2025) | MDL 3195, Northern District of California, Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., created October 2, 2026 | Senza, HFX iQ |
| Medtronic | No MDL; individual cases in federal court in Minnesota and Minnesota state court | Intellis, Vanta, Inceptiv |
The Boston Scientific MDL has leadership appointed and direct filing in place.
What Injuries Are People Reporting?
Reported injuries range from painful shocks and burns to permanent nerve damage and paralysis. Many people also face revision or removal surgery.
- Electrical injuries: shocks, overstimulation, and burns at the battery pocket or lead site.
- Neurological harm: spinal cord compression, weakness, paralysis and permanent nerve damage.
- Autonomic problems: urinary incontinence or retention, bowel incontinence, dysphagia and gastroparesis.
- Other effects: worsening pain, syncope (fainting) and cardiac arrhythmia.
- Surgical problems: hardware eroding through the skin and repeat surgeries.
What Legal Claims Are Being Made?
Most claims allege that the device was defective, that warnings were inadequate, or that the company’s conduct contributed to the injury. The Boston Scientific allegations show the range of theories in play.
Those allegations include manufacturing defects, design defects, failure to warn, breach of warranty, sales representative theories and corporate negligence. A key defense is federal preemption, because these devices went through the FDA’s premarket approval (PMA) process. Courts are sorting out which claims can proceed.
Sales representatives may matter in these cases. Reps often attend implant procedures and handle programming and reprogramming. Their assurances, texts and remote programming logs can become important evidence.
Who May Qualify for a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit?
You may qualify if you received a permanent implant from one of these four manufacturers and suffered a serious injury, especially one that led to revision or removal surgery. Each case depends on the records and the timing.
- The device: a Boston Scientific, Abbott, Nevro or Medtronic permanent implant, with models confirmed in your records.
- The injury: revision or explant surgery, migration, fracture, shocks, burns, paralysis, nerve damage, or bowel or bladder loss.
- The timing: implant and injury dates that fall within the filing deadline. Many firms focus on implants from the last 10 years.
- Liability facts: repeated reprogramming, rep assurances before implant, or repeated adjustments before removal.
What Might These Cases Look Like?
The scenarios below are illustrative examples of fact patterns that can lead to a claim. They are not actual clients or case results.
- Repeated reprogramming: A Weston man’s stimulator gives him jolting shocks. A company rep reprograms it several times over months before a surgeon removes it.
- Burn at the battery site: A Fort Lauderdale woman develops a burn after the battery overheats, and the device has to be explanted.
- Lead migration: A Miami retiree loses pain relief, imaging shows the leads have moved, and he undergoes revision surgery. Later he develops bladder problems.
What Should You Do if Your Stimulator Failed?
Your first priorities are getting medical care and protecting the evidence. The removed device itself can be one of the most important pieces of proof.
- Find your implant card, which lists the manufacturer, model and serial number.
- Write down the dates of your implant, any revisions and any removal.
- Before any explant surgery, ask the hospital to preserve the device. Do not let the manufacturer take it.
- Save texts, emails and portal messages with company reps, and note the names of reps who were present at implant or programming.
- Gather operative reports, programming and interrogation reports, and pain management, urology or GI records.
- Speak with an attorney before deadlines run.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Claims in Florida
Florida residents may file claims that join the federal MDLs or proceed individually, depending on the manufacturer. Florida deadlines can be short, so acting early matters.
Many filing deadlines are set out in Florida Statute §95.11, and some injury claims in Florida now have as little as two years. Product cases can involve different deadlines, and the discovery rule may affect when the clock starts. Some other states have one-year limits. The firm reviews cases from people throughout Florida, including Weston, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. If your back or spinal injury came from a crash rather than a device, our article on Hyundai seat collapse lawsuits and rear-end spinal injuries may also help.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Jason Turchin
Attorney Jason Turchin founded the firm in Florida, and handles personal injury cases in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., and throughout the U.S. with a network of co-counsels and local counsels, including Illinois and California. That reach often matters in device cases filed in federal courts across the country.
The firm has an A+ BBB rating annually from 2014 through 2026. Jason Turchin was named to the Super Lawyers list from 2020 through 2026 and was AV Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence by Martindale-Hubbell in 2026. He is also a Member of Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum List. Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, with fees and costs waived if there is no recovery. Learn more about Attorney Jason Turchin.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit FAQs
Can I file if my stimulator was never removed?
Possibly. Cases involving revision or removal surgery are often viewed as stronger, but serious injuries such as burns, shocks or nerve damage may also support a claim.
What if I only had the trial device?
Claims generally focus on permanent implants. Trial-only devices usually fall outside the current litigation we are considering.
Do I have to travel to California or Illinois?
Not usually. MDLs are designed to combine pretrial proceedings, and much of the work is handled by attorneys.
Does preemption mean I cannot sue?
Not always. Preemption may limit some claims against PMA devices, but courts are still deciding which theories can move forward.
Talk With a Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawyer Today
Deadlines may already be running, and the evidence can disappear once a device is removed. Call 800-337-7755 or contact the Law Offices of Jason Turchin online for a free, no-obligation review of your spinal cord stimulator claim.
