User Guide

7
2 Overview: The Trial Journal
All trials or tryouts require careful record keeping of times or scores, and your SCS trial is
no exception. In order for you and your doctor to decide to move on to the next step—a
permanent implant— you’ll both need a way to review the details of each of your SCS trial
days. The easiest way to do that is with the help of a journal. Your journal, which can be
found at the back of this manual, consists of the following:
Pain Profile
You may think of the Pain Profile as a way to make a starting point for this trial and for the
journal. The simple questions you answer here will establish a detailed, personal description
of your pain condition. The profile includes a simple graph called a Visual Analog Scale
(VAS), commonly used to measure the before-and-after pain levels of SCS trial patients.
You may have completed a VAS before in your doctors office or at a clinic. Once your VAS