ReActiv8 (Restorative Neurostimulation)

On the day of your surgery, an anesthesiologist will give you general anesthesia. This will put you to sleep so you won’t feel any pain.

Your surgeon will be working near your lumbar spine. This region is designated as “L” for lumbar with a number for each spinal bone or vertebra. Your multifidus muscle is near these bones.

In the operating room, your surgeon will:

1. Make a cut (incision) in your skin at your lower back (above the L4 vertebra)
2. Use an X-ray to guide the lead wire near the L3 vertebra to a nerve called the L2 medial branch
3. Test the lead to make sure it stimulates the muscles correctly
4. Make a second cut in your skin in your butt or lower back
5. Create a pocket to hold the device in your body and insert it
6. Connect the leads to the device
7. Test the device to make sure it works as expected
8. Close the incision sites

After the procedure, you’ll move to an area of the hospital until your anesthesia wears off. Your care team will monitor you during this time to make sure everything went well.

You’ll be able to go home the same day, but someone will need to drive you.

After the procedure, your surgeon will give you specific instructions to follow. These will include surgical site care, what activities are safe to do and when you can go back to school or work. They’ll also schedule follow-up appointments with you so they can remove stitches, if necessary.

The device won’t be on immediately after surgery. Your provider will give you instructions on how to use the remote and how often you need to turn on the device each day. This usually happens at your first post-op appointment. Let them know if you have any questions about how to use the device or if you notice any new or worsening symptoms during recovery.