Generally, the 'textbook' cases are awake with maybe some 'sedation'...but the cases that have more complex issues (like the ones above mentioned) use general anesthesia......
The 'Laminectomy' procedures require more indepth surgical measures.....
Mine was the simple percutaneous lead insertion and I was WIDE awake! Supposedly with some 'sedation', but i sure didn't feel sedated. Every muscle in my body was as rigid as a board because Dr told me to be VERY still. If i jerked or moved, I could end up with a CSF Leak and no one wants a spinal headache... !

The most crucial part of the procedure is when the leads are inserted and the Rep turns the unit on for the first time......you have to be awake and have your 'wits' about you in order to communicate WHERE you are feeling the stimulation. And once it is determined that the stimulation is being felt where it is intended to cover the pain, then they close you up and call it good. But I was under the impression that they would put me 'out' when they made the incision to implant the actual battery. In my case, not. They just kept shooting local anesthesia at the incision site every time I muttered....'ouch!'.

I spent countless hours on line learning about this procedure and thought I had a pretty good understanding.....but when I get to the hospital, they used a few 'surprise' tactics! Each facility has it's own protocol I guess.

When I went to the recovery area, I heard the nurse say they used 100mcg Fentanyl while they were charting my procedure.
So, between the heavy narcotic and the several injections of local anesthesia, I was wide awake and heard everything.......quite a show!

Rae