What was reported

Hoodline’s summary of the KARE 11 reporting identifies two of the patients as Kevin Prybilla and Amber Fuller, and states the lawsuits name Nura Pain Clinic and Dr. David Schultz. The report says Prybilla received an implant in January 2022 and now uses a wheelchair, and that Fuller was later diagnosed with Brown Sequard syndrome after her implant.

The clinic reportedly declined an on-camera interview but disputed the allegations in a written statement and court filings, contending the injuries were due to other medical conditions rather than the implants.

What a spinal cord stimulator is

A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is an implanted medical device designed to reduce chronic pain by delivering electrical impulses through leads placed near the spinal cord. Many patients go through a trial phase first, then a second procedure for a permanent implant if the trial provides meaningful pain relief.

Known risks and why catastrophic injuries matter

Most SCS patients never experience life-altering harm. But when something goes wrong near the spinal cord, the consequences can be permanent.

Medical organizations and clinicians describe complications that can include infection, lead migration or hardware issues, and other biologic complications. In rare situations, allegations involve direct neurological injury.

It is also worth knowing that adverse events involving medical devices are reported to the FDA through systems like MAUDE. These reports can help flag safety signals, but the FDA warns they are not proof of causation and cannot be used to calculate true complication rates.

If you or a family member had a serious injury after an SCS implant, do this now

If you are dealing with new weakness, loss of function, paralysis, or a major neurological change after an implant procedure, treat it like a medical emergency first. Then, as soon as you are able, protect the legal and medical record trail:

• Request complete records from every provider involved (clinic, hospital, imaging center, PT, ER), including operative reports, device stickers, and programming notes.
• Write down a timeline while it is fresh: symptoms, calls made, follow-up visits, who said what, and when.
• Preserve the device evidence if it is removed. Ask where it is being stored and whether it is being returned to the manufacturer.
• Do not assume this is just a known risk until an independent review is done. In catastrophic outcomes, the “why” can involve technique, patient selection, post-op response time, warnings, or device issues.
• Be mindful of deadlines. Medical malpractice and product liability claims often have strict notice rules and statutes of limitation that vary by state.

Where liability may be investigated

In cases like those described in the reporting, legal claims often focus on several potential failure points:

• Procedure and placement issues (including imaging guidance, lead positioning, bleeding risk management)
• Post-procedure response to neurological red flags
• Informed consent and whether risks were accurately communicated for that patient’s situation
• Device-related problems and whether warnings, design, or manufacturing issues played a role

Talk with a lawyer before you sign anything

If an insurer or provider is pushing paperwork, a release, or a quick settlement, slow down. Once you sign, you can lose the ability to uncover what happened or pursue full compensation.

Call McEldrew Purtell to discuss a serious spinal cord stimulator injury or paralysis claim. We can help you understand the next steps, preserve evidence, and evaluate whether medical negligence, device defects, or both may be involved.