Stimulation design for neuromodulation

A method of stimulating nerve tissue of a patient using an implantable pulse generator, the method comprising:

• generating, by the implantable pulse generator, a burst stimulus that comprises a repeating pattern of a plurality of groups of pulses, wherein the burst stimulus is substantially quiescent between each adjacent group of pulses, wherein pulses within each group of pulses are repeated at a pulse rate of approximately 500 Hz and groups of pulses within the plurality of groups are repeated at approximately 40 Hz, wherein the burst stimulus is adapted to repetitively cause a group of stimulated neurons to experience a rise above a resting electrical potential to a reference potential, to be maintained at or above the reference potential for a duration of multiple pulses of a respective group of pulses, and to experience spiking from the multiple pulses of the respective group of pulses;
• providing the burst stimulus from the implantable pulse generator to a medical lead;
• and
• treating chronic pain in the patient by applying the burst stimulus to afferent somatosensory fibers of the dorsal column the patient via one or several electrodes of the medical lead.