Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal

I have not had my SCS removed, but I can empathize with the situation you're in. My ABBOTT SCS never worked from day one of implant.
Based on the very negative experience I had in terms of the implantation and subsequent failure of the unit to deliver relief, I have not been willing to entertain the thought of anyone ever slicing up my back again.
The two times I allowed an orthopedic surgeon to open my back have only resulted in more pain.........pain that will last the rest of my life.
Everyone's situation is different and if you can tolerate removal of the 2nd unit, I support your strength and resolve to find relief.
It's a shame that so many of us have suffered (not improved) as a result of these spinal cord stimulators that are so vigorously "pushed" by both vendors and surgeons.
I truly wish you the best going forward.

So sorry that you had such a terrible experience. Did you have the trial? If so, how did it go? A good trial should result in at least decent relief from the permanent implant, assuming the surgery was done properly.

Yes I did have the trial. It did help with the foot pain but it caused spread to back and legs. Dr didn't realize that at the time so we decided to go through with the permanent.

I wish I never listened to my Dr and the Abbott rep. Getting the DRG stimulator was the worst thing!! I did get mild relief in my foot (original start of my CRPS) but it caused so much pain and discomfort in my spine and battery incision site, that it caused CRPS to spread. I begged and begged for them to remove. They kept saying give it more time. After 8 months, CRPS spreading like wildfire, they finally removed it.

I, too, wish I had never had the ABBOTT device implanted. It has never worked, and I have concerns about what negative effects might occur due to having this device implanted in my body for life.

I wish I never listened to my Dr and the Abbott rep. Getting the DRG stimulator was the worst thing!! I did get mild relief in my foot (original start of my CRPS) but it caused so much pain and discomfort in my spine and battery incision site, that it caused CRPS to spread. I begged and begged for them to remove. They kept saying give it more time. After 8 months, CRPS spreading like wildfire, they finally removed it.

I LUCKED OUT.
Sound terrible but two women I know were talked into the simulator and both had it removed. CRPS ( I developed it in 1999) has made us hypersensitive to everything. I really want you to look back at your life since developing CRPS. You'll find its true. All doctors look at is the pain. Pain is an 1/8 of it. Our senses are overloaded, inflammation everywhere, What we eat and drink is a HUGE contributor to all the inflammation. I found Dr. Robert Getson on U Tube , RSDSA sight. He lectures are old but he literally is my HERO. I watched everyone of them and did what he said. I found functional medicine, eat as organic as I can, take Tumerac every day, unstressed my life. I'm 62 , a nurse, and work full time at a very relaxed home care. Cook from scratch, moved out of my ex husbands house(long over do) have my own apartment. But reality is that I might be able to support myself but on my days off I'm pretty much on the couch and not doing much. But considering what I was like before this is night and day. I'm still on Vicodin everyday. Good Luck

Thank you for sharing this. I’m undergoing alternative solutions to my pain. I told my doctor that I was not ready for a stimulator.