Spinal Cord Stimulation for chronic back pain

Let’s us know how nerve block works and for how long please. I am going to try a block as a diagnostic tool if for no other reason.

I had the nerve block on 5/8 for L3, L4 & L5. He said it may get worse before it gets better & it has, takes about 4 weeks to see improvement. I’ll see him again on 6/10 to discuss results. A successful spinal nerve block can last up to a year! Hope you get some answers, sassytwo!

Hello. I had a Boston Scientific wave runner put in at the end of December 2023. I had a laminectomy to have the paddle installed. I have two leads that run down to the battery pack. While the recovery from surgery wasn’t fun I’m very happy with the outcome. My pain/sciatica is significantly reduced. I also had success from the trial which is why I chose to go for the surgery. As others have said it can be programmed by reps and you may have to meet up to have more program choices set up.

I had a medtronics scs implanted back in 2018 after the trial. The trial produced about 80% pain relief. The implant only about 50%. Between the scs andmy meds, I managed my pain fairly well for about three and a half years. Then, in early 2021, it just stopped working. A NEVRO rep persuaded me to swap the Medtronics for the NEVRO unit. It never produced any relief. There was some discussion that several of the electrodes on the paddle lead had burned out. I just had all scs components removed. This was so I could get an MRI. So, I would say that the Medtronics unit worked fairly well... until it didn't.

Hi
The block lasted about 2 hours but I did find relief compared to the epidural. So I think this tells me that the joints and my scoliosis play a more significant role in my pain than I 1st thought and that a full fusion from
T11 to S1 will be in my near future.

No steroid injected as my body no longer tolerates them and I have significant hair shedding without pain relief. Wishing that was not the case because I would love to delay this surgery with nerve blocks or epidurals to manage pain.

It feels like the sciatica pain should be from S1/L5 or L4/L5 and it probably is a combination. These diagnostics and the research on near by segment instability are leading me to conclude the full lumbar fusion is my solution.

I am going to look into the new stimulation devices I have been reading about next in hope that I can delay this surgery awhile longer.

This site and all the posts have been helpful so thanks for sharing.
Tam

Hello
Interested in learning more about your stimulator. Did you contact the Boston Scientific Rep or go through your surgeon for the trial? What did the trial entail?

Hoping this may be a solution to delay my full lumbar fusion for as long as it works for me. ( if it works for me)
Thanks
Tam

Hi Tam,
My trial was proposed by my surgeon a few years ago. At that time, I had already been fused L4/S1 but still had lingering sciatica pain. I had my fusion hardware surgically removed which helped some. My understanding is that I likely had so much scar tissue that was pushing on my nerves. Long story of five surgeries that took place throughout the course of five years. My pain management doc, who gave me many steroid injections, also recommended a Spinal Cord Stimulator.
It was the surgeon’s office though, that once I decided to go for a trial, got the ball moving. The trial was done under mild sedation by the pain management doc at a surgery center. Leads were put into my spine at approximately bra line and attached to an external battery pack on my lower back right side. That was all taped to my back so I couldn’t shower for the 5 days of the trial. I had another external remote unit on which I could change the program and intensity that I carried in a belted pack.
It was understood that after evaluation of the trial the surgeon would be the one to complete the placement of the permanent SCS.
Since I did have 70% relief with the trial, I chose to go forward with the SCS surgery.
Hope this answers some of your questions. Best of luck!

Thanks for your prompt reply. I will see what the neurosurgeon has to say this Wednesday! Tam

I've had 2 Medtronic SCS implants. The first one in 2010 was great. The second to replace it in 2019. I LOVE my spinal cord stimulator! It works great for my legs and feet.

May I ask about your pain? Do you have sciatica pain... the sharp stabbing type of pain in glutes and down leg?