Should I have the Spinal Cord Stimulator? Looking for reviews on this

I had my Abbott neurostimulator put in Oct 2022. I have degenerative disc disease with An L4-L5 fusion. My pain is constant , I have had RFA above and below fusion SI epidurals R/L, Hip injections, and numerous epidurals at other level. I have severe stenosis at L5-S1 along with diffused disc from L2- L5.
The stimulator has helped me enough that when I shut it off for the night the pain is unbearable. I would not say it has stopped all of my pain, but it has reduced some65%. Pain mgmt has prescribed Hydrocodone thee times a day. Some days it doesn’t help at all. I fell on Memorial Day and my X-ray shows Chronic minor wedge configuration of the vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction. This is new, also L3-4, 2 mm retrolisthesis.. All I can say is that the stimulator has helped with some pain but it is not a catch all. Good luck!

You say spinal stenosis is the cause of pain.
I am excited after seeing 7 othopods and 2 neurosurgeons, many epidurals and PT. The mri showered extreme stenosis in L3-5. Butt and leg numbness and pain on standing and walking.
Only the neurosurgeons would do the minimally invasive Hemilamenectomy 4-6 weeks recovery, no fusion 6mo- year recovery. See a Neuro surgeon they are more highly trained and have more rigorous certifications.
Having read many studies lower back pain often suggests fusion. I not qualified and don’t know what your X-rays or MRIs look like.
Get a neurosurgeons opinion, that was the best advice I ever got.
Good luck
Tony

I have degenerative disc disease and wish they could do a spine transplant. I have a Boston WaveWriter SCS and it has really helped my pain. It took a few months and 3 different programming's to get the best results. I was told to be patient. I'd say I have 90% pain relief and very rarely need to take a pain pill. A trial of 3-5 days will let you know if it will help your pain. An acquaintance of mine plays golf again with her SCS and after the recovery time I can do whatever I feel like doing, so I'm not sure what restrictions you mean. I was scared too but the pain had gotten unmanageable. I have chronic L5 nerve damage. I saw 3 different neurosurgeons that said they couldn't help me. I'm so grateful the last one said I might be a good candidate for a SCS, it was the only answer.
I wish you the best.
Alex(is)

May I ask why you turn the SCS off at night? I too have an Abbott, the Eterna model, and I have it one, aside from medical exams, surgery, security. Your ailments mirror mine, I have the laundry list as you do, including the spinal fusion in 2014. The device is working, and I don't have the pain the AM when rising, and I am not concerned a disc will slip when I am engaged in sports, pre-SCS, as it did in 2022.
The pain management doctor mentioned to me if it was removed, I would be back in square 1 again. For now, and it has nearly been 1.5 years with the SCS, and I am able to participate in the sports I love, without the worry how I will feel later that day or the next morning,, with pain.
However, I am curious why you shut it off at night?

With a general understanding of spinal stenosis is corrected by straightening the spine using the "Harrington Procedure" where brackets, bars and screws are used. But spinal cord stimulation is not the fix all procedure. It depends on electrode placement, the Doctor and the device manufacturers rep.
In order to understand "Best Practices", the Dr, has them wake you during electrode placement as the use an anatomy chart to start. But with using Medtronics SCS search on YouTube, most talk to the patient briefly while placement of electrodes are still available. They generate a generic signal and ask the patient where they feel it. If not correct, the surgeon has the opportunity to re-locate it! Otherwise they are guessing. My first implant went down my legs, but my pain was carefully explained as lumbar. They had no clue. Like finger prints, no two are alike and it makes total sense. My doctor didn't understand what I was asking for! Why would you want to talk during surgery, he asked! Because you don't know if your placement of the electrode is correct!!! The Medtronics rep was in scrubs, gloved up and holding a controller Bluetooth and laptop. He did nothing except collect a pay check w/commission for his sale. The big problem is communication as neither knew what I was asking for. Then I got an email telling me that Medtronics could no longer be of help. Have a good life! What the H*}\L?
Best of luck. I hope I give you info to use. Dr's don't communicate well.

Alexis, your feedback really helped me. I had an L5-S1 microdiscectomy and an L4-5 fusion, and still have low back pain and pins and needles in feet. I think I must also have L5 nerve damage, and I'm hoping an SCS will help me. Thanks.

I feel like my spine is overstimulated if I leave it on 24 hrs. However, I have woken in pain and turned it back on. I’m learning that I don’t have to have it on high numbers to get results. Lately I’ve had pain that is not helped from the stimulator. Both my hips have issues and I just found out I have a vertebrate wedge in my thoracic and L3-4, 2 mm retrolisthesis. So pain mgmt is still necessary.

Are you talking about paddle electrodes vs percutaneous. Paddles are attached to the spine, percutaneous are not. I have the percutaneous type. I was not awakened during the placement of the trial or the permanent implant, not necessary. It did take the rep and I a few months to tweak the various program settings I have.
I hope you find something that helps you. Backpain is horrible.

Regards,
Alex

Thanks for the kinds words. I am left with two barrel electrodes in the right side epidural space. Yes, I read a lot about the "Paddle" type as they are difficult to remove and require opening the lumbar to gain access becoming more intrusive. Longer time is bad, bigger area open is bad, more chance for infection is bad and longer recovery time. So they were never offered and they described the ones they would use. 8 rings and round with placement from the T8-T12. Unfortunately one could not be removed and remains inside. The trial placement was very good at 60-70% relief. But instead of placing the electrodes in the same location, they became greedy trying to help and get better results. That was "HUGE" mistake as the signal went down my legs into my heels, not up my lumbar.
They tried a 3rd time and now nothing on the left, and 2 inches away on the right. Not even close to the spinal nerves to get close to trial pain reduction. They chose to quit trying and dumped me, showing me the door. I am still in pain but they still got paid!
I hate it! At 6 foot 3 inches tall, I am desperate to get pain relief while now in my mid 60's. I still have lots of time and things to do, but nothing...

I always want to learn, even just to know or make suggestions to the Dr's. I have seen animation of the horse-shoe wedges, but I believe the brackets, bars and screws are better. Called the "Harrington" procedure. I have one removed from my lumbar my surgeon saved as I repaired cars and knew mechanical devices. They are adjustable, rods bent to match curve in the back, "TORX" screw installed into the spinal lateral bones, but not to pass complete thru bone as blood vessels/aorta lives. But completely allow proper vertebrae spacing and work great.
I wish you the best. Research & ask questions. View videos and ask for X-rays from others (No Names-HIPPA Laws). But learn and make notes to be knowledgeable. Either a mechanic for your car, contractor to fix you house, doctor who's going to do surgery on your back. Lumbar pain is the worst of life as I am 6' 3" tall and 220lbs. I can reach the top of my tool boxes or pick clothes out of my closet without sitting to make the burning stop. It is reducing my quality of life to #1 of 10 being best. 1 is the lowest.
I am a patient, not a Dr.