Does SCS help with numbness and tingling?

I can’t have a spinal cord stimulator put in. I have balance problems from the neuropathy. I also fall backwards onto my back. I was told the catheter could lodge into my spinal column causing additional problems including paralysis. It’s not worth it for me. A friend of mine with neuropathy had one put in and it did not work. The doctor took it out when her balance problems became worse. They put it in for a couple of days to see if it works before putting in a permanent one. If you have balance problems and fall I would discuss it further with your doctor. I had three doctors tell my no!

I had scs installed 2 months ago. Worst decision ever. Abbott scs. Still taking more meds and pain is worse.

I had a SCS implant May 23. I tried Abbott spine stimulator implant trial and it didn't work for me. I waited a couple months and tried another SCS, this one is by Nevro. It has a charging plate you must charge it daily. There are 35 possible levels. I have been moving up a level every 2 days. When I did the trial, I was on level 21 when my trial was over. I did feel some relief. I would say 50% improvement. As I have had neuropathy over 20 years, non-diabetic neuropathy....idiopathic neuropathy...I was happy with the improvement. I got the permanent nevro implant and I am on level 28. I have walked so little because of pain, that I have really poor stamina. I am trying to build my stamina and strength back. I'm 69 years old. I take high doses of pain medication. I take Meloxicam Amitripyline gabapentin. I was prescribed 8 gabapentin a day and it turned me into a zombie. I slept all the time. I finally weaned down to 2 to 1 a day. The only reason I take the 1 gabapentin, is I read it messes with your heart if you stop!!! And I was having heart issues. I got a echocardiogram and a stress test and my heart was deemed healthy.
I'm calling my rep tomorrow to ask if I can move to program 5. I will only have 7 clicks left to help me deal with pain.

Thank you for sharing @beeonthyme , I had not heard of the Nevro SCS. My pain doc only promotes the Boston Scientific. Please tell me.... do you "feel" the electric shocks from the stimulator? I mean.... is it like having a TENS unit inside your body and along your spine? And how do you charge the Nevro? Is the battery/device not implanted underneat the skin? You say you were having heart issues, but an echo stress test recently revealed your heart was healthy. So glad to hear the "issues" were not permanent. I don't have typical "pain" with my radiculopathy. I have numbness and tingling.... and the numbness affects my balance... and I just don't know if the SCS would really help with the symptoms I have. Seems it would be more designed for people who have real pain. Again, many thanks. Best wishes! Mike

Hi Mike @domiha and others, There is a discussion that might be helpful on comparison of the SCS devices:
-- Comparison of Spinal Cord Stimulators from Boston Sci., Nevro: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/comparison-of-spinal-cord-stimulators-from-boston-sci-nevro/

Hi Mike, I don't feel anything, in the way of electric shocks. However, when I was doing the trial I did have a time when I felt the electricity like holding an electric fence. I turned it off. I think the lead migrated. Nevro implant has a outside charging plate you place on the device and charge through the skin. It needs to be charged every day. I don't mind it. I keep a clock timer on to see how long it takes to charge. I take about 15 min. Twice a day. I have the device implant in my lower right back as I usually sleep on my left side. I'm at stage 3 neuropathy, which is constant fire and pain. This device kind of numbs the burning. I was using 2 canes to walk. I find it better to keep myself from falling down. I have not fallen. I wear a magnetic bracelet bought from Amazon for the purpose of me not falling. It may be an " only in your mind " but so far it has worked for me, so I wear it.

Sounds like you are having some success with making your pain more bearable. I'm glad the Nervo works for you. And better to walk with two canes than to fall and break something. Could you please share the name of the magnetic bracelet for balance? Best wishes! Mike

The one I am wearing is not available anymore. I also bought the more masculine looking one, but I haven't worn it. There are lots of brands. Hunt through them all for best price and best reviews. My friend told me about the magnetic bracelet when she went to a home show. The booth was selling bracelets for 140.00. The masculine looking one is about 17.00, and the leaf pattern is about 30.00. I had to hunt through my orders to find my purchase. I've been wearing this bracelet since 2022.

Since you have so much pain why don’t you try LDN - low dose naltrexone. It works well for pain.
WELCOME TO THE LDN RESEARCH TRUST
Dosing Info:https://ldnresearchtrust.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/Dosing-Info-a4_0.pdf (https://ldnresearchtrust.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/Dosing-Info-a4_0.pdf)
https://ldnresearchtrust.org/ldn- (https://ldnresearchtrust.org/ldn-)
https://ldnresearchtrust.org/questions-and-answers (https://ldnresearchtrust.org/questions-and-answers)
https://www.ldnrtevents.com/ (https://www.ldnrtevents.com/)
LDN INFO
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/low-dose-naltrexone-ldn-3570335/ (https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/low-dose-naltrexone-ldn-3570335/)

You are personally taking LDN?
What are you taking it for?
I read some of the resource articles you provided. I didn't see peripheral neuropathy in the list for helping that particular type of pain.
I think what I read was; LDN fills in opioid receptors.
And helps people with alcohol addiction? I don't drink alcohol, not even a beer or wine. How do blocked opioid receptors help with pain? I can't get the message box to allow me to go back and see if what I wrote was even coherent...but I hadn't heard of LDN before and it has never been mentioned by any of the vast network of Doctors I have seen.