Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal

It’s almost unbelievable that all these docs can’t seem to help us. You can bet that if our name was “Brady” or “Judge”, we would have an exact diagnosis and treatment plan within weeks, even days.

That’s for damned certain. But we’re just old, dispensable complainers. Throw a football, dunk a basketball, hit above .300 in the bigs and you’re royalty with treatment of the very best 24/7.

Hi. My name is Debbie and I had a Medtronic stimulator put in approx.
16 years ago. It worked well for about five years. It’s still in me. I’m having it removed in about three weeks and having an Abbott one put in. It sounds from your post that you’re actually going to have two stimulators inside of you. Is that correct? This is to Heisenberg34.

Sad, but true. Fifteen minutes and “out you go!”. “Next!”.

I get it! I don't think I can even guess how many medications, therapies, pain specialists, etc. I've been through for more than ten years. I was going to try LDN last year but Levofloxacin destroyed the tissue in both of my Achilles tendons and ruptured them. I put the LDN on hold until after I get tendon transfers - the right one was done last month and the left one will get done when I can walk on my right leg again. Then when that heals I'm having a right knee replacement, and on it goes!

Has a doctor ever prescribed Hizentra sub Q? Or if insurance denies it, maybe Gamunex? I'm starting weekly sub Q infusions next week. Hizentra was a miracle! But insurance wants me to try Gamunex first. I'm angry that they wouldn't just approve what undeniably gave me pain relief!

What are your symptoms? I have CIDP with burning pain in my feet and ankles, along with areas of sensation loss, tingling up to my knees. Because of the Achilles tendon ruptures I'm wearing a brace still on my left leg and a cast on my right. You can imagine the effect it's having on my neuropathy.

My granddaughter who's going into the 6th grade plans to be a research scientist. I told her that she would make friends all over the world if she found a cure for pn. But I don't expect that to happen in my lifetime.

Hang in there.

Jim

No, not two. I had a Medtronics SCS implanted in 2018. It worked well until 2021. It just stopped working. I just had everything removed back in May. Very satisfied with the procedure. I am looking into getting another one. Lots of pros and cons regarding SCSs. My experience was mostly positive, except for its early demise.

I had an Abbott SCS implant in 2017 for neuropathy in my feet. It was wonderful the first year! The next couple of years I would have the rep program new settings and it would help for 3 months, then more new settings. After 4 or 5 years setting changes didn't help, and it doesn't have any effect at all anymore. But I surely enjoyed that first year with 80% pain relief. Five years would have been better.

I hope you have good success with the trial implant.

Jim

Have you considered a different brand of an SCS since you have tried different meds? Just a thought. God bless you on your quest, srush. brotherchuckles80.

Mine developed impedance and had to be replaced. Unfortunately, the wires that were emmeshed in the skin, could not be removed. Therefore the impedance remains and I will not be able to have MRIs done because the MRI mode will not work. If I were to have the MRI done, it would destroy this SCS also. Other than that, my Abbott Prodigy Proclaim keeps on truckin' after three ears and I have 100% pain re;lief in my Lumbar. I still require periodic shot for my Thorax and Cervix. God bless you 1gammin. brotherchuckles80

There seems to be a bunch of different kinds of SCS out there. How did you decide on the Abbott? I was looking at the wave rider. Google search said it was the highest rated one. I’m glad you found relief. I’m still looking.