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Should I have the Spinal Cord Stimulator? Looking for reviews on this
I have had chronic lower back pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis for over 10-years. I have had multiple therapies and procedures done - including RFA, Epidural steroid injections, a MILD procedure, acupuncture, OT/PT and Chiropractics, as well as an Interspinous spacer and nothing has helped my pain. After all of that, the physician I saw in March's only recommendation was for me to have the Spinal cord stimulator, but I am actually afraid of this and have read that there have been numerous injuries as a result of this implant, and after reviewing the booklet and watching the video I initially felt that it was just to restrictive in terms of how you could move your body. If you have had this procedure please let me know your results. Many thanks.
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Thanks for the info!
I have a Boston Scientific Wave Writer and I need to recharge the battery every 3 days. I have it turned on all the time too.
Most SCS have their pros and cons. If you do a search online, you will likely find that the Boston Scientific Alpha WaveRider is the highest rated one. No quarantees with any of them. I wish you well.
I figure that if a stimulator gives you decent pain relief, then it is well worth it if you have to recharge it every couple of days.
I as well, have the Abbott Eterna. It is a smaller rechargeable spinal cord stimulator, requiring charging every six weeks. I met with the rep six times in the 1.5 years I have had it. The SCS was working well for me, and I had pain relief when rising in the morning, and also during and after exercises and sports. However, in the past month, I began having a burning pain on the lower left spinal side. I brought the dial up a bit, and I am not happy. I am to see a physical medicine doctor at Mayo in Phoenix late this week, and we will go from there. Beforehand, I saw a neurologist at Mayo last week, who was most attentative to my needs. I am taking Cymbalta, per his advice, for pain, and I will see where this takes me in one month. I had the trial for the Abbott SCS and the trial was good. I believe the scoliosis is interfering with the pain.
What if there's a great product you don't have to mess with for 10 years ?? That's settling charging every few days. There are MUCH better products now.
I would love that! Which product are you referring to? Always looking for new information.
I hope you find the relief you are praying for. At my last appointment a few months ago, I learned my surgeon had just returned from training in Miami Florida to surgically remove this nerve vs burning the nerves. He said he would not be doing this procedure for a year at best. They trained on cadavers. I share this because if you have success in eliminating or lessening your pain with the ablation, it is possible there may be a more permanent surgery in the future to actually remove this nerve. Tamra
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1 ReactionI've had fusion, L4, 5, and S1. Four months post surgery it was like a pain free door opened but after about 7 months, I started having pain. After many trials and errors, it's turned out my body produced scar tissue from surgery that is pushing against my spinal cord. Scar tissue is difficult to see on an MRI. Just another possibility to eliminate. My best of luck to you.
I had a double fusion in 2022. My back pain is still there, but of course not as bad as when I first broke my back. I have an appointment with my pain specialist on Thursday. I want to consider the intracept surgery. I will probably always have some back pain, but I would like to be able to stand or walk for more than five minutes without pain. If an MRI doesn't show scar tissue what would?
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