1. < Spine Health

Spinal pain management

Posted by bootmaker @bootmaker, May 29 8:55pm

Hello everyone, I have my 1st visit to the spinal pain management department on the 7th of June. I was referred for a spinal cord stimulator. The reason I am going to the Mayo Clinic, is I can not get anywhere with the Dr's here in New Mexico. I have had a double discectomy, a laminectomy, and three spinal fusions. No one knows why about two months after my last fusion, why I am in some much pain. I have trouble walking any distance now. When I was walking a mile and a half twice a day. Any feed back on spinal cord stimulators or even a different process to help with pain, would be greatly appreciated.

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chronicpain324 | @chronicpain324 | Sep 2 3:35am
In reply to @germangirlvt "Hi all I just joined this group as I am waiting for an appointment schedule for..." + (show)
@germangirlvt

Hi all
I just joined this group as I am waiting for an appointment schedule for a second opinion at May Phoenix. I have herniated disc l5-l1, spinal stenosis, ddd and as a result have had serious lower back pain over the last 6 years, with excrutiating sciatic pain down both legs starting about a year ago.
I see a great pain doc in Chandler AZ and he tried everything, steroid injections, blocks, nerve ablation. Nothing helped. I saw a surgeon at Barrow, and he said that while he can do a laminectomy on three of the discs, he is worried about the impact on spine stability. Now waiting for a second opinion from Mayo.
I am a 53 active female and I feel my life has been taken away from me. I am on gabapentin and duloxetine, tylenol, aleve, THC, CBD ... do reformer pilates 5 times a week ... and I still cannot walk more than 100 ft without pain.
Anyone who has looked at a three disc laminectomy vs fusion in the L5-L1 section? I have not looked into stimulators at all.
Any advice is appreciated.

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If trials for nerve ablation work and pass the trials st 80% improvement. Can I ask why the burning of the nerves did not improve your pain level? If you had a pain level below 50% improvement insurance will not pay for anymore treatments.
The simulators have a trials of 50% improvement. Pain managent deny me a trial, because of my scoliosis. Nerve ablation.is the last resort. I am having it done on September 10. I understand your pain and pray that this is the answer

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cynthi13 | @cynthi13 | Sep 2 6:00am
In reply to @tjjordan1 "Mine is a Abbott, and I'm VERY happy with it !!! Make sure they do the..." + (show)
@tjjordan1

Mine is a Abbott, and I'm VERY happy with it !!! Make sure they do the trial 1st before implanting to make SURE, it will work. im VERY PLEASED with mine

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Thanks for the info!

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alexis7 | @alexis7 | Sep 2 6:08am
In reply to @tjjordan1 "Seriously? I have a spinal cord stimulator that needs to be replaced, about once every 10..." + (show)
@tjjordan1

Seriously? I have a spinal cord stimulator that needs to be replaced, about once every 10 years. Charging yourself up every few days would be ridiculous. There are much better products out there than that nonsense. No reprogramming unless I need it which so far in 4 years hasn't happened.

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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.

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1 reply
heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Sep 2 7:45am
In reply to @cynthi13 "Which SCS do you have? I am in the process of getting one implanted. It is..." + (show)
@cynthi13

Which SCS do you have? I am in the process of getting one implanted. It is a Medtronic. I am still researching to find the most effective one.

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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.

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heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Sep 2 7:47am
In reply to @alexis7 "I have a Boston Scientific Wave Writer and I need to recharge the battery every 3..." + (show)
@alexis7

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.

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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.

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1 reply
vikkitennis | @vikkitennis | Sep 2 8:06am
In reply to @tjjordan1 "I wished it was for you too ! Mine is a Abbott, and the battery needs..." + (show)
@tjjordan1

I wished it was for you too ! Mine is a Abbott, and the battery needs replaced about once every 10 years. Maybe find another provider who gives you a up to date excellent product, rather than a very high maintenance piece of crap. There are MUCH better products out there.

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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.

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tjjordan1 | @tjjordan1 | Sep 3 1:57am
In reply to @heisenberg34 "I figure that if a stimulator gives you decent pain relief, then it is well worth..." + (show)
@heisenberg34

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.

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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.

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1 reply
heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Sep 3 8:23am
In reply to @tjjordan1 "What if there's a great product you don't have to mess with for 10 years ??..." + (show)
@tjjordan1

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.

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I would love that! Which product are you referring to? Always looking for new information.

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sassytwo | @sassytwo | Sep 3 10:00am

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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riovirgingirl | @riovirgingirl | Sep 5 11:26am

I'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.

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