For spinal stenosis, is TENS implant better / worse than external TENS

A TENS unit may help minor aches and pains, but it is not for severe pain, like neuropathy. An implanted spinal cord stimulator has a lead/paddle that is put in the space next to your spinal cord. The battery is implanted somewhere in the buttock or lower back. The device sends out specific electrical impulses that help block the pain signals. It can be vey effective in relieving pain. I had a Medtronics SCS implanted back in 2018. It worked quite well in relieving my pain. Then, in 2021, it just stopped working. There was thought that either the paddle lead has shorted out or it had moved. I had all the old hardware removed back in May of this year. I will be going for a trial of a new, improved SCS by Boston Scientific in two weeks. That's the plus side of the device... you can do a trial before you decide to do the permanent implant. Hope that helps.

Thanks! My spinal stenosis is moderate to severe and is progressive resulting from damage to the vertebrates. A SCS implant now may not be effective later. For now, the external TENS seems the best option

A TENS unit may help minor aches and pains, but it is not for severe pain, like neuropathy. An implanted spinal cord stimulator has a lead/paddle that is put in the space next to your spinal cord. The battery is implanted somewhere in the buttock or lower back. The device sends out specific electrical impulses that help block the pain signals. It can be vey effective in relieving pain. I had a Medtronics SCS implanted back in 2018. It worked quite well in relieving my pain. Then, in 2021, it just stopped working. There was thought that either the paddle lead has shorted out or it had moved. I had all the old hardware removed back in May of this year. I will be going for a trial of a new, improved SCS by Boston Scientific in two weeks. That's the plus side of the device... you can do a trial before you decide to do the permanent implant. Hope that helps.

I had the Boston Scientific trial that worked well, but the actual implant didn’t. I had it removed Feb 2024. I know it’s worked great for some, just not for me. Do your research, pray & make a decision best for you. Let us know!

Sorry that the permanent implant wasn't successful for you. I'm going for the trial in eleven days. Will post my results after the trial and whether or not I'm going for the permanent implant. Thanks for your reply.

@heisenberg34 How did your trial do ? Have you had a permanent one put in yet ? @nels0nraver I had the Boston Scientific stimulator put in last week , the trial was great the permanent gave me 95% relief for 2 days then being stupid I vent to far and possibly moved he leads so now awaiting to see if I will need surgery again . I’m dealing with a failed back surgery I had a screw come loose but was told to leave it alone and do the stimulator. I was fused at l4-s1 3 weeks later I was twisted and the next week told by his assistant it might be a set back but I could start lifting bending and twisting and that night I bent to dry my lower legs after showering and there was a burning in my back that hasn’t improved since May of 2023. Without the stimulator I’m using 2 canes , a Walker or a scooter with the stimulator I was starting to stand straighter walk faster and not needing my canes because all the fireworks weren’t exploding in my legs (that’s how it felt )

My trial provided no relief because the leads could not be placed in the "sweet spot". Too much scar tissue from the old stimulator being removed. You say you got 95% relief with the permanent implant for two days. What do you mean when you say that you went too far? Did you start doing too much strenuous activity too soon?

I am looking into something called scrambler therapy. You can check it out by doing a search. Since a doctor at Johns-Hopkins is doing it, I figured it is not a scam. Way too many of those out there. I hope you can get your stimulator back to working.

@heisenberg34 I was feeling so good and forgot and bent down to pick up a magazine off the floor, after that the pain was back. I don’t want another surgery but would rather fix it before all the scar tissue builds up. I will look into the scrambler therapy you never know it might just be what I need or someone else hat wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t mentioned it. I agree you never know what’s legit anymore that’s why I mainly been relying on Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic

Definitely two good places to trust. I want to try Scrambler therapy but not two places anywhere remotely close. One is over three hours away and the other is two hours away. The caveat is that you have to go for one hour for five days a week for two weeks…and it’s not covered by insurance.