Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Nevro HFX is spinal cord stimulator. It uses higher frequency energy that other SCSs. I had my old Medtronic SCS battery replaced with the NEVRO about three years ago because the Medtronic unit had stopped giving me relief. The NEVRO did not help, but it was more likely the paddle. Testing revealed that some of the electrodes had burned out. Who knows?

I would say that you might try the trial. It is minimally invasive and should give you an idea of how well it will work for you. Just be forewarned. A number of people have had a successful trial but not with the permanent implant. I wish you well.

Thankyou so much for the info .I'm going to look into doing the trial, and take it from there. I Appreciate the info!

Hello from the Pacific Northwest USA, I'm grateful I found the Mayo Clinic groups! I have been living with chronic pain from 4 autoimmune illnesses for a very long time. I go to a pain management clinic to learn ways to cope. I lost my career as an RN in Oncology because of disability. I love people and looking for ways to share what I've learned.

Where in the PNW, my wife and I moved up here from LA with our kids over 30 years ago.

I'm a 77 year old male with recent arthroscopic surgery on my left knee, a month ago. My right knee has a ruptured ACL which is inoperable since it does cause pain and knee stabiltiy is OK. That occurred in 1992. In early 2023 I slipped off the bottom rung of a step ladder and suffered 3 line fractures (inoperable) in my pelvis, a stress fracture in one or more lower vertebrae, and more damage to my back including 2 sets of vertebrae bone on bone, some scoliosis now, and 3 other sets of vertebrae with protruding discs in the range of 3 mm protrusion. I have a left hip replacement circa 2016 that is beginning to cause aches during walking, making me think it may need repair. The chief ortho surgeon at Hoag Orthopedic Institute says my right hip is bone on bone but will not replace it because I have no pain radiating from it, although they admit the joint is significantly deteriorating (osteoarthritis).

I seem to be having better pain relief with meloxicam 50 mg daily, better than ibuprofen or diclofenac which have shorter half lives. I hadn't considered taking Tylenol along with the meloxicam, is there evidence that the two taken together are synergistically better than each taken at separate times of the day? Is there any clinical evidence that HLA injections in the knees (series of 3 injections weeks apart) are effective?

Hi I'm Terri,

I had lumbar fusion at age 30, Cervical fusions at age 40. By age 50 I was aching, by 60 I was hurting, Now I'm 66 and suffer greatly due to advanced Degenerative Disc Disease. It's the end of the road apparently nothing can be done surgically, there is not "fix". I had an active life until the progression of this DDD began stealing it. I am on a Fentanyl patch and oxycodone. I am perfectly healthy other than having so much pain which is so frustrating.
I use an upright walker or a cane.

The first orthopedist who actually cared about my physical wellbeing tried this treatment on my left knee while I was still working. Just like cortisone, the results were temporary, and it was expensive, even with insurance.

I was mistaken about the dosage of the meloxicam I am taking, it is 15 mg, NOT 50 mg.

I'm so sorry that you are experiencing so much pain. I'd like to share something with you that I do to move through each day with my 24/7 terrible entire spine pain. I've has 11 spine surgeries and have an implanted Spinal Cord Stimulator that used to be so helpful in helping my pain - but unfortunately my spine has deteriorated so much on all 3 levels of my spine - that it no longer helps. You see, I have, in addition to the various breakdown of my spine- I have a condition called Adhesive Arachnoiditis. This is an extremely rare condition not only in the US, but also throughout the world. The nerves in my spine and around my spine clump together in bunches that some of my doctors describe as "clumps of over cooked spaghetti ". There is nothing that can be done to decompress the nerves. There is no medication to help either. There is no research being done or clinical trials since Adhesuve Arachnoiditis is so rare. So, the only thing I can control in my life to help me live a "normal life" each day, is to control my thoughts and to help my spirit throughout the day - each day. So, I have adopted an "attitude of gratitude". In other words, to be grateful for the people and the interactions I have with others, and to be thankful for Mother Nature's and all of the beauty I'm surrounded with each and every day. Plus, I try to reach out to others and to be pleasant to others and listen to them, if they are having problems - and to help whenever I can. Plus, I try to keep a sense of humor about myself, and about what I see or hear at any given day. Trying to keep an an "Attitude of Gratitude " really does help me not allow the terrible pain control my life. I still have control of somethings in my day to day life. I hope that what I've shared can help you too. You will be in my prayers.
Mmata