Has anyone used the Spinal Cord Stimulator NEVRO HFX?

Posted by denman55 @denman55, Oct 4, 2024

My Pain Management Physician gave me a brochure on this SCS and I wanted to know if anyone has used this model and whether or not you have had success with it. Thanks

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Profile picture for velocity7180c @velocity7180c

Nevro unit can do bi-polar that uses high (10,000Hz) and low freq (80Hz) There are a total of 16 leads (8 per side) placed in the Thoracic portion of the spine.

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Similar to the Boston Scientific wave writer. I tried their trial but there was too much scar tissue to get the leads placed properly. Perhaps it was for the best.

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I am in so much pain I would like to try one. Surgery, probably a small handful coming up. How do I find a unit, the best one, and become a patient? I am in central Florida currently, and it is my lumbar region that needs the help. Thank you guys!! I'm not happy anybody is hurting, but it certainly is great to share with those who know < 3
Kate

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Profile picture for lizlarra99 @lizlarra99

I just went through a 5 day trial of the HFX Nervo spinal cord stimulator. I have been in pain after 2 years and, a Laminectomy surgery on July 2024 and that didn't help much as their primary focus was to remove 2 synovial cysts that was the origin causing my severe pain.
After my recent trial that ended on 1/27/25, I am a candidate for the HFX Nervo implant. I have gotten 70% improvement pain free and there are many programs to modify to your pain levels. I am ecstatic and optimistic in how this has worked!
Sharing ❤️

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@lizlarra99
Who removed your synovial cysts? Surgeon i just went to said that they were not the problem although they appear to be touching nerve endings, so I was offered spine stimulator and im terrified

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My husband has had his Nevro device implant for about 10 yrs. ago. Results mixed. He lost a lot of function during the recovery period, 3 months, whereby the scar tissue heals and locks the device in place. We neglected to ask how long it would take, so we recommend that anyone considering this definitely ask that question. It was in the summer when he would have been active with yard work and but he lost all that time being inactive. We feel that he gained back the functioning that he lost while recovering, so no net gain, but he now depends on the device to maintain that that functioning. We faithfully recharge the device every morning, not complicated. The techs are very good at getting back to us whenever we call with questions over the years. Unsure whether we'd recommend it.

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Profile picture for mikkimoe @mikkimoe

Just read of big law Suite with the spinal cord stimulators. I had one that almost shocked me to death. Wanted to join the suit but can't find my documentation.

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@mikkimoe Which unit did you use. I’m looking into Boston Scientific

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Profile picture for cynmead @cynmead

@lizlarra99
Who removed your synovial cysts? Surgeon i just went to said that they were not the problem although they appear to be touching nerve endings, so I was offered spine stimulator and im terrified

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@cynmead I have had coccyx pain since 2009. Doctor said if was referred pain from L5-S1 so I had fusion done. It didn't help. Ortho said it was fractured coccyx, so I had what was supposed to be complete coccygectomy. Did not help. Images showed Tarlov cysts, under my sacrum, near my spinal cord. They appeared to be touching nerve endings so had laminectomy done by special surgeon in Dallas. Didn't help. Then, I went to a coccyx specialist at Rutgers who could immediately see that I still had fragments of my coccyx. Had a revision coccygectomy. Didn't help. A spinal cord stimulator had been suggested several times throughout the years but I wanted to fix the problem, not just mask it with a SCS. I had researched them in 2009 and a couple more time after. I often saw poor reviews and was scared. After, all I put my body through, I wish I had tried SCS first. It's relatively non-invasive compared to what I already had done. My husband has Parkinson's and had a Deep Brain Stimulator implanted in his brain, about two years ago. It is helping him. The technology and concept are quite similar. If he can find success with DBS, Brain Surgery, I figure a trial of SCS and SCS surgery should not scare me. I am waiting to see if my insurance company will approve the SCS trial for me.

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Profile picture for levar @levar

@cynmead I have had coccyx pain since 2009. Doctor said if was referred pain from L5-S1 so I had fusion done. It didn't help. Ortho said it was fractured coccyx, so I had what was supposed to be complete coccygectomy. Did not help. Images showed Tarlov cysts, under my sacrum, near my spinal cord. They appeared to be touching nerve endings so had laminectomy done by special surgeon in Dallas. Didn't help. Then, I went to a coccyx specialist at Rutgers who could immediately see that I still had fragments of my coccyx. Had a revision coccygectomy. Didn't help. A spinal cord stimulator had been suggested several times throughout the years but I wanted to fix the problem, not just mask it with a SCS. I had researched them in 2009 and a couple more time after. I often saw poor reviews and was scared. After, all I put my body through, I wish I had tried SCS first. It's relatively non-invasive compared to what I already had done. My husband has Parkinson's and had a Deep Brain Stimulator implanted in his brain, about two years ago. It is helping him. The technology and concept are quite similar. If he can find success with DBS, Brain Surgery, I figure a trial of SCS and SCS surgery should not scare me. I am waiting to see if my insurance company will approve the SCS trial for me.

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@levar I hope you do the trial. It should give you an idea as to whether you will get any pain relief. Just be forewarned... there is no guarantee that the permanent implant will help, even if the trial is successful. You can see that from many here on Mayo Connect. I had one for about two and a half years, and it helped a lot...until it just stopped working. I'm not trying to dissuade you. Just go into this with your eyes wide open.

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Profile picture for levar @levar

@cynmead I have had coccyx pain since 2009. Doctor said if was referred pain from L5-S1 so I had fusion done. It didn't help. Ortho said it was fractured coccyx, so I had what was supposed to be complete coccygectomy. Did not help. Images showed Tarlov cysts, under my sacrum, near my spinal cord. They appeared to be touching nerve endings so had laminectomy done by special surgeon in Dallas. Didn't help. Then, I went to a coccyx specialist at Rutgers who could immediately see that I still had fragments of my coccyx. Had a revision coccygectomy. Didn't help. A spinal cord stimulator had been suggested several times throughout the years but I wanted to fix the problem, not just mask it with a SCS. I had researched them in 2009 and a couple more time after. I often saw poor reviews and was scared. After, all I put my body through, I wish I had tried SCS first. It's relatively non-invasive compared to what I already had done. My husband has Parkinson's and had a Deep Brain Stimulator implanted in his brain, about two years ago. It is helping him. The technology and concept are quite similar. If he can find success with DBS, Brain Surgery, I figure a trial of SCS and SCS surgery should not scare me. I am waiting to see if my insurance company will approve the SCS trial for me.

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I had DBS surgery at Mayo about 7 years ago I've had PD 10 years. I had a Medtronic SCS implanted in my back after a one week trial period months ago. Medtronic device was preferred because Medtronic was also for the DBS. I've also heard good results about Nevro. I was told that I should not expect 100% pain relief, but 50% would be considered a success. The SCS surgery was fairly easy and not too invasive. Recovery was a breeze. I am currently at about 50% relief and still making adjustments.

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Profile picture for heisenberg34 @heisenberg34

There are likely many people who have had success with this SCS. The important thing is to have the trial, in which you have temporary leads impanted in your intrathecal space and an external battery pack that you wear. Then you give it a try for 5-7 days. Then, if you had decent pain relief(at least 50%), you can go ahead with the permanent implant. Sometimes, the permantent implant doesn't always give you the same relief as the trial. I had the Medtronic SCS trial and implant back in 2018. The trial gave me about 80% pain relief. The permanent implant gave just 50%. But, along with some meds, I was able to get back to cycling, hiking, and working around the house. Not quite 100% normal, but pretty good. Wish you well on your journey.

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@heisenberg34
Ty. What pain med helped you? I tried oxycodone 1 per day as opposed to 3 per day but it didn't help plus gave me a headache. Also the ortho Dr. told me my compression fracture would heal by itself that was 5 mo ago. I think L4-5 is where it hurts-pain is a bit limiting.
The other thing is you're a man so you have hormones, I'm way past menopause. Dx with severe osteoporosis.

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Profile picture for passerby @passerby

@heisenberg34
Ty. What pain med helped you? I tried oxycodone 1 per day as opposed to 3 per day but it didn't help plus gave me a headache. Also the ortho Dr. told me my compression fracture would heal by itself that was 5 mo ago. I think L4-5 is where it hurts-pain is a bit limiting.
The other thing is you're a man so you have hormones, I'm way past menopause. Dx with severe osteoporosis.

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@passerby I was on a cocktail of Tramadol, diclofenac potassium, and diazepam. Prior to that, I had a compression fracture at L1. It did resolve itself in a couple of months. At 78 I’m not sure how much my hormones are affecting much of anything. I wish you well.

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