1. < Spine Health
Profile picture for vincescs

Anyone had an Abbott SCS put in? BurstDR strength setting?

Posted by vincescs @vincescs, Sep 29, 2023

I'm curious to know what strength setting your spinal cord stimulator is set at for anyone implanted with an Abbott device that uses BurstDR technology.

I had a good trial and significant pain reduction after my permanent implant, but feel like the device has become less effective over time. I'm now 6 months post-op and feel like the device is no longer providing much relief at all.

I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon and the device rep in two weeks but want to experiment with different settings between now and then. However, I know it's possible to overstimulate the nerves and create irritation and pain at settings that are too high. My initial strength setting was at 7, then I increased to 8 a couple of weeks post-op. I briefly increased to 9 after a muscle spasm flare up and then returned back to 8.

I felt a little more confident experimenting with settings on my Medtronic device with tonic stimulation, but the Abbott BurstDR technology is more difficult to determine the delayed impact of adjustments due to the lack of paresthesia.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Profile picture for phxratt1
phxratt1 | @phxratt1 | Dec 13, 2025
In reply to @jnd2023 "Hi my name is Joe and new to the group. I have had 10 surgeries on..." + (show)
Profile picture for jnd2023 @jnd2023

Hi my name is Joe and new to the group. I have had 10 surgeries on my spine both neck and back. Now as before I deal with chronic pain worse than before all my surgeries. One big reason is scare tissue. I was wondering if anyone has had an Abbott spinal cord stimulator put in. And if it has helped? And how long you have had it installed. I’m thinking this might be my next thing to try. Would appreciate any input you could share. Thank you!

Jump to this post

I just had an Abbott Proclaim Plus implanted for lumbar pain. I have FBSS after 3 lumbar surgeries. The trial seemed to help, but so far, the permanent isn't. Best of luck on your pain journey.

REPLY
Profile picture for barbarasolinski
barbarasolinski | @barbarasolinski | Dec 24, 2025
In reply to @jnd2023 "Hi my name is Joe and new to the group. I have had 10 surgeries on..." + (show)
Profile picture for jnd2023 @jnd2023

Hi my name is Joe and new to the group. I have had 10 surgeries on my spine both neck and back. Now as before I deal with chronic pain worse than before all my surgeries. One big reason is scare tissue. I was wondering if anyone has had an Abbott spinal cord stimulator put in. And if it has helped? And how long you have had it installed. I’m thinking this might be my next thing to try. Would appreciate any input you could share. Thank you!

Jump to this post

I have an Abbott spinal nerve stimulator. Implanted in September 2022. I take it for granted that it helps as my pain is basically absent. I needed an mri done which ment I needed to turn it off for that. After 45 minutes and laying on my back I finished the mri and was in tears from the pain. I turned it back on and it took some time (hours) for my body to find relief once again. Only problems I've encountered was some pain over battery site due some shifting of battery pack, the other problem was when I encountered that my battery pack had stopped working. I went for a replacement of the battery pack. It's been doing well since having that done the end of August 2025. I'm glad that it works so well. Best of luck to you!!

REPLY
Profile picture for ptvegas
ptvegas | @ptvegas | Jan 11 5:04pm
In reply to @jnd2023 "Hi my name is Joe and new to the group. I have had 10 surgeries on..." + (show)
Profile picture for jnd2023 @jnd2023

Hi my name is Joe and new to the group. I have had 10 surgeries on my spine both neck and back. Now as before I deal with chronic pain worse than before all my surgeries. One big reason is scare tissue. I was wondering if anyone has had an Abbott spinal cord stimulator put in. And if it has helped? And how long you have had it installed. I’m thinking this might be my next thing to try. Would appreciate any input you could share. Thank you!

Jump to this post

I had mine in about a year now, and still no benefit. I had the trail, and it seemed to be doing something, but during the trial the doctor and the Abbott rep tells you not to do any bending, lifting and stretching.. WELL that's what causes the pain! .. so I went ahead anyway,, and it really doesn't seem to do anything. The Abbott rep has readjusted it many times to no avail. At time times it seems to help after I do some laboring work,, then I sit for a minute and the pain subsides...... I think. But day to day, I don't see any effect. Don't know if there's any other options from Abbott,, but at this time I wouldn't recommend it.

REPLY
Profile picture for fireguy
fireguy | @fireguy | Mar 2 5:38pm
In reply to @vincescs "@smithki - sorry you didn't get the battery you preferred. This should have been agreed with..." + (show)
Profile picture for vincescs @vincescs

@smithki - sorry you didn't get the battery you preferred. This should have been agreed with your doctor before the surgery. If it is any consolation, surgery for battery replacement is less invasive and the recovery will be quicker than for the full system implantation. And you don't have to deal with recharging in the meantime, which some people find tedious and time consuming. Any follow up visits are typically with your physician. The Abbott rep is there for you when you have programming needs or device connection issues.

Setting the optimal strength level for Burst stimulation can be challenging since there isn't a lot of feedback. With tonic stimulation, I usually set the strength just below the point where I feel the stimulation. I prefer tonic and use it 100% of the time. The only downside is it uses more energy, so I have to charge more frequently. I don't know if this would also impact battery life for a non-rechargeable.

I agree the discharge instructions and activity limitations are difficult. I wasn't sure what no bending, twisting, or reaching really meant so I had my rep demonstrate what was okay and what wasn't okay, which was very helpful. I was able to do more during my recovery period than I initially thought.

Jump to this post

@vincescs I have two questions. 1-if you cant bend or twist, does that rule out golf for six weeks? 2- how do you recharge the unit?

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for linda6101
linda6101 | @linda6101 | Mar 2 9:14pm
In reply to @fireguy "@vincescs I have two questions. 1-if you cant bend or twist, does that rule out golf..." + (show)
Profile picture for fireguy @fireguy

@vincescs I have two questions. 1-if you cant bend or twist, does that rule out golf for six weeks? 2- how do you recharge the unit?

Jump to this post

@fireguy I had a Boston Logistics Spinal Cord Stimulator put in a few years ago. I had high hopes, after 10 procedures by my Pain Specialist. I had 2 failed spine surgeries 11 years ago. I had high hopes for the stimulator, but it didn’t work for me. I talked to people who had success with it. You should try it. It’s a small surgery and the company works to find the right program. I wish you well.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for vincescs
vincescs | @vincescs | Mar 3 5:54am
In reply to @fireguy "@vincescs I have two questions. 1-if you cant bend or twist, does that rule out golf..." + (show)
Profile picture for fireguy @fireguy

@vincescs I have two questions. 1-if you cant bend or twist, does that rule out golf for six weeks? 2- how do you recharge the unit?

Jump to this post

@fireguy - I have seen a wide range of SCS post-op recovery plans published on the web, but your doctor and device rep will provide you with specific information. However, this will include some time away from the golf course. There may also be some long-term restrictions. My first SCS was for cervical pain and excluded scuba diving, roller coasters, and... golf. My second SCS was for lumbar pain, and the device rep told me she had many patients who continued to golf after recovery.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for fireguy
fireguy | @fireguy | Mar 3 9:46am
In reply to @vincescs "@fireguy - I have seen a wide range of SCS post-op recovery plans published on the..." + (show)
Profile picture for vincescs @vincescs

@fireguy - I have seen a wide range of SCS post-op recovery plans published on the web, but your doctor and device rep will provide you with specific information. However, this will include some time away from the golf course. There may also be some long-term restrictions. My first SCS was for cervical pain and excluded scuba diving, roller coasters, and... golf. My second SCS was for lumbar pain, and the device rep told me she had many patients who continued to golf after recovery.

Jump to this post

@vincescs Thank you. I'm in the early stages of obtaining one and after reading some of the posts on this site, I am having second thoughts.

REPLY
Profile picture for fireguy
fireguy | @fireguy | Mar 3 9:53am
In reply to @linda6101 "@fireguy I had a Boston Logistics Spinal Cord Stimulator put in a few years ago. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for linda6101 @linda6101

@fireguy I had a Boston Logistics Spinal Cord Stimulator put in a few years ago. I had high hopes, after 10 procedures by my Pain Specialist. I had 2 failed spine surgeries 11 years ago. I had high hopes for the stimulator, but it didn’t work for me. I talked to people who had success with it. You should try it. It’s a small surgery and the company works to find the right program. I wish you well.

Jump to this post

@linda6101 Thanks. I am in the early stages of obtaining one. My doc is now in the process of getting it approved by insurance, ordering it and then letting me try it for a week. After reading these posts on this site, I am having second thoughts. I may have too high of hopes that it will relieve all my pain.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for linda6101
linda6101 | @linda6101 | Mar 3 6:17pm
In reply to @fireguy "@linda6101 Thanks. I am in the early stages of obtaining one. My doc is now in..." + (show)
Profile picture for fireguy @fireguy

@linda6101 Thanks. I am in the early stages of obtaining one. My doc is now in the process of getting it approved by insurance, ordering it and then letting me try it for a week. After reading these posts on this site, I am having second thoughts. I may have too high of hopes that it will relieve all my pain.

Jump to this post

@fireguy please give it that week trial before having it implanted inside. You have nothing to lose. It does work for some people. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for fireguy
fireguy | @fireguy | Mar 4 8:37am
In reply to @linda6101 "@fireguy please give it that week trial before having it implanted inside. You have nothing to..." + (show)
Profile picture for linda6101 @linda6101

@fireguy please give it that week trial before having it implanted inside. You have nothing to lose. It does work for some people. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them.

Jump to this post

@linda6101
Yes, that is the plan for now. Thanks

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.