Should I have the Spinal Cord Stimulator? Looking for reviews on this

@ga29 Back at ya some time later. I discovered that in many cases(like mine) that you have to keep ramping up the medication from the pain pump. It can take a significant amount to reduce your pain. This can take quite a while especially if they start at a low dose and up the dose at only ten percent intervals. Ask Google how many increases it would take to go from your starting dose to a therapeutic dose. Say, starting at 0.02 mg to 2.5 mg daily. It can be quite a few. Any way, I hope you are doing well.

I have degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar scoliosis, disc bulges from T11 through L4 with facet hypertrophy. I recently underwent a left sided L5/S1 fusion in May of 2025 because of complete vertebral collapse. I still have a broad based disc bulge and posterior annular tear and right sided severe neural foraminal narrowing at L5/S1 as of an MRI and CT scan of 12/29/25! I also underwent a left SI joint fusion in November of 2025 and need the right SI joint fused. Before these procedures, I went through the injections, ablations, injections again and found no relief. After all of this, I still have nerve pain down my left leg into my feet! I am female and have ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis. I take Enbrel and methotrexate and hydroxychloraquin for these conditions. I have been on opioids since May along with gabapentin and tizanadine. I had to retire because of my inability to be clear headed from the pills and from the chronic pain. The surgeries have provided minimal relief. I am scheduled for a Spect CT and thoracic MRI this week to see if there is another cause for the nerve pain.

All of the above being said, my neurosurgeon has now recommended a Boston Scientific SCS trial. I only sleep about 2-3 hours at a time because I’m unable to lie in bed longer. I can’t sit for very long nor can I stand for very long. I walk with a cane or walker. And, I’m now relegated to needing a motorized cart to go grocery shopping. This is not me! Up until 3 years ago, I walked 3 miles a day, travelled constantly and drove a 2000 Harley Davidson Fatboy!

I am scared of the actual procedure. I am tired of pain and will try it but have seen YouTube videos of people crying out in terrible pain during the procedure. I would love to hear about this aspect of the trial and permanent implant. I am having it done at a surgery center IF the insurance company will approve it. I’m at the beginning of that process. Also, I am 5’0” short and weigh 93 lbs. I’m also concerned about feeling the stimulator / the princess and the pea kind of thing. I would also love to hear about others with the very low body fat problem. Any guidance is appreciated!

@dadkins

I have degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar scoliosis, disc bulges from T11 through L4 with facet hypertrophy. I recently underwent a left sided L5/S1 fusion in May of 2025 because of complete vertebral collapse. I still have a broad based disc bulge and posterior annular tear and right sided severe neural foraminal narrowing at L5/S1 as of an MRI and CT scan of 12/29/25! I also underwent a left SI joint fusion in November of 2025 and need the right SI joint fused. Before these procedures, I went through the injections, ablations, injections again and found no relief. After all of this, I still have nerve pain down my left leg into my feet! I am female and have ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis. I take Enbrel and methotrexate and hydroxychloraquin for these conditions. I have been on opioids since May along with gabapentin and tizanadine. I had to retire because of my inability to be clear headed from the pills and from the chronic pain. The surgeries have provided minimal relief. I am scheduled for a Spect CT and thoracic MRI this week to see if there is another cause for the nerve pain.

All of the above being said, my neurosurgeon has now recommended a Boston Scientific SCS trial. I only sleep about 2-3 hours at a time because I’m unable to lie in bed longer. I can’t sit for very long nor can I stand for very long. I walk with a cane or walker. And, I’m now relegated to needing a motorized cart to go grocery shopping. This is not me! Up until 3 years ago, I walked 3 miles a day, travelled constantly and drove a 2000 Harley Davidson Fatboy!

I am scared of the actual procedure. I am tired of pain and will try it but have seen YouTube videos of people crying out in terrible pain during the procedure. I would love to hear about this aspect of the trial and permanent implant. I am having it done at a surgery center IF the insurance company will approve it. I’m at the beginning of that process. Also, I am 5’0” short and weigh 93 lbs. I’m also concerned about feeling the stimulator / the princess and the pea kind of thing. I would also love to hear about others with the very low body fat problem. Any guidance is appreciated!

@dadkins I'm not sure what videos you have seen where people are crying out in terrible pain during spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation, but the procedure is performed under general anesthesia. In particular, for the trail the leads are inserted but you wear the battery externally on a belt. I was able to continue working remotely during my trial. The permanent implant is of course more invasive since the battery is implanted. I was out of work for 1 to 2 weeks for my permanent SCS implantation.
Your concern about being thin is valid. I am also thin (BMI = 20) and the outline of the battery is clearing visible at the implant site. Mine is implanted in my flank, but you may have the option to have it placed elsewhere. If you have it placed in your flank, I would recommend placing it on the side you don't sleep on if you're a side sleeper.

There is also a device called SPRINT pns [pns is peripheral nerve stimulation] where there is a 1 week trial period. If the trial period looks good, the testing would continue for 2 more months and the device would be removed and you should be good for the rest of your days. IIRC I looked it up and OOP cost for the trial period is somewheres around $1,000.
https://www.sprpainrelief.com/hcp/sprint-pns-system