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Should I have the Spinal Cord Stimulator? Looking for reviews on this
I have had chronic lower back pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis for over 10-years. I have had multiple therapies and procedures done - including RFA, Epidural steroid injections, a MILD procedure, acupuncture, OT/PT and Chiropractics, as well as an Interspinous spacer and nothing has helped my pain. After all of that, the physician I saw in March's only recommendation was for me to have the Spinal cord stimulator, but I am actually afraid of this and have read that there have been numerous injuries as a result of this implant, and after reviewing the booklet and watching the video I initially felt that it was just to restrictive in terms of how you could move your body. If you have had this procedure please let me know your results. Many thanks.
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@bajjerfan I am using the Sprint until Feb 28. It is for nerve pain in my hip. I will also report the success!
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1 Reaction@fjeldbar
This sounds hopeful. What do you mean by nerve pain in your case? I have throbbing or radiating pain in my legs after walking just a few steps from severe stenosis and spondylosis and other things. Was your nerve pain anything like that? Where did you have the implant done?
I am afraid of having fusion and was wondering what you meant when you said a spacer was put in your back. I was told by a prominent surgeon that he could put in the tops device but it's not an easy surgery at all it's very invasive actually. So I'm curious what kind of spacer you have put in and also what is MILD ?
@dadkins
Update: My doctor is going to use general anesthesia for both the trial and the implant!!!
Pain management is a joke, I live in VA. and let me tell you they are the worst. I have severe osteoporosis, facet arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Hashimo hypothyroidism.
My back began to break in 2013. During kyphoplasty I had a stroke. I broke all of L spine 1-5. In July it wasn't operated on until October. I suddenly became a drug seeker. I was in agony and still working. Then came the T spine. Burst my 12th vertbta, still no help. I had to go on line to tell the doctor how to do his job. In the whole pain management in the tidewater area, All of them are pompass asses, narcissistic and don't like when you ask intelligent questions. I went from 5'5 to 4'11. My back has been broken several times. All my vertbta are broken. My recent T-4 was so bad I thought I was having a heart attack. They did a catheterization found out my heart was fine but T-4 was broken. They didn't even mention it. They offer no help, no suggestions as to what they can do, just deal with it. I'm supposed to get the Spine stimulation and NOW I find out they do a test run!! Dang
@mcochrane
They do a test to see if the SS helps BEFORE they implant it. No point in implanting something that offers no relief.
How does a vertebrae just break?
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1 Reaction@mcochrane Oh, yeah? My pain doc is worse than yours and can likely beat yours in a match of egos. Seriously, I am truly sorry to hear of all your troubles. No one should have to go through all what you have had to endure. Now, about this pain stimulation... I am pretty sure you are referring to a spinal cord stimulator. Yes, they do a trial first for a couple of reasons. It tells them if the procedure will likely give you real relief. The trial should give you at least 50% pain reduction (whatever that may be). Also, it is much less invasive and costly. I think we can agree that you would not want the major surgery if it would not give you at least some pain relief. I hope it works out for you. Be blessed.