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Has anyone had an Abbott spinal cord stimulator put in there back?
Spine Health | Last Active: May 19 3:07pm | Replies (23)Comment receiving replies
I have suffered from chronic back pain for almost 9 years, after many failed injections, ablations and scans we did a trial for a spinal cord stimulator with Abbott as the device company. The 7 day trial went great, 6 of 7 nights sleep and felt normal again so proceeded with the actual device and it never helped at all, not even with reps helping adjust settings and playing around, I got absolutely no relief. My battery site ran super hot to the touch numerous times throughout the day and every appt I brought it up with my pain dr and the reps and they were never concerned or would look into it. I was then told that the trial stimulator and the actual are NOT the same and had I known that I would have never put myself through this without it knowing it was going to help. The reps quit responding to me once I inquired about removal because it wasn’t helping and running super hot. I just had it removed last week finally and still have not heard a word. The dr that installed the device wouldn’t take it out because it hurts success rates so I was referred to another dr who took it out for me and also informed me that they are increasingly seeing little to no success with the Abbott device for much of the same reasons I experienced. I just causation anyone interested in getting one that if it’s an Abbott and the trial works for you be sure it’s the same your getting or your taking a risk it won’t work.
Replies to "I have suffered from chronic back pain for almost 9 years, after many failed injections, ablations..."
Hi @vac1979 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I wanted you to know I moved your post here to this discussion where others were talking about the Abbott spinal cord stimulator:
- Has anyone had an Abbott spinal cord stimulator put in there back? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-had-an-abbott-spinal-cord-stimulator-put-in-there-back-has/?
Perhaps here you will also encounter others who have been part of the same clinic trial you mentioned and who can comment on the Abbott device in general or any differences between the trial stimulator and the actual one.
Please meet @ptvegas @artemis1886 @vincescs @jnd2023 and others, who may have thoughts for you.
Glad you've also connected with @bilt4pain.
What are your next steps to manage your back pain, then, vac1979?
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@vac1979 I have my second St. Jude/Abbott SCS. The first was a nightmare having to be recharged every 2-3 weeks. The second one has an 8 year battery. When I got the first one it seemed to help, but I was so preoccupied with the battery I never really paid attention. Now on my second one, I get zero relief from the SCS while in Burst mode. 30 seconds on, 90 seconds off, repeat. I don’t get it. However, I have discovered Tingle mode. And it’s a whole new world. It’s like having a full (well, half) body TENS unit. From my belt line to my toes vibrates inside and I get tremendous relief. I use it at its highest level (40). The only issue is I need to be stationary. It’s not for walking around during the day. But for after dinner to help ease the pain enough to get to sleep. A highly sought after commodity for chronic pain sufferers. Good luck.