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Medtronics Spinal Cord Stimulators: Intellis
I'm set to get the Medtronic Intellis Pro but I'm nervous because of people stating that it doesn't help, gets dislodged, they don't understand how to use it, etc. I have fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis, and spinal radiculopathy. I also have MS. I get thrown between Pain Medicine Specialist, Orthopedic Surgeons, Neurology, and Family Medicine. My back negatively impacts my legs to the point that it's unnerving and makes me want to pull my hair out. Pain meds don't last long in my system and I think I've become immune to them since I've been on them so long. It seems they just want to have me do this Spinal Cord Stimulator: Intellis Pro by Medtronics just to get me out of the way. I've already had major back surgery and I need another one but since the first one has caused me so many issues, I dare not! Can anyone tell me your take on this particular SCS? I'm interested in who has or has had the Medtronics ones.
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The gummy that I took yesterday afternoon, labeled "Focus" did nothing to help me. It contains 25 mg CBG: 7.5 mg CBD: and 5 mg THC. I didn't feel any different. I took the gummy last night labeled "RECOVER" which again put me to sleep, allowed me to get up one for the bathroom, and let me sleep until 7;39 when my wife woke me up. Wonderful! It contains 12.5 mg CBC; 2.5 mg CBG = 12.5 mg CBC and 2.5 mg THC. Interesting that the gummy with less THC worked better for sleep. Tomorrow night I will try the FOCUS and see how it works for sleep.FYI... my pain level is typically at an 8. Untouched with meds and pain pump.
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1 Reaction@heisenberg34 do the gummies help with your pain? What kind of pain do you have? You mentioned a pain pump. Is this a Spinal Cord Stimulator?
Thank you for answering my questions.
@caregeraci15 Yes, the gummies help with my nerve pain which is in my buttocks, back of legs, in my feet, and in my lower back. The pain pump is not a SCS. It is a small implanted device the pumps very tiny amounts of medication into the space around the spinal cord. The most common drugs are morphine and dilaudid.
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1 Reaction@heisenberg34 thanks for sharing all that information. I want to try the gummies. I never heard of the implanted pain pump. Did you get that because oral meds weren't controlling your pain? You said it pumped the meds around your spine. I'm glad you have several options to treat your pain. Were your drs able to determine that your pain is coming from your spine! Have you ever had a CT Myleogram of your spine?
@ediesel472
I have one pain doc here and another newer one at another location 40 miles south that both use Boston Scientific devices. Another one here offered the Sprint PNS system, but TBH I don't know if he uses a device intended to be a permanent implant.
Also don't know what any of them do with devices that don't survive the trial period, probably return them is my guess.
@caregeraci15 I did a trial of the pain pump. They injected a small amount of dilaudid into the space around the spinal cord. It dropped my pain from a 7 down to about a 2. Unfortunately, the permanent implant has not helped even though I have had the pump's output increased many times. Have not had no such test on my spine. None of the 20+ docs I have seen have ever mentioned it. I am still taking oral meds. Not really sure they are helping.
My pain doctor wants me to get the Neruostimulation for the spine. There are several makers. I will be 83 in 5 weeks, and have had many injections, and procedures. I weigh 85 pounds, so I'm hoping for the smallest one they make. Any suggestion/information?
@caregeraci15 Hi. I too have had many back surgeries and fusions. On my first fusion surgery the surgeon nicked a nerve and I now have constant, terrible nerve pain going down my leg to the tips of my toes. Maybe that has happened to you too? I had a Medtronics dorsal column stimulator implanted about 20 years ago. It gave me my life back! However, it only takes away half the pain - the nerve pain going down my leg, not the actual chronic back pain. I was on Oxycontin for many years and had a long journey to get off it. I've been off for 5 years!! Now I take tramadol, Lyrica, and muscles relaxers to help with the back pain. I was then diagnosed with fibromyalgia and now Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS). I am never 100% pain free. It is always a balancing act between movement and rest.
@dorma
I have one from Medtronics and I love it for my low back. I’ve had it 6 yrs. I get bilateral cervical and thoracic nerves burned every 6 months as Medicare approves. There are other options now available. I am so happy with my pain management Dr. for listening and telling me options that may help. I drive 220 miles round trip to see them and it is well worth it to me. I still take hydrocodone for my upper back and hope to find a solution soon.
We cannot get real pain meds here; only tramadol, which does nothing for real pain. It bothers me that you still need the RX for back pain. Makes me wonder if I should follow through?
On Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 05:25:29 PM CDT, Mayo Clinic Connect wrote:
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@dorma
I have one from Medtronics and I love it for my low back. I’ve had it 6 yrs. I get bilateral cervical and thoracic nerves burned every 6 months as Medicare approves. There are other options now available. I am so happy with my pain management Dr. for listening and telling me options that may help. I drive 220 miles round trip to see them and it is well worth it to me. I still take hydrocodone for my upper back and hope to find a solution soon.
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