Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal

Posted by heisenberg34 @heisenberg34, Aug 5, 2023

My Medtronics SCS stopped working after about three years. A NEVRO rep talked me into having one of theirs implanted. They had to use an adapter to connect Nevro unit to Medtronics lead. As a result, I cannot have an MRI. Also, the Nevro did not help at all. I would like to have all the SCS stuff removed (or, at least, the NEVRO battery replaced with a Medtronics) so I can have the MRI that my pain specialists seem to want very badly. Anyone out there have this experience this?

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

carolynhughes75 | @carolynhughes75 | Nov 16, 2025

Are you sure about the NEVCO unit and an MRI ? I had a Medtronic unit and couldn't have a MRI with it implanted.

heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Nov 16, 2025

In reply to @carolynhughes75 "Are you sure about the NEVCO unit and an MRI ? I had a Medtronic unit..." + (show)

@carolynhughes75 I had the Medtronics SCS and it had an MRI setting on it. I did have an MRI with it.I have read that some mri machines may not be compatible with all SCS.

carolynhughes75 | @carolynhughes75 | Nov 22, 2025

In reply to @heisenberg34 "@carolynhughes75 I had the Medtronics SCS and it had an MRI setting on it. I did..." + (show)

@heisenberg34
Medtronic did have a Class 1 recall on their SCS. I couldn't have a MRI because of that recall. Mine wasn't working anyway, so I had it removed. I don't know if Medtronic corrected the problem.

wdawes | @wdawes | 3 days ago

On day 6 of my Medtronic SCS trial, the two leads were removed from my spine, by my pain clinic doctor, in his office, with no fluoroscopy. I remember feeling some mini jolt sensations as the last lead was removed. By the time I walked to my car, I felt some waves of nausea, and went home to sleep for a few hours. Still was nauseous an hour after waking, and would get a slight headache when standing… no headache when lying down. My neck was stiff, too. Went to ER, and they said if not improved by the next day, that CSF leakage was possible. I had a laminectomy 18 months ago, which had a seroma bump over the incision, which as definitely CSF, requiring a dural repair surgery.
So, the nausea after the SCS leads has me a bit concerned, but w curious if anyone else experienced nausea, after SCS surgery?

abettera1961 | @abettera1961 | 3 days ago

In reply to @wdawes "On day 6 of my Medtronic SCS trial, the two leads were removed from my spine,..." + (show)

@wdawes I did not have any nausea, however the nerve stimulator did absolutely for me, if you Google it you might find something there, after failed surgeries and a hip replacement I'm still in incredible pain, it's my right leg/buttocks area , tired of taking pills that hardly work, hope you feel better

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 3 days ago

In reply to @wdawes "On day 6 of my Medtronic SCS trial, the two leads were removed from my spine,..." + (show)

@wdawes - I moved your post here so you could chat with others also talking about spinal cord simulator removal:

- Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/spinal-cord-stimulator-removal/

Fellow members such as @carolynhughes75 @heisenberg34 and others may have thoughts to share about any nausea they've experienced after an SCS removal.

What has your doctor said about the nausea you are experiencing?

heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | 3 days ago

In reply to @abettera1961 "@wdawes I did not have any nausea, however the nerve stimulator did absolutely for me, if..." + (show)

@abettera1961 Back at ya.

wdawes | @wdawes | 3 days ago

In reply to @lisalucier "@wdawes - I moved your post here so you could chat with others also talking about..." + (show)

@lisalucier
If the nausea does not get better (with conservative care) in 24-48 hours then go back to ER.

wdawes | @wdawes | 2 days ago

Doctor orderd bedrest, and to remain supine as much as possible. I should hydrate often and drink electrolytes with it. Caffeine, tylenol are recommended and I guess I will keep taking my oxycodone prescription. The neck pain is more prevalent than the headache, so I am going to try the muscle relaxer Robaxin to get some relief. I am convinced there is some CSF leakage, but perhaps it is also (or only) nerve damage?
After reading so many posts at this forum about issues with the SCS implant leads, I am concerned about further damage to the spine epidural sheath and the nerves. SCS is just too invasive, IMHO.
A pain medicine doctor has suggested that I contact a rep for Sprint PNS (peripheral nerve stimulator), which I found out has much smaller leads and can be placed at more discrete areas of pain … assuming insurance covers it, I may have to compare both PNS and SCS in the near future. I don’t yet have an appointment with a doctor who can do the PNS and this is now on my bucket list.

mike2005 | @mike2005 | 2 days ago

My original SCS was implanted in 2006. It was Boston Scientific and worked good. Now in 2026 I had it replaced with a SCS I could have MRI"s with. The doctors office steered me to Medtronics so I switched. BAD idea. The medtronics I got is 20 years behind the original Boston Scientific in all aspects. Extremely slow and freezes up making it a major project to get it to even work. The company is terrible to deal with as they do not return your calls. Boston scientific also has SCS that are MRI compatible. I wish I had stayed with them. Big mistake!