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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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@heisenberg34 Yes---If a Mayo Doc believes it is medically appropriate......from a patient standpoint---it worked and very glad I did it and no regrets at all. Happy I didn't have to go the spinal cord stimulation. Not saying you should do it but it should be explored.
@heisenberg34 I meant to add at this point you should read read read research research research
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1 Reaction@heisenberg34 I meant to add do as much reading as you can. There are some good videos out there: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z-E7aTpgtH8
@gilvernon I don’t understand this video you recommended, which features a patient ready for surgery, staring into the camera repeating herself. Is there something else I’ve missed ? Does she talk to her audience when she comes out of the operating room?
@tbeck23
Here is a post I wrote earlier this year. "I have never heard of any of the SCS working long term despite the companies claims. My wife got about 2 years on hers before she got no benefits anymore.
When they do the trials they jack the thing up as high as they can go to be able get results in the 7 days, but it is not a sustainable level long term.
I have always believed that your body gets used to it and finds ways to couneract it. Pain is a bodies natural reaction so its just trying to do its job.
Just my common man's opinion.
The biggest winner in these things are all the Mfgs, reps & Dr.'s at 50K a pop."
We had chosen a Nevro. If you want a longer explation of the complete process we went through choosing, implanting, programming etc. let me know, would be happy to share.
@jlssurplus
I’d be happy to hear about your experience. I want to be prepared on what’s to come.
I now have 2 neurostimulators and my experience has been positive. I work with a really good company that will follow and help me all my life. You will need to get use to charging the battery which is easy and takes little time usually. Also the adjustments on the remote I do with my case manager.
Also the surgery is outpatient. The only pain is from putting the battery under your skin. I was fine after a few days.
Hi, I had the Abbot Eterna implanted last December after what I really believed was a successful trial. It isn’t working for me for neither the small fiber neuropathy nor the persistent SI/hip/groin pain that I’ve had4+ years.
During the trial period and also the recovery it’s important to stay pretty quiet, no twisting or excessive bending because you don’t want to pull the leads out of place. Once that process is complete there aren’t really any restrictions. You also can’t shower or take a bath during the trial because you have to keep the battery dry (at this point it is external).
I really thought it was going to work for me. In hindsight I think that because my back was really painful I was very sedentary during the recovery from having the leads placed and I did take pain medication. I am on the leaner side and sometimes when you are, apparently the recovery can be more painful than for others. I went ahead with the permanent implant and the recovery from that was also very painful for me. It’s also likely that I have a lower pain threshold because of having SFN in addition to fact that I’m on the thinner side. This lasted about 8 days then the procedural pain quickly resolved.
The Abbot reps have been great. They have been very responsive and kind. I have had it reprogrammed at least twice and I have tried about 16 different programs, then I went back through them all again. On Tuesday I will switch to the final program to try. I really do hope it works for me but I am at the end of the line. I will get it removed if it doesn’t work.
My advice is to go through the trial process and see if you get relief but be really honest with yourself about how much it helps. I wish you the best of luck 🤞
@jlssurplus My original scs was implanted in 2006 with Boston Scientific and it worked good for 11 years before they had to change the battery. The new battery in 2017 lasted about 8 years. When they were going to change the battery I opted for a new MRI compatible scs. The doctor steered me towards Medtronics. I went for that on the docs recommendation. I really wish I would have stayed with Boston Scientific as their equipment is years ahead of Medtronics.