You sound like my twin in male form! I would like to share my stimulator experience.

I also have extensive hardware (C3-C7, T10-L5 fusions, hardware, Harrington rods) and suffering chronic pain since the 80's, plus Failed Back Syndrome. The trial for the SCS was agreed upon. I had it put in one morning in 2015 by a very experienced Neurosurgeon. That same evening I felt like I was getting electric shock all of a sudden- couldn't move, as it felt like I was burning from inside out from hands to chest to abdomen. Hubby called the doc's emergency number and he suggested I met him back at the hospital ER. Returned and could not lay flat for CT, screaming in agony. The CT was done on left side only due to that, and it showed that the "puck" part had migrated into the left Harrington rod and had caused a blood clot there. Neurosurgeon removed the SCS and removed the blood clot. If you have hardware on thoracic and/or upper lumbar region I DEFINITELY would not recommend the SCS trial... Horrible, horrible experience.