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Spinal cord stimulation: Will Nevro help when Medtronic didn't?
Hi there,
Need your input.
I am 53 and suffer badly from chronic back and nerve pain in my feet, calf, etc. spinal stenosis, arthritis and severe disc degeneration. Basically need new spine with better cartidge. I have had 3 spinal fusions - 2005, 2011 and 2019 (L3-S1 & C5 - C7). Now issues with bone spurs pressing on sciatic nerve and continued disc generation and vertebrae movement above L3. No neuropathy thankfully.
Tried Medtronic trial did not work. Headed to my Dr on 6/2 in Boston to meet him and the Nevro rep. So badly need relief “gabapentin” not doing it. Please share if you could your results on Nevro. I am at a loss as my Dr does not want to do surgery as its very complicated last resort. My posture is terrible as well.
Thank you, very much appreciated.
Andrea
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Wisco50, I think you are right on. I had the Medtronic traditional implanted last year. They the doctor and rep told me that is has worked for patients like me, who has chronic foot pain from 2 failed surgeries. I got slight relief from the trial but had a little back pain. So, I decided to have them take it out on August 2nd. The trial was brutal because of the pain back pain associated with the amount of tape used to hold the leads into place. So, it was really hard to determine if it reduced the foot pain. The doctor wrote in his report that I got 50% relief to justify putting in the permanent one. I should have asked to speak to a couple of his prior foot patients who the doctor claims got significant relief. I'm working with another doctor who does DRG. He gave me the names of 3 prior patients who had success with his DRG. Two had foot problems and one had a leg problem. They all recommend him and the DRG that he put into them. I hope you get some relief. God bless.
Thank you for input. Hopefully, they'll find the right program to get you back to the 80%. I'm having trouble finding a doctor who uses the Nevro in my area of New Jersey. I called the toll free number on their website and left a message a couple of weeks ago. Haven't heard from them.
Geno, Can you share with us the location of your pain? Thanks
I agree. Tramadol worked pretty good for me but the doctors are afraid to prescribe.
@stantallusa you will notice that I edited your post above in order to comply with the Community Guidelines, specifically #6, in order to keep on topic of health and support of our members.
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Thank you!
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1 ReactionMy husband has been a chronic pain patient for multiple years. He has had multiple back surgeries, used a pain pump, and a Medtronic spinal cord stimulator many years ago. Currently taking dilaudid, lyrica, methadone with minimal pain relief. His doctor is now suggesting a Nevro stimulator. How are you doing currently with your stimulator? I am also an RN. He is a retired police officer.
Hello @jaidabug01 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Your husband has been through quite a lot. I am sure having you as his caregiver and a nurse has been so very helpful to him over the years as well.
Members such as @martyk @msstoppainnagginme and @lifetimepain all have shared varying degrees of experience with a Nervo stimulator and may be able to share more with you as you and your husband explore this as an option.
In the meantime, how is your husband dealing with his pain if his current protocol isn't covering it?
Tried Nevro and it worked in trial phase outside my body. Then it was inserted too deep and did not charge with the silly paddles they give you to charge the battery. Then it was reinserted closer to my skin and hit all the nerves going down my back and leg; I could barely walk. I gave up and had the final of three surgeries and rebuild of screws and cables from S1 to T11. That was April 28 and I still hurt. At my age they say 9-12 months. BUT, the sciatica is gone and I am just waiting on the major procedure to heal up.
What is Nevro? I currently have Metronic’s stimulator and pump. I was injured as a police officer and fused from s1 to T12 (or T11). I have had the implanted stimulator for three months, I hate the charging every day and still have not received more than 30% pain relief. The goal was to remove the drug pump do to lung issues; however I still need to Boost daily. I don’t want them to remove the pump yet as the stimulator is not that effective.
Nevro is an electronic stimulator inserted in the fat of your upper buttocks, with an electrical line snaked up the spinal nerve. The trial is a fanny pack with line inserted. It went very well. The permanent insertion was too deep the first time and too shallow the second time which hit all of the =nerves from the lower back down. The pain was incredible!!
First they told me they had a 12 year battery. then after it was in I found out you had to put these cheesy paddles in you waistline for a couple hours to re-charge it. Battery life is what they should have said and it needed charging. The second insertion was so painful I had it removed when I had my last lumbar fusion L-1-S-1 and new hardware from S-1 to T-11. 5 months later I still hurt and am told at my age, (75) and active, 9-12 months recovery time. My surgeon is great and its my third surgery from him. So now its just a matter of time to heal up from this very major surgery. After shattered arm, appendix, sinus, bypass, (triple) bone grafts and stents in legs, I,m no wimp when it comes to surgery but this has been elongated painful. I feel much better about the surgery that the pain I would have to live with having the stimulator.
Mike