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Spinal cord stimulator leads break on removal. Any others with this?

Posted by alh123 @alh123, Sep 3, 2021

I recently had my Axium DRG stimulator removed , as it wasn’t helping me anymore . The leads broke off so now I have 2 leads retained next to my DRG. I want to know if anyone has experienced this and in particular what they have been told about having MRIs in the future .
It was put in in 2015 and I got 8 mths of effective relief after it was put in . It was bliss and I started a new life , but then it just slowly stopped working and my life fell apart. I have a very nasty neuralgia of the skin next to my knee after ACL surgery in 2011. I am a 62 yr old male. It is severe and I am living the typical downward trajectory of severe chronic neuropathic pain sufferers with pain that cannot be relieved despite countless physical and psychological approaches over 10 years. My immediate family is the only reason I keep going . Went down the typical route , loss of job ,career , active outdoor and sporting life …kept things going for a while , but eventually friends drifted away , isolation increased , depression and now this .
I would love to hear if anybody has experienced this problem.
Alan

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martyk | @martyk | Sep 4, 2021

Sorry to hear that you are in severe pain. Could your doctor have any idea why your SCS stopped working after 8 months? I have severe pain in my toes from 2 prior surgeries. last year I had an SCS made by Boston Scientific implanted. It didn't help much so i had it removed after 2 months. I didn't experience any problem getting the leads removed. I might try a different type a DRG. A trial is scheduled for October. This one is made by Abbott. Was your DRG manufactured by the Abbott corp.? Thanks, Marty

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1 reply
lasirvent | @lasirvent | Sep 4, 2021

I’m having an Abbot DRG trial done at the end of this month for abdominal pain. I’m super nervous that it won’t work!!!

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3 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 4, 2021

@alh123 - I wonder if these articles may provide some background information on stimulator leads breaking on removal.

Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal: Q&A with a Neurosurgeon:https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/spinal-cord-stimulator-removal-qa
Rate of Complications Following Spinal Cord Stimulation Paddle Electrode Removal: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28833931/

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1 reply
alh123 | @alh123 | Sep 4, 2021
In reply to @johnbishop "@alh123 - I wonder if these articles may provide some background information on stimulator leads breaking..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@alh123 - I wonder if these articles may provide some background information on stimulator leads breaking on removal.

Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal: Q&A with a Neurosurgeon:https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/spinal-cord-stimulator-removal-qa
Rate of Complications Following Spinal Cord Stimulation Paddle Electrode Removal: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28833931/

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Thanks so much for finding those articles . They didn’t quite get to my problem when the leads break off , but thanks , I’ll keep looking .

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sprinrosa64 | @sprinrosa64 | Sep 5, 2021
In reply to @lasirvent "I’m having an Abbot DRG trial done at the end of this month for abdominal pain...." + (show)
@lasirvent

I’m having an Abbot DRG trial done at the end of this month for abdominal pain. I’m super nervous that it won’t work!!!

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yo
u have reason to be nervous, I just had my trial removed on wednesday it didn't work. The doctor had told me they get 80% god results, well a Abbot rep then told me it is more like 73%. Whatever it is I thing if you are in enough pain it is worth trying. My was for leg pain after TKR. Best of luck, for me I will keep searching fpr an answer

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alh123 | @alh123 | Sep 5, 2021
In reply to @martyk "Sorry to hear that you are in severe pain. Could your doctor have any idea why..." + (show)
@martyk

Sorry to hear that you are in severe pain. Could your doctor have any idea why your SCS stopped working after 8 months? I have severe pain in my toes from 2 prior surgeries. last year I had an SCS made by Boston Scientific implanted. It didn't help much so i had it removed after 2 months. I didn't experience any problem getting the leads removed. I might try a different type a DRG. A trial is scheduled for October. This one is made by Abbott. Was your DRG manufactured by the Abbott corp.? Thanks, Marty

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Well I think the body just gets used to it in some cases . Neuroplasticity I think was the factor in my case .. I started having the pain mediated by other nerves unfortunately.
DRG stim is still thought to be one of the best styles of SCS … problems with removal like I’m my case happen 2-3% of the time . Mine was an old initial version DRG was first approved . Good luck .. it sure was great when it worked .

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1 reply
alh123 | @alh123 | Sep 5, 2021
In reply to @lasirvent "I’m having an Abbot DRG trial done at the end of this month for abdominal pain...." + (show)
@lasirvent

I’m having an Abbot DRG trial done at the end of this month for abdominal pain. I’m super nervous that it won’t work!!!

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Hi , well the trial is pretty easy and it’s great when it works . These days they have so many types of signals to use .. think positively. I always say I’m cautiously optimistic .
Good luck
Al

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martyk | @martyk | Sep 5, 2021
In reply to @alh123 "Well I think the body just gets used to it in some cases . Neuroplasticity I..." + (show)
@alh123

Well I think the body just gets used to it in some cases . Neuroplasticity I think was the factor in my case .. I started having the pain mediated by other nerves unfortunately.
DRG stim is still thought to be one of the best styles of SCS … problems with removal like I’m my case happen 2-3% of the time . Mine was an old initial version DRG was first approved . Good luck .. it sure was great when it worked .

Jump to this post

Thank you Al. Marty

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martyk | @martyk | Sep 5, 2021
In reply to @lasirvent "I’m having an Abbot DRG trial done at the end of this month for abdominal pain...." + (show)
@lasirvent

I’m having an Abbot DRG trial done at the end of this month for abdominal pain. I’m super nervous that it won’t work!!!

Jump to this post

Good luck. Try to stay positive. Please keep us informed. M

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genomacc | @genomacc | Sep 5, 2021

Hello Alan. On Aug 4, 2021 I had an Abbott SCS installed. I also have been dealing with debilitating pain for years. Had to stop working June 2018 after a year of taking Wednesdays off work as I could not work 3 days in a row. No more outdoor activities, lost my friends, and have trouble putting my shoes on.
In 2017 I had a trial of a Medtronic SCS. In hospital I could not control my legs so the leads were removed before I could go home. I was worse!
I had a Medtronic ITP ( Intrathecal Drug Pump) installed with minimal effect. I still have that now. It only works with my muscle/skeleton pain, and not nurve pain. I have both, so the Abbott SCS. We are still working on getting it set correctly. I'm hoping to get my life back!
If there is anything I can do...
Gene

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