1. < Neuropathy

Stimwave user here: What's been your experience?

Posted by donw @donw200, Aug 20, 2019

Like most of us, I did not want a battery implant so I went with Stimwave scs. Its been permanently placed on my spine about 10 days ago. I do feel a little less pain, but my right foot nerve pain still prevents me from sleeping normal hours, preparing home meals and doing normal tasks. I am disappointed. I was hoping for more relief. My worst pain bursts went from 10 to 9. Plus, I still need pain pills.

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martyk | @martyk | Nov 20, 2021
In reply to @rwinney "@martyk Hello there. Thank you for responding to my post. I'm so sorry that you've been..." + (show)
@rwinney

@martyk Hello there. Thank you for responding to my post. I'm so sorry that you've been left with this awful nerve pain to live with. I know the pain and harassment it brings. What a journey you've had.

You replied to an old post of mine during a time that I was frustrated and grasping at straws, searching for answers. I have since found my answers and come to terms with with my diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy and Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS), in addition I have been to Mayo Clinics Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC) and learned about my conditions and how to manage them as best I can. PRC gave me a thorough understanding about CSS and chronic pain. I learned that many "solutions" are nothing but band aids that may help temporarily, but carry adverse side affects and upregulate our central nervous system more than it already is. Entry into the body via implants, injections and ablations, is a static solution. It stirs up the nervous system and creates cell damage and scar tissue. Sometimes if we continue to do the same things we get the same results.

@martyc, have you ever considered switching things up and taking a different approach to your pain? What self help approaches do you currently use?

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What approaches would you recommend?

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1 reply
martyk | @martyk | Nov 20, 2021
In reply to @rwinney "Is there something specific you are thinking might be found by another EMG?" + (show)
@rwinney

Is there something specific you are thinking might be found by another EMG?

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Possibly. My condition is getting worse.

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Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Nov 20, 2021
In reply to @martyk "What approaches would you recommend?" + (show)
@martyk

What approaches would you recommend?

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Have you looked in to a comprehensive pain management program to learn coping mechanisms, and how to work with your chronic pain?

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meesh78 | @meesh78 | Mar 22, 2022
In reply to @donw200 "It has been a month and my Stimwave SCS is still not helping much." + (show)
@donw200

It has been a month and my Stimwave SCS is still not helping much.

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I've had mine for four months now and it really isn't helping. I have a medtronic scs also and it works great for my legs....did you ever get relief from the stimwave? I'm about ready to ask to have leads added to my medtronic scs to help my upper body and be done with the stimwave. Ugh this really sucks

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magnum52 | @magnum52 | Mar 24, 2022

Pain specialists should not do a permanent implant unless the patient reports at least a 50% improve in pain. From the sound of it, you are nowhere near a 50% improvement. I am sure you did a “trial” before the stimulator was implanted, at least I hope you did. The trial will help,a patient decide if the relief is worth putting it in permanently. How did your trial go?

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depueman | @depueman | May 16, 2022

I have excruciating right calf neuropathic pain associated with the Peroneal Nerve. I am getting the 7 day trial of the Stim Wave at the Pain Clinic at Northwestern Univ in Chicago. The doctor there has done literally hundreds if not thousands of them.

He initially tried three injections, two right into the peroneal nerve, and one in the base of the spine, to try and reduce the pain if only for an hour. This would help him determine if the Stim Wave would be efficacious. Since I did get short pain relief, this is an indicator. So I do the trial starting May 19.

I have tried everything else, gaba, tegretol, CBD oils and creams, chiropractic, acupuncturist, let's see, how many other disciplines have I left out. Right now I am getting about 25% relief from gaba and teg with the addition of 75 mg Amitriptyline. This combo is helping a bit but the Amitrip makes you so dopey it really is not a best way to live a life.

I shall check in after the implant if anyone is interested. Let me know. ken

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2 replies
depueman | @depueman | May 16, 2022
In reply to @scottjohnston00 "I have been put on high doses of Gabapentin 300 mg capsules 12 a day and..." + (show)
@scottjohnston00

I have been put on high doses of Gabapentin 300 mg capsules 12 a day and Nucynta 2 tabs 250 mg per tab, I am still having very painful nights and days. I ranched my whole life and was very active, so it's hard to be down a lot of the time. If I hear of anything new that is helpful I will pass it on. Bless you all, Scott

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When you were taking 3600mg of gaba a day were you very tired?

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sprinrosa64 | @sprinrosa64 | May 29, 2022

I did the trial , had numerous adjustments had got no relief at all. Stemwave rep great, whenever I called he was there but it did nothing for me. BEST OF LUCK

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theai | @theai | May 29, 2022

i did the trial too for a neurostimulator. it worked so i had the neurostimulator implanted in my back. less than a month later i had a stroke. but now i finally was able to get together with my rep. i still feel no improvement in my back. i wonder if my stroke is associated with this.

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pusher | @pusher | May 31, 2022

Hello, I'm new to the group and have some off-the-wall info. I signed up a long time ago (meaning months) when I was giving up on my Nevro implant: company was next to useless and Docs kept changing/moving/doing other things. I just turned it off and charged the battery when I had to. One day when I was in significant pain, my son asked if I had tried my stimulator lately. Hell no! And he somehow got me to try it, on the same setting we were using months and months before. And it started working! Something had changed in me (had my gall bladder removed) or the scs changed (my leads were migrating). My only real point, I think, is keep trying, step over the Docs, step over the factory reps, don't let them get in your way, get the SCS taken out or leave it in. In the words of Curtis Mayfield: "Keep on Pushing" Lawrence.

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