Anyone tried Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain?

tigreyes2004, I'm sorry to hear about all your issues. Yours is worse than mine. You might be a candidate for a PAIN PUMP because you have pain in so many parts of your body. Have you heard of that procedure and has any of the doctor's mentioned that to you? It's a last resort for chronic pain. Good luck and God Bless.

Thank you everyone for all your help.
This dr. I am seeing & was going to do the procedure is Anesthesiologist.
Should I be having a Neurosurgeon do that? This dr. did not really explain anything to me & gave me the Brochure.
I function bc I make myself but this seems like Trial & Error to me.
I want to find out more about a pain pump.
I have bleeding ulcers, stage 3 kidney disease, adhesions in abdomen from previous surgeries & the last one at the Mayo Clinic in 2018 & also a corodid artery that might need to be fixed so I don't know if I am the candidate for this Spinal Cord Stimuater.
Thank you for letting me know there are different ones out there.
I also go through periods of depression & anxiety real bad.
This machine seems complicated bc oyu have to shut it off when you drive & sleep & I just don't know.
Thank you & God Bless.
Tigreyes

The neurosurgeon says age of the patient is a consideration for whether to use a "pain pump" or not, because of its addictive side effects.

I didn't know that. Not sure of tigreyes2004 age. However, if she/him gets significant relief and an improvement of quality of life, it might be worth it.

@tigreyes2004 You can ask your doctor for recommendations for surgeons who do implants. I don't know your anesthesiologist, but I think I would be having the discussion with my primary care doctor. For your pain, I would recommend seeing a neurologist and then a pain specialist. You need to have a doctor who will spend time with you and talk about your needs. It's your body, your life, and your doctor should respect that. It should involve much more than being handed a brochure.

A spinal cord stimulator stays on all the time. I've never heard of one that has to be turned off and on.

Take care of yourself.

Jim

Look at the Boston Scientific website for information about the SCS, then look for reviews about the unit.

Hi Jim'
The stimulator is the Boston Science. I just learned from you nice people that there are other brands ot there. I did not know that.
I think I need a dr. who will discuss it with me. too .I do have a Neurologist & she is the one who sent me to this new pain dr.
Right now I take 300 mg of Gabapentin in the morning & another 300 at night.
I also take 60 mg of Cymbalta.
I live in Bullhead City & it is a small town.
I think I need to find a dr. in Vegas.
Maybe the stimulator is shut on & off during the trial period. I don't know bc the dam dr. never explained.
I wonder if they get kick backs from these things.
A lady called me to give a Mental health Evaluation.
Thank you Jim.
If you think of anything else, let me know.
I have no one that will help me in this matter. I feel all alone so thankyou for your help.
I really appreciate it.
Thanks
Tigreyes

As always, there is a risk to benefit for any medical treatment. Why it is best to always consult w/ your doctor or 2.

Thank you.
that is a good idea.
Thanks for your help.

Another device is the Abbot DRG. The abbot is better suited for pain in a limb, and perhaps better at other neuropathic issues than the SCS. The DRG has up to 4 leads, Each lead is placed in the dorsal root of the nerve that is impacted. I have one but the results are OK at best. My issue is post herpetic neuralgia (due to shingles) and the pain mgt doctor last told me he used to avoinf PHN patients because he's had relatively little success. Anyways, he has had excellent results with the DRG for the most part. If you would like more information, the best path forward is go to the abbot website and locate the DRG. There should be a place to get more info. Eventually you will talk to a rep, who can give you names of Drs (pain mgt drs) that are certified to do the procedure. The rep may even make an appt for you. If they make that offer, take them up on it. They can probably get you in faster than you can. There is a trial to see if it helps. The trial is not perfect as you have to distinguish between the pain of the inserted lead and the pain you are being treated for. Good luck!