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How did you get relief with a spinal stimulator? Adjustments?
My name is Glen and i have had the Nevro HF10 spinal stimulator implanted since Sept 1, 2021 and the company rep hasn't been able to dial it in on my terrible lower back pain yet. I have complete confidence in this unit because the temporary one that they inserted worked unbelievably well. It's been 6 months and counting with no relief thus far. I'm hoping to reach out and hear from anyone out there about their experiences with this Nevro unit. Please help if you can! Thank You!
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A surgeon will always be available. I also have back pain, & haven’t gotten much relief from the kind of surgery you mention. It does work for some people, but I was warned—even by the surgeon—it doesn’t always help. I have found it took a few months to recuperate, & there was some relief but not for very long. We hope surgery will fix us, but I’ve come to the conclusion there are some back pain causes that no one seems to be able to guarantee total relief. Have you thought about getting a second opinion from another doctor re the surgery. Or maybe even a third? That might help you decide what to do.
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1 ReactionI got the Medtronic devicve
I have the Medtronic stimulator as well. It helped about 50% at first. Unfortunately my back has gotten worse so that my whole back is involved now. And it doesn't help nearly as much. I'm in the process of getting approved for the pain pump. I hope to have the trial within the next 2 weeks. I will place an update after.
Thank you very much for responding Slav i really appreciate it! I hope that you will keep me posted on your condition as we both progress toward the Nevro unit starting to work like we know that it can. As for me, I had an appointment with my Dr. and the company Representative on 3/24/22. The Rep. reset my Home controller with a new series of adjustments to make every four days. That was two weeks ago, i'm on program# 2 level 5 at this moment and nothing has worked yet unfortunately . I'm hoping that you will keep me informed of your progress and hope that your Hf10 will start working for you! Thanks Again! Glen
Apolpgies in advance for a long post....
I had a bad back injury decades ago and two orthopedic surgeons told me that I'd be in hospital, in traction, every sixth months until I finally had surgery and papaya [rather, papain therefrom] injections. A third, orthopedic guy showed me his and my X-rays and CT results and explained why he did not have surgery despite having essentially the same stack of herniated discs, explaining "We're not there yet for an assured good surgical result." He was the orthopedic surgeon and consultant for the U.S. Olympic ski team at the time. So I figured he knew something about spines.. and he knew all the best surgeons if he dud decide to have surgery someday. He sent me to his acupuncturist and physical therapy and I actually was disciplined enough, for once, to do the back exercises he recommended.
I was never hospitalized or in traction again. I have no pain but a back X-ray would show a slight offset in my spine. I saw another orthopedic years later for a knee injured while sailing and asked about the back. He asked if it hurts, I said no, and he said let sleeping dogs lie.
The then-trendy treatment of papain injections has since fallen out of favor from what I've read since due to negative outcomes.
A TENS unit did help at the time, maybe more to distract my attention from the worst pain. It became a kind of security blanket to help fall asleep at night. I later gave it to a friend and it knocked out migraine pain for him.
The best thing I did was buy an inexpensive kneeling chair. It automatically put my spine in the correct alignment. And helped my posture.
This is take it for what it's worth tale but I believe that consulting with a contrarian's argument about a proposed serious medical step spared me some unintended consequences. Since medical science is evolving at breakneck speed, a great solution might be just around the corner.
Can you take both paths? That is get pain management, which can provide relief that might allow a rethink of options and clearer head to maybe take the surgical path a bit later anyway? Pain surely affected my thinking and was also exhausting. It narrowed my world down a lot.
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3 ReactionsPerhaps it needs to be adjusted again. I had a SCS Boston Scientific about 1 1/2 years ago. I had pretty bad pain in my right foot from 2 prior surgeries. I only got about 25% relief and I didn't like the parathesia. No pain, but I found it annoying. So, a couple of months later I had it removed. No big deal. I heard afterward that Boston Scientific is good for the legs or feet. I works for torso problems. I'm considering Nevro or DRG. You can have your SCS removed, wait a few months and try another trial for a different one. I have been told that Nevro or DRG does not have parathesia. Good luck. You deserve better than 40% relief. The DRG does not need daily charging like Nevro or Boston Scientific (Medtronic).
That should say that Boston Scientific is not effective for Leg and foot pain, I found that out after it was implanted. But, some say it is good for pain in the torso area. Sorry
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1 ReactionI had a trial inpudendal nerve. It didn't even make it to recovery room. Doc will try again and put in3 leads. Maybe it will work. I'm totally housebound and sit on ice to numb the pain.
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1 ReactionAn MD said there is reason why the profession is referred to as medical arts and not science.
I have a pain stimulator and now I have been told that the stimulator doesn’t work on S1 pain. The only way I receive any relief is to lie flat in bed. Here is hoping that the S1 gives me some relief.