How did you get relief with a spinal stimulator? Adjustments?

I am curious. Did you get the Nevro implant?

Glen, I had my Nevro implanted in November 2021 and have experienced the same situation as you have. They have tried multiple programs on me to no avail. I have met with the Nevro reps on multiple occasions to try and find the correct setting to get some relief. Like you, my trial worked wonderfully but with the permanent implant only a very slight relief. I am determined to make this work as I believe it will help bring relief to my legs and lower back. They tell me not to give up or be frustrated as they have so many programs to work with so I will keep at it.

I've had two facet injections, and an ablation (both with limited success. PT and subsequent exercise causes a significant increase in pain generated from a compressed L3 nerve. I have a iRelieve tens unit which has had very limited results; how similar are the results of a SCS, which I have already been cleared for as the nest step.
A problem for me is that my Pain management doctor wants to move forward, but my spinal surgeon wants to insert a rod, and screws, and advises against the SCC. (UGH disagreements). My PCP sides with the pain management doctor. (The spine surgeon has operated n my back in the past), A conundrum.

I have a drg stimulator for abdominal nerve damage from undiagnosed mals. The trial was 75% pain free and after 4 months, I’m only getting 35-40% ( which is better than nothing) but I’m sad that the trial gave me false hopes.

Perhaps 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).

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.

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.