Has anyone tried the HF10 Spinal Cord Stimulation Device?

Posted by patrick17 @patrick17, Nov 21, 2018

Has anyone tried a device called HF10 ? It’s a device which stimulates your spinal cord to help relieve back and leg pain. After a trial period of about a week, if the patient is achieving good results the device is implanted in the person. My pain management doctor has recommended it to me for arm and hand nerve pain. I would like to hear from anyone who has used this device and especially from anyone who has used it for arm and hand pain. Thank you.

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@faust73

Morning for me and this is just me I have a fusion on L4/L5 which is just above the sacroiliac joint. I don't know if it's because I'm thin or just the position of it the fusion but I feel it all the time. On the other hand, I would never consider a spinal cord stimulator you never know what could happen or go wrong heard too many stories about the SCS. I've also spoken to people with multiple fusions and they have absolutely no problem at all. If I were you no matter how long you have had this surgeon I would get 1 or 2 more opinions from surgeons to look at your back and see what they say. It's a matter of opinion and what you feel comfortable with but do the trial SCS before you make a permanent decision. Again this is my opinion only and you are the only one that can ultimately make the decision for yourself. I'm sorry I never went for another opinion before I let this surgeon do the fusion. I had a herniated disc which could have been handled quite differently. But I found out that my neurosurgeon does spinal fusions 100% of the time. Good Luck my friend.

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Are you saying the fusion didn't work for you?

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@tiredpup1

I have had mine for over a year and it has been a blessing. I couldn't even walk before I got it now do oVer 2 miles a day, pain free!

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Where was your pain located?

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@martyk

Where was your pain located?

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Lower back,hips and legs. Also went into my pelvis. I couldn't walk the pain was so intense.

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@martyk

Are you saying the fusion didn't work for you?

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They told me I couldn't have a fusion due to a birth defect

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@tiredpup1

They told me I couldn't have a fusion due to a birth defect

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I talked to a pain management doctor yesterday He doesn't think SPC (spinal cord stimulator) are effective for back pain. He thinks they are effective for leg and feet pain. I'm scheduling an epidural which might give relief for 3 months.

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@martyk

I talked to a pain management doctor yesterday He doesn't think SPC (spinal cord stimulator) are effective for back pain. He thinks they are effective for leg and feet pain. I'm scheduling an epidural which might give relief for 3 months.

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You may want to discuss your condition w/ a neurosurgeon.

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@martyk

I talked to a pain management doctor yesterday He doesn't think SPC (spinal cord stimulator) are effective for back pain. He thinks they are effective for leg and feet pain. I'm scheduling an epidural which might give relief for 3 months.

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Don’t get an epidural ever. Gave me Adhesive Arachnoiditis. That’s a serious spinal disease which is not curable. It’s extremely painful. Gather all your info. Epidurals are not fda. Approved.

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@meri91364

Don’t get an epidural ever. Gave me Adhesive Arachnoiditis. That’s a serious spinal disease which is not curable. It’s extremely painful. Gather all your info. Epidurals are not fda. Approved.

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I think epidurals are FDA approved. Because, Insurance companies will cover them up to three a year. I've had two of them before, the first one worked. unfortunately the second didn't help. They're not that painful. Sometimes the skill of the surgeon hitting the right spot can make the difference.

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@martyk

I think epidurals are FDA approved. Because, Insurance companies will cover them up to three a year. I've had two of them before, the first one worked. unfortunately the second didn't help. They're not that painful. Sometimes the skill of the surgeon hitting the right spot can make the difference.

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Look up FDA and spinal epidurals. The law changed in 2014. You don’t want to take the chance and get what I have. It’s nasty.
Just trying to help warn people.

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@sallymagint

@patrick17 there is absolutely no doubt the devices had a positive outcome for pain management, especially with the damage I was left with following earlier Spinal trauma. In this respect I highly recommend them. It was just very unfortunate that it meant I could not have an MRI which would have picked up the other deficits I was suffering from earlier.
I can only hope that future developments in pain management come up with a similar device that is MRI compatiable because they really can be very beneficial.

In terms of the different types, the two brands were very different. The Medtronic ones I could feel the tingling in the areas the device was programmed to focus. The Nevro was a high frequency one so I couldn’t feel it working. In terms of the two different devices the Medtronic was good in the sense that each time the cycle stopped/started I would feel it kick in. Of course over time I became semi conscious of this happening so there was no thought process about it. If my pain was really bad I could use the remote to increase or change to another program to seek relief and would feel it tingle faster, stronger etc... The Nevro gave better pain relief for me overall even though I couldn’t actually feel it. Again I could increase or change the program to fit with the varied levels of pain. It really helped with nerve pain in legs/back and neuropathy in feet.
I do remember when it was suggested we try the Nevro and I read all the info, I thought ‘I’m not sure how this is going to work because if I can’t feel is working how is it going to change the pain?’ I was was pleasantly surprised how much it did help.

Whatever you decide make sure you research and ask questions of Drs and other patients who have used pain devices - good luck

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Patrick,
Thank you and everyone for your honesty. I have been hesitant about getting my implant. It is scheduled for Sept. 20th. It has been a long process to get here but I read a lot of negatives about getting one. I did have a one week trial and the day after I wanted it back. It wasn't a metrical cure but it did help. I have to remember this is the last try or I will have to have another fusion surgery and the Dr. is not real fond of doing that yet. I am also not thrilled of going through that recovery again. I was hoping that this would be easy pezy and in a couple days I would be back walking on the treadmill and back to a normal life in a month. I am starting to wonder after reading some of the other posts I have seen. I hope you or someone can tell me otherwise. I really need some reassurance that this is the right thing.. It is an HFX stimulator and everyone is saying good things about it.. fingers crossed.. Thanks..

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