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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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kenc | @kenc | Aug 15, 2022

I have had mixed results from the Boston Scientific Spinal Stimulator.

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gcranor | @gcranor | Aug 15, 2022

I just had the Medtronics stimulator removed as it did nothing. The trial was really good; however I think mentally we are hoping so much for pain reduction we really believe the external units work. I will not be surprised if some day there is a class action law suit against the Stilumator manufacturer due to how they conduct the initial screening.

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lindes | @lindes | Aug 16, 2022

I have the Medtronics unit installed for about 3 years now, and it does do wonders for me. I feel that a lot depends on the method they use to put it in. When I had the placement surgery, thy woke me up from the anesthesia so I could tell them if the electrodes were in the best position to reduce my pain. Once they had found the best placement position, they put me back to sleep, and finished the surgery. After this I worked with the Medtronics rep for several days to find the optimal adjustment for my unit.
I would not want to be without my stimulator!

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gcranor | @gcranor | Aug 17, 2022

I think the support I have (Silverdale WA) is to small of an area to receive required time with any reps).
I am glad it works for you I would love to have the Metronic’s pump removed.

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glaciermom | @glaciermom | Aug 18, 2022
In reply to @gcranor "I just had the Medtronics stimulator removed as it did nothing. The trial was really good;..." + (show)
@gcranor

I just had the Medtronics stimulator removed as it did nothing. The trial was really good; however I think mentally we are hoping so much for pain reduction we really believe the external units work. I will not be surprised if some day there is a class action law suit against the Stilumator manufacturer due to how they conduct the initial screening.

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I had a Medtronics stimulator implanted in 2006 and do not ever want to be without one. A pain doctor accidentally pulled out my lead wire while doing an injection. I spent a week on Lortab 10's and could barely stand the pain, so I know for sure it works for me. I have had to have their technicians come and do some reprogramming and have always been pleased. They take their time and keep adjusting until I tell them they got it!
About three years ago I had to have an old stimulator replaced and now can have MRI's. Came in handy when I had my spine collapse after ruptures. It turned out to be a blessing as no one here would touch me and was sent over to Seattle, WA and got a major reconstruction of my spine and have no more spine pain. The neurosurgeon was concerned about causing me to lose the stimulation after surgery but it was still working. Just had to have it reprogrammed again.
I wish you luck and will be interested in how you do.

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1 reply
cmo | @cmo | Aug 20, 2022
In reply to @sallymagint "Hi, over the years I’ve had 3 dorsal column Stimulators (2 made by Medtronic the other..." + (show)
@sallymagint

Hi, over the years I’ve had 3 dorsal column Stimulators (2 made by Medtronic the other by Nevro). I found them to be quite affective however please be very stringent in researching any kind of implanted pain device because many of them are not MRI Compatable. I ended up having emergency surgery to have my all my devices and leads removed so I could receive treatment for severe spinal instability.
I’d been complaining of my back feeling like a concertina that was going to collapse at any time. Of course I didn’t know at the time but that was exactly what was happening. One day I lost bowel/bladder control and it suddenly became a medical emergency. The devices were removed, MRI performed and before I knew it I was having a 6 level spinal fusion.
Even if you are told the device is MEI Compatable ring a few radiology/imaging places and ask then if they do MRI’s with pain devices. Many won’t even though some device company’s approve them. 9 mths prior to my back surgery I had brain surgery across the other side of Australia because no radiology would do a Cranial MRI where I live. Over 4000 to be able to have an MRI.

My pain specialist who put the stimulator in was hesitant to remove it because it was so difficult to put in in the first place. Perhaps if it had been removed earlier I wouldn’t have ended up with such complex circumstances surrounding both brain and spinal surgery. It’s important to remember that if you need one of these devices you probably have chronic pain and your condition may require ongoing imaging to monitor whatever condition it. Please check and double check the information you’re given, I would hate anyone to have to go through what I did

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You mentioned you had a6 level fusion……what levels did they fuse? How was the recovery? Are you in less pain after your fusion then before? I am looking at an 8-10 level fusion due to severe kyphosis.

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drg24242 | @drg24242 | Sep 2, 2022

I have the same question as you. Has anyone had a HF10 installed for severe arm pain. I have CRPS from finger tips and now up to the side of my face. My orthopedic doctor that this a last resort that he know's of to relieve this terrible pain I've lived with for more than 7 months. I just got approved this week for trial. Awaiting insurence to go through, approx. 1 week and then will schedual. I would love to hear from anyone that has tried this for upper limb. I will definetly do the trial. I have nothing to loose and hopefuuly get the 50% possible relief. Darryl

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1 reply
jfsherley | @jfsherley | Sep 3, 2022
In reply to @glaciermom "I had a Medtronics stimulator implanted in 2006 and do not ever want to be without..." + (show)
@glaciermom

I had a Medtronics stimulator implanted in 2006 and do not ever want to be without one. A pain doctor accidentally pulled out my lead wire while doing an injection. I spent a week on Lortab 10's and could barely stand the pain, so I know for sure it works for me. I have had to have their technicians come and do some reprogramming and have always been pleased. They take their time and keep adjusting until I tell them they got it!
About three years ago I had to have an old stimulator replaced and now can have MRI's. Came in handy when I had my spine collapse after ruptures. It turned out to be a blessing as no one here would touch me and was sent over to Seattle, WA and got a major reconstruction of my spine and have no more spine pain. The neurosurgeon was concerned about causing me to lose the stimulation after surgery but it was still working. Just had to have it reprogrammed again.
I wish you luck and will be interested in how you do.

Jump to this post

So you still have it ? I haven’t talk to a lot of people who have one of those except for one lady that I did her hair . At first she liked hers but after a couple of years she had it taken out by that time I had retired so I’m not sure why she did that

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1 reply
jfsherley | @jfsherley | Sep 3, 2022
In reply to @drg24242 "I have the same question as you. Has anyone had a HF10 installed for severe arm..." + (show)
@drg24242

I have the same question as you. Has anyone had a HF10 installed for severe arm pain. I have CRPS from finger tips and now up to the side of my face. My orthopedic doctor that this a last resort that he know's of to relieve this terrible pain I've lived with for more than 7 months. I just got approved this week for trial. Awaiting insurence to go through, approx. 1 week and then will schedual. I would love to hear from anyone that has tried this for upper limb. I will definetly do the trial. I have nothing to loose and hopefuuly get the 50% possible relief. Darryl

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So sorry what is CRPS exactly ?

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1 reply
glaciermom | @glaciermom | Sep 3, 2022
In reply to @jfsherley "So you still have it ? I haven’t talk to a lot of people who have..." + (show)
@jfsherley

So you still have it ? I haven’t talk to a lot of people who have one of those except for one lady that I did her hair . At first she liked hers but after a couple of years she had it taken out by that time I had retired so I’m not sure why she did that

Jump to this post

Yes I still have one. The original reached it's time limit and another one was put in. And when that one was getting close it was replaced with a new state of the art one. I can now have MRI's and the technician is going to work with me next month to teach it to tell when I lay down and automatically turn down the stimulation.
I plan to have one always because I know what the nerve pain is like and do not want to feel it! I know a lot of the patients don't have patience enough to work with it and give up. It's not a one time inserted and all is well. It has to be adjusted quite a bit the first couple years but gets less and less. When I have something done surgically it has to be adjusted because it is very sensitive and can get out of whack. If I fall it has to be fixed again, things like that.
I have encouraged everyone who has come to me, to have one put in if the pain is so bad you can't control it.
I'm actually on my third doctor, the others have moved or retired. I'm like an old shoe that keeps hanging around.

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