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Comparison of Spinal Cord Stimulators from Boston Sci., Nevro
I've lived with severe chronic pain in my legs and lumbar spine for the past ten years. Was on opiates for 8 years until I attended & graduated from Mayo's 3-week Pain Rehab Program in 2018. That program helped immensely and I got off 5 meds I used to take, including morphine and hydrocodone. Unfortunately, in the last year my spine health has worsened. I now have a toxic mix of scar tissue (from a dural tear during a microdiscectomy), stenosis at multiple levels, bulging discs and scoliosis. I am now scheduled to do a trial of Boston Scientific's "Wave Writer" SCS on August 10, 2020. Unfortunately my doctor did not guide me in the selection of this manufacturer/model. I did my own research. I considered doing trials of Nevro's HF-10 and Boston Scientific's Wave Writer. Finally decided on the Wave Writer.
I'm posting here to ask for people's knowledge of and/or experience with these two SCS's. Please reply if you can share any information. Thanks!
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Hi: I'm Robert. I have a burning pain that extends from the back of the left knee down to the top of the foot. I also have diabetic neuropathy in both legs but the burning pain began after knee replacement 5 years ago. Has anyone had any success with a Nevro unit for this type of pain? I did have an ablation but while the chemical ablation one worked the permanent did not. I have also tried a TENS unit. Thanks.
Hi Robert @sanitarian248, Welcome to Connect. While we wait for other members to share their experience with Nevro, I thought you might want to read through the following discussions to read what others have already shared.
-- Comparison of Spinal Cord Stimulators from Boston Sci., Nevro: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/comparison-of-spinal-cord-stimulators-from-boston-sci-nevro/
-- Spinal cord stimulation: Will Nevro help when Medtronic didn't?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nevro/
-- Severe Burning Pain after Knee Replacement: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/severe-burning-pain-after-knee-replacement/
Have you looked into getting a Nevro stimulator?
I am in the process of considering a Nevro unit and that is why I am curious as to how well these units worked for other folks.
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1 ReactionI have gotten some relief but not able to stay on one setting for very long due to overstimulation. I keep working with the Nevro tech, hoping to find that “sweet spot.”
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1 ReactionHi:
I was started with a nevetra unit , they went out of business. This implant required you to wear belt to charge battery. Not easy or quick.
They switched my battery to abott which is St.Jude around long time.
It has got me back on my feet.
I too have to adjust settings and time to time meet up with rep to adjust.
I have an iPad that comes with it to quickly adjust settings.
Just look at all your options .
Good luck 🍀
I am glad the rep is working with you on finding the right settings!
I have intractable phantom limb pain following a BKA. Has anyone received pain relief using a SCS device, and if so which device did you have implanted? Thank you in advance for all anticipated comments.
I don’t know if my input is valuable in this discussion or not ,but I think my experience brings up a coupe of issues . I have severe post surgical saphenous neuralgia from 2011 that can still be blocked by a few cc of lidocaine , but sadly , nothing else . I had 2 unsuccessful SCS trials in 2015 ,then had a successful DRG stim implant that gave me 7 wonderful months of 70-80% relief , after which, it just wore off. I also developed bizarre neurological symptoms from nerves nearby the spinal levels used by the stimulator.
My experience brings up 2 issues about neurostimulators which I don’t think get much attention.
The most important is longevity and the second is neuroplasticity. The evidence for the first , I think , is concerning. The second is a phenomenon I noticed come on over the 7 months of relief I had with the stimulator . Unfortunately, it has remained with me long after the stimulator was eventually removed.
My experience shows that the decision making around having a neurostimulator shouldn’t just focus on the initial pain relief , however tempting that may be.
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1 ReactionI had a Boston Scientific stimulator trial in 2021 that did not go well. The vibrations added to the pain. At the follow up the programmer in the Dr's office turned the dial way too high and I shouted. Then I had the wire removed. Recently (10/2022) the Nevro HFx was offered from the pain clinic in Boston, and I was handed a flashy brochure. Now, days before my trial of the HFx I am told it will be the Boston Scientific unit again.
I myself used the stimulater. For a year it works wonders got tired of having to charge it on the battery in my back with the battery they give you have so much wrong with my back and legs thinking of going back to using it it is well worth it better then taking pills if you did not have the surgery it is not long it over in no time you have to keep track of when you need charging take time matching it with batter in back it takes about 2hrs wish you much relief