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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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I need to choose between the Nevro HF10 spine stimulator at Mayo and the Boston Scientific stimulator at a hospital in my home state. I am asking for advice, opinions please.
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1 ReactionHello Sheila, This is a very tough question for non-medical people to answer. There are many types of spinal cord simulators, and the best one for you depends on your exact diagnosis and which nerves the neurologists are planning to stimulate, as well as what can be serviced near where you live. Also, most people probably only have experience with one type, so it might be hard to find anyone who can make a comparison for you.
Can you give us a few details about what each doctor said whe making the recommendation?
Sue
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1 ReactionHi Sheila,
Choosing which spinal cord stimulator can be a challenge. You may have noticed that I moved your message to this existing discussion where @elsa asked the very same question.
To help you with your research, here's a list of relevant discussions on Connect that you may wish to review:
– Implantable neurostimulator for chronic pain https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anybody-had-an-implantable-neurostimulator-for-chronic-pain/
– Has anyone one tried the HF10 Spinal Cord Stimulation Device?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hf-10-spinal-cord-stimulation-device-relieves-back-and-leg-pain/
– Spinal cord stimulation: Will Nevro help when Medtronic didn't? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nevro/
– Has anyone had the Stimwave spine stimulator installed? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-any-had-the-stim-wave-installed/
– T.E.N.S. for spinal stenosis pain https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/t-e-n-s-for-spinal-stenosis-pain/
It sounds like your decision also relies on the choice of location. Do you live relatively close to a Mayo Clinic facility?
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1 ReactionYes, The Boston Scientific model. This was recommended by the neurosurgeon.
Yes. The neurosurgeon recommended the Bost Scientific model.
Elsa, did you give the Wave writer by Boston Scientific a try? If, so, how did it go? Thanks,
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1 ReactionI would also be interested in the results.
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