Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hi, I’m Gayle. I have degenerative disc disease, pudental nerve entrapment, and tailbone pain. I was treated for SIJ pain for years and it does have that pain pattern, but nothing worked. I’ve had severe sitting pain on the left side since 2009. I just went through the Nevro spinal cord stimulator trial and I am thrilled to report that I got a big reduction in pain. I am so excited about it and can hardly wait for the permanent one to be placed! I hope I am not being overly optimistic and of course, I don’t know what the long term effectiveness will be. But I do have a friend in Dallas who has had hers, a Boston Scientific brand, for years. She still loves hers and says she probably could not get out of bed without it. I am really excited to find this site! Gayle

Hi all, I’m a new member to this site but not new to chronic pain unfortunately. Following an injury, I ended up having a fusion of C-5 through C-7 Sept 2, 2014. The orthopedic surgeon used allograft which took a long time to bridge. He explained stabilization was considered “successful “ I was left with the original nerve pain with added bonus of pain to the other side. I was medically retired from a career I loved. Following “ retirement “ I blew out both knees which added to the pain as well as inactivity. The first part of Jan 2023, I was having symptoms which I couldn’t explain and had a Cervical CT w/ contrast which showed hardware intact, bridging stable but showed severe degeneration of the atlantoaxial joint. Now just waiting to see how it will be treated. As far as pain control, very little due to the opioid issues which in all honesty I’m glad I never went down that road. I’ve tried the medical marijuana once but didn’t like the effect. So other than 10 mg Flexeril, I just grin and bare it. Quality of life is not great , things I used to do are a distant memory. But I just take it day to day.

Hi Gayle, I'm happy that you got relief from the SCS Nevro on your trial. Can you share with us where your area of pain used to be? Thanks, Marty

I can emphasize with you. Doctor's consider it a success if the incision heals properly even though you still have pain in the underlying tissue and the reason for the surgery to begin with. Good luck and God Bless. I've been through it too.

I have chronic pain in tailbone, left buttock, left sacroiliac and extreme intermittent burning in left perineum. For years, I experienced it as sitting pain only. Then it progressed to pain when laying down. I get relief just before sleeping by laying prone for a short time (I always was a tummy sleeper when young but can’t manage it for too long anymore without a firm pillow underneath my hips and tummy).This relaxes my muscles enough that I can then sleep comfortably on my right side all night. The Nevro trial helped a lot and I’m now awaiting permanent placement. Hope I’ve covered it! Gayle

Marty, one thing I’ve learned is a spinal surgery is considered successful only if it’s stabilized. No thought of nerve pain or other changes are taken into consideration….David

I have chronic back pain.i had fusion in 2012-redo in 2014
It was not helpful for pain. 30 epidurals have not helped pain. I am 82, and do not think a spinal cord stimulator would help