Spinal Cord Stimulation for chronic back pain

1% is a VRY small chance of something going wrong during surgery. I would go with the surgery in a heartbeat,

I have had severe peripheral nerve pain due to a ski fall 7 years ago. I had injections, nerve ablations, etc. Two separate orthopedic surgeons looked me straight to my face and told me that there was nothing else that could be done. Ha! Apparently they were just not willing to spend any time any time with me. I was directed to a neurologist who prescribed a cocktail of drugs that proved to be a real game-changer. I was back on my bike doing 30 to 40 mile a week. I would have a bad day after the cycling so I was directed to a neurosurgeon who put me on to the Medtronics SCS, The trial went very well, so I had the permanent implant done. The SCS unit + the meds put me almost to where I was prior to my ski fall. That was August 2018, Then, in Feb, 2021 all the pain returned with a vengeance. I saw 8 or 9 pain specialists, 2 chiropractors and a few other doc. No one could come up with anything to help me. I just had a morphine pain pump surgically implanted almost 2 weeks ago, 4/12/2023. Minor pain relief after first adjustment of pump last week. Going tomorrow to get pump adjusted upward again. Not sure how many adjustments it will take to get optimum pain relief, but I have no other option.

The surgery to implant a SCS has me very concerned. I dont do well with healing, it can take me over 4 yrs for a scar from a minor cut to heal and flatten. The procedure to insert the wires and device sounds invasive to me. Has anyone had ongoing issues with healing and scar and additional pain after receiving the permanent implant ?

Nevro implant SCS for 5 years. Small incision, lidocaine injections only. Now no spinal pain after spinal fusion with plates and screws caused failed back syndrome. Needs recharging daily for about 15 minutes. Trial (external) was provided. Dr. Gordon Kuhar, Saratoga Springs, New York.

I have had SCS implanted over the past year. Both surgeries went well. Minor pain and little swelling. I don't understand why it takes so long for even a minor cut to heal. Have you talked to a hematologist or other medical professional?

I have lumbar spinal stenosis and have been in pain for over 10-years. I've had multiple procedures and treatments/therapies, and nothing has worked to alleviate my pain. The physicians have told me my only option is to have the Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted. I absolutely refuse! I have read the literature and watched the video, and also have read that there have been over 80,000 spinal cord injuries as a result of this Spinal cord stimulator. I do not feel that this is safe and I will not have it done. I'm also an RN, and have talked to many patients about this - many have it removed within a year.

Curious, were these 80k injuries related to 1 brand? Over what period of time?
I am a retired hospital RN and have a spinal cord stimulator for 3 years and a few months. It proved very helpful until I developed spinal cord sciatica symptoms that seriously had an impact on my daily life. See my other note - I am just now recovering from my recent second back surgery - I did not want to do it - but came to the conclusion that I could not continue as I was.

I have been thinking about a pain pump, I've had back pain for 7 years and I'd love to be able to walk more than I do which is hardly nothing. I use a cane. I don't know anyone that uses a pain pump, would you mind letting me know how your experience goes? I sure would appreciate it.

Sorry for your pain. I can certainly empathize with you. I had the pain pump surgery just over 2 weeks ago. Everything went well. In and out in about 4 or 5 hours. Two incision sites. Large one in front for the pump in lower abdomen. Very tender, but not bad. Other site is along back. Smaller and less sensitive. Pump was set to lowest setting. No noticeable relief, as expected. Went back to pain specialist a week later to get the pump setting kicked up a notch. I noticed less burning in my feet. A week after that I had the setting raised again. Almost no burning in feet; less pain in butt and lower back. Also went to neurosurgeon to have incisions checked. All looks good so far. I can sit for extended periods of time with less buttock pain. I mowed a large section of the lawn the other day with very little pain afterwards. I go back in a week and a half to get another adjustment. Neurosurgeon told me that it might take another 3 to 5 adjustments to what he calls the "baseline". This is the dosage that is the max amount that will provide good pain relief. I will likely never be pain-free, but most days should be decent, with an occasional day pain-free. I also will likely have "bad" pain days. If so, I can hit a button on the remote to give a "bolus" or booster shot.
Hope this helps you,
Chris

I have had two spinal cord stimulators. The first one helped a lot for abou3 years. Did they mention the trial to you? Fairly simple procedure done in the office. You have a temporary leat placed along side the spinal cord and the battery pack worm for 3 to 5 days. You evaluate what, if any, pain relief you get. They are looking for at least 50% pain reduction. Then you decide if you want the permanent implant. I got about 70% pain relief. After the trial, it was about 50%. But, that, along with my pain meds allowed me to resume almost all previous activities, including cycling, which I had not been able to do for almost two years.
Hope this helps you. I also just had the morphine pain pump surgery, which is going well so far. Besr wishes and prayers for wisdom for guidance to the right procedure.