Anyone tried Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain?

I had the NevroHF10 implanted in September 2021 after having the one week test implant. I chose the implant after having had 2 temporarily successful spinal fusions of L3, L4, L5 and accompanying decompressions of L3, L4, L5, S1. Both surgeons then stated that I was no longer a candidate for surgery. The diagnosis was degenerative disease, stenosis, narrow channel from birth, etc. I was referred to the Pain Center. Since I am on Medicare, I went through the epidural injections of the spine, the individual side injections, a hip injection because we were guessing, I stopped when the Radio Frequency Ablation was the next step. I did not want my nerves burned when it did not have a reliable outcome. (My own research so take it with a grain of salt. At the time I was reading about Pre-Frontal Lobotomy.) I was at the preliminary Opioid crisis and I did not want to start pain medication, but I could no longer walk 1/4 mile without sitting 6 times on my seat cane, fire hydrants, etc. the pain clinic had brochures on a spinal stimulator. So I researched and found that the old stimulators result in parethesis and you cannot drive. (My own research - please do not take this as gospel or even accurate - it is what I thought I found.) The reading I did on Nevro stated that it is good for lower lumbar pain relief. I searched for a physician that worked with Nevro. I had to travel once again since nobody in my town worked with Nevro. The Dr. at the pain clinic reviewed what I had done so far, the injections, the acupunture, the chropratic sessions, the spine pain and the thigh pain on both sides, the sitting to relieve the pain and concurred that the Nevro device is the recommended procedure. After the preliminary testing for radiculopathy, the psychological testing, and the physical testing by the Dr. I was approved for the 1 week test. I am obese and do not sleep on my stomach. In my case the test implant is done in office. The Dr. is extremely accurate in his placement of the wires in my spine and it took 2.5 hours on my stomach with constant coaching to DO NOT MOVE. I got through it and so did he and the NEVRO attendant the was monitoring the placement of the wires on her pc. I got through it without complications. Seven days later I was able to report 60-80 percent pain relief, walking the 1/4 mile without stopping. The pain mostly receded but sleeping was and still is a challenge. I have osteoarthritis in every joint and my hips are painful. I flip once and hour. I can't sleep on my stomach, too fat. I can't sleep on my back. The last surgery left some nerves that get squeezed and my left leg and foot start to tingle and then the whole left outer leg muscles cramp. With Nevro you have a care team available to you M-F pacific time. They pay attention for the first several months and then respond as needed. You have to ask them specific questions to get specific answers. They will not share their user guide. They claim to have many programs and settings but you do not know what they are and they will not share it. (Cleveland clinic has a public paper about how 10Khz high frequency devices work, but you cannot get any details from Nevro. After this time I would still get a Nevro implant. I can still walk and get around. There are times that it has to be adjusted but overall I can still move.

I too have had an SCS implanted a couple of years ago. I was cautioned about the Nevro in that it tends to use a lot of battery power and that recharging can be a daily routine. I recharge mine about every 5 days. I have not yet found the right program - of which there are countless ones -to alleviate my foot pain. I recently developed back and hip pain so I just had new programs installed for that. In your situation, and I know this easier said than done, since you mention this a few times is to lose weight. This will alleviate the pressure on your joints and should be an overall positive for your health. Good luck going forward!

My PT just got a Bemer mat which is an electromagnetic way of increasing/making more efficient the flow of oxygenated blood through the body. I have only had one treatment but it seems to make a big difference in my level of energy. I don't know if it will lessen the pain and numbness of my neuropathy, and I was told it won't help with my unsteadiness but I've had such low energy - presumably from dealing with pain, etc. - that I am really hopeful that this weekly treatment will help my energy level in the long run. As for the Pregabalin, I think it is the cause for significant lightheadedness at times. I tried Gabapentin but had adverse reactions to it, and Pregabalin has been a good alternative for me.

I had an scs put in almost three years ago. It's been a blessing. Before that the pain was so bad I couldn't walk. Now I'm back to gardening and living again.

Which scs did you choose?

I went with Boston scientific. I took a ten year implant that allows you to have an MRI. A lot of them don't.