Anyone tried Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain?

How much of each and when do you take them?? Thanks

I wish you all speedy comfort!

I have a condition called
Levator ani syndrome. The pain in constant and awful in my rectum. There is nothing there, docs said no cure, only strong meds that just help a little. I stopped taking them, as I could barely touch anything without bruising. Pelvic pt helps a little.
I have no idea of why it started and if anyone else has this , what might have helped?
My life has completely changed…can’t sit for any length of time, no long car rides or travel.

I had a lot of pain in this area but it was diagnosed as pudendal nerve entrapment. I had bad sitting pain and very often burning nerve pain. The nerve pain has mostly gone away after placement of the the spinal cord stimulator. But I still get a pain that can only be described as “heaviness”. This may sound like constipation but I don’t suffer from that. Like I’ve said in many posts but bears repeating: the SCS does not relieve all pain but if you’re fortunate like me, it removes a significant amount. I do feel like I’ve got my life back, although some amount of discomfort is always there. My rep told me that the “SCS only works on nerve pain but since muscles have nerves its complicated”. You have to work with the representatives of the company to get the right intensity and area that covers the most pain. It has been well worth it for me. I have the Nevro, my friend has the Boston Scientific, both of us had similar results.

Thank you so much…have read mixed results about SCS, had been recommended by pain management for spine issues. Having nerve ablation for lower spine area on 8/1, 🤞, and also have ischial bursitis. Also pudendal nerve issues on and off, but more off these days. Along with the Levator ani. Pelvic stew!!!
No one has ever suggested a cause or cure for the LA, so I thought I would reach out to everyone and see if there were some ideas.
Pudendal nerve entrapment was never mentioned for possible cause. One more thing to follow up on if ablation doesn’t help some of this. Would prefer not to have SCS if possible, so I am going to exhaust all before. Thanks!!!

Has anyone had success by using a pain stimulator?

I have fibromyalgia and in early days of diagnosis tried TENS and was in so much more pain afterwards. I also cannot handle being cracked by a chiropractor. I think it just depends on your diagnosis.

I have had a few ablations for severed nerves in my thorasic area. I now have a lot of numbness on the right side of my body and two pseudo hernias, one in front and one in back which are very painful. The nerve blocks and ablations have worked but don't last.
I had a week long trial with a spine cord stimulator with an 80% reduction of pain so I am going forward with the permanent implant. it feels like the only possibility for pain relief left.

I wish they had just one thread for the SCS. I have posted many times in different threads that mine has worked. But you must be patient and work with the rep afterwards to get it in the right area with the right intensity. I find that making any change… do it in bed just before falling asleep. That way your body acclimates over the night hours and you get a true reading of your new setting the next day. When it was brand new, I would evaluate and change within minutes instead of as told by the rep. And I could never get it just right. But yes, my SCS is working!

@eddiestella1, welcome. @gaylerenee is right. There are many helpful discussions about spinal cord stimulators. To help reduce the repetition and to connect you with others easily, I moved your question to this existing discussion:

- Anyone tried Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/spinal-cord-stimulation-2/

Here are several other helpful discussions:
- How did you get relief with a spinal stimulator? Adjustments? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nevro-spinal-stimulator-patients/
- Spinal cord stimulation: Will Nevro help when Medtronic didn't? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nevro/
- Spinal cord stimulator physical limitations (post recovery period) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/spinal-cord-stimulator-physical-limitations-post-recovery-period/
- Should I have the Spinal Cord Stimulator? Looking for reviews on this
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/should-i-have-the-spinal-cord-stimulator-looking-for-reviews-on-this/
- Recovery restrictions after spinal cord stimulator implant surgery
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recovery-restrictions-after-spinal-cord-stimulator-implant-surgery/
To find all discussions about this topic, the Search function can help.

Eddie, what type of pain do you have that you hope a spine stimulator might help? What questions do you have?

Would one of you tell me the difference between ex: a Nalu peripheral nerve stimulator and a spinal cord stimulator, which I am scheduled to have soon.