Connect
← Return to Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal
Discussion
Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal
Chronic Pain | Last Active: Aug 18 10:10am | Replies (85)Comment receiving replies
Hi, @heisenberg34, you may find this article from John Hopkins Medicine of interest:
- Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal: Q&A With a Neurosurgeon
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/spinal-cord-stimulator-removal-qa
I'd also like to invite back @mamabear62 who posted in 2020 wondering about having a spinal cord stimulator removed in the neuropathy group:
- Anyone had a spinal cord stimulator removed? Replaced?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/spinal-stimulator/
@heisenberg34 - this all sounds like a really frustrating situation, have you discussed the possibility of changing out the battery so that you can get your MRI? After reading the article from John Hopkins, it sounds like you are not alone in your experience with not obtaining relief from a spinal cord stimulator. Have you discussed your desire to have your SCS removed altogether?
Replies to "Hi, @heisenberg34, you may find this article from John Hopkins Medicine of interest: - Spinal Cord..."
Wish it were that simple. When they swapped out the Medtronics battery for the Nevro, they kept the old paddle and lead. They had to use an adapter in order to connect the new battery to the old leads. The adapter makes having an MRI not possible. My own fault for being so gullible. I was desperate for pain relief (aren't we all) that I let a NEVRO rep fast talk me into getting the new battery. I was 99% certain that the new unit would give me relief...NOT!
Now I have the pain pump which is giving me minimal relif, even though stats say that 94% of patients get at least 50% relef. Guess what? NOT ME!
I just had the SCS removed about a week and a half ago. Surgery went smoothly. Only took about an hour to complete. Recovery is going without a hitch. Have to wait a few more weeks to get the MRI. Of course, I know that hinging a lot on this is dangerous. If it reveals nothing out of the ordinary, then I'm not sure what else to do. My implanted pain pump has done nothing to mitigate my pain. I am purposing to get out and do more walking/bike riding, even if it ramps up my pain for a while.
Connect
Thank you for the link to the Johns Hopkins article. I did not know and was never told that an SCS could be the cause of new medical problems several years after implant.