@sam65

I think that these questions and many others would be answered if you'd go back to the beginning of the discussion and just read through the comments.

If you have any problems finding the discussion, let me know, and I'll try to direct you there.

Jim

@jimhd
I have read many posts all of which were interesting. I did find a partial answer to my question 5); however, I did not find answers for questions 1) through 4). Therefore, I will take you up on your offer to give me some specific directions.
Thanks so much.

@sam65
Here are my replies to your questions. Jim might remember better since my test was over 3 years ago.

1) it has to be done in a surgicenter or hospital as they use a type of xray to optimally position the leads 2) and use waking sedation to test where you feel the stimulation before bandaging them in place.
3) the test period is 5-7 days.
4) you can only shower - but honestly I cannot remember if they even allowed that. Might be a sponge bath deal.
5) I have 2 stimulators and I had the same experience w both. I think it is due to how the leads heal into place and therefore what they have direct contact to.

Carl

@cbrackle

Thanks, Carl, for responding. I concur with your answers.

Jim

@cbrackle
@jimhd

Thanks Carl for taking the time to answer my questions. It is very much appreciated.

My trial for the Nevro implant lasted about 7 days and the surgery was done at the pain clinic. The anesthesia or sedation is given intravenously and the medication is typically is one that offers a quick recovery. I believe someone told me they may want to talk to you during the procedure so they can bring you to consciousness quickly. The other thing I remember is that you don't remember much after the sedation so have someone with you take notes. Bathing is tough as you absolutely cannot get the device wet. The nurses said it was a sponge bath situation. I put a stool in my bathtub and washed carefully with my hand held shower head. My hair was washed bending over kitchen sink using the sprayer to rinse. I put a plastic bag over my shoulders to protect the device. We are an extremely clean culture but bathing used to be every Saturday night. I don't think th nurses approved of all of my methods but no harm was done. Pretend your camping and roughing it.

As to why the trial can be better than the implanted device? I don't know. I am going through that now-great trial, not there yet with the implant. The programmer said In the first months your nervous system is getting used to the signal so changes to the program aren't unusual. Sometimes scar tissue may change the lead positioning. She said a difference of a millimeter in the leads positions can change the programming so with such a small margin for error the programs used in the trial are not going to work the same. That sweet spot is still there but needs to be found again. There is the slight chance that the leads moved during the healing stage. My device is in the cervical area serving the head, shoulders and arms and may be more difficult to program than the lower back implant.

The only other thing I can offer here is pay attention to the type of device you're getting. Google the different devices and see what they have to offer for your type of problem. My brother in law is an anesthesiologist and his partners like the Nevro. (Pain doctors start out typically as anathesiologists and pain treatment is a speciality.). The nevro SCS affects a larger area, is radicular in its coverage or follows the nerve path through the limbs. It may be better for neuropathic pain according to him. Make sure your doctor is at least using it, some doctors are very conservative about newer medicine not a bad thing but these devices can last 10 years so do your homework and ask the doctor why this device he selects is best for you. I wasn't offered the Nevro at one clinic because the doctor hadn't looked in to it yet. The Nevro is a high speed signal and the Medtronic and St. Jude are a lower signal strength. Nevro has patented their signal so no other device can do that speed legally. The Nevro doesn't have to be turned off while driving or sleeping because you never feel the signal. The lower speed devices can give you a tingling sensation when bending your body or turning your head, a distraction while driving and disruptive during sleep. Good luck, Cathy

@cjpeterson

Cathy,
Many thanks for all the information. It gives me a lot to consider.

The pump is far better. No external leads or anything else. Just a remote control. Read the rest of this reply.

I got my pain pump at M Health in Minneapolis Minnesota. It was implanted by dr. Michael Park who was a neurosurgeon working there it drips 2.75 mg of Dilaudid through a catheter that runs the length of my spine every 24 hours.. The medication comes by a pump which is surgically implanted on the left side of my belly just above my belt. I also have a remote control which allows me to dispense another 9/10 of 1 mg in 10 doses every 24 hours. if I try to exceed that the pump will tell me I how long I have to wait for the next dose. I returned to the doctor approximately every 3 months to have the old medication removed and new medication added. I lie on my back, he pulls up my shirt, lays a template on my stomach, and inserts a small needle into the pump, draws out what's left of the last dose and then refills the pump with medication for the next 3 months. if you're following this is a total of less than 4 mg per day however medication delivered in this fashion is 300 times more powerful then medication you put in your mouth. I am very satisfied with the pump, I still have pain but it's manageable and they allow me to keep a small amount of oral medication. I'm presently weaning myself off the oral meds. Your back and the description of it sounds like mine and mine is too complicated for surgery also. if you're healthy enough to have the surgery you sound like the perfect candidate for the pump. Watch for another reply because I'm going to proof read this and make sure I didn't leave anything out and I'm going to look up my doctors phone number at M health and give you that as well. Good luck. love and blessings.