HI, I have had both the Abbott SCS and DRG for my feet and legs and lower back. unfortunately they both were awesome in the trial, but neither did anymore than 5% relief once I had the final installation. I had 5 revisions of the SCS with no change in effectiveness.
I recently had both of them completely removed.
I now have the Medtronic pain pump which has worked way better than any other device. Not perfect, but I am able to be up and do yard work all day long. I pay for it if I overdo it, but it still helps.
I am actually going for a revision of the pain pump in a few weeks. It was implanted to help my feet, legs, and lower back however, it has never done anything noticeable for my lower back.
As you know everyone reacts differently to treatments, it's not encouraging, but you just have to keep trying things until you find one that works.
I wish you all the best of luck.
I have CRPS with low back pain, intense foot pain on the right side. I can stand and walk for about 15 minutes. As far as sitting upright, that lasts about half an hour to an hour. I sleep in a reclining position in my recliner, flat in the bed is out, on my left side is out (after two years, the vertigo set in.) I have an Abbott/St. Jude DRG SCS that yes, with the trial was awesome, the real thing equals 10-15% IF I’m lucky. I’m managed to around 40% total relief for progressive CRPS type II, osteoarthritis, migraine pain, and severe back and joint pain by a pain specialist in my state (Wyoming) who is more afraid of the DEA than their oath. Understandable, yes. Right? Remains to be seen. I guess.
I know nothing about pain pumps. Don’t shame me. I’m a pharmacist and have been for a long time, but this isn’t an area of my expertise.
No-one should "shame" anyone else.
I'd been getting treated for chronic pain for over 12 years and it was never presented as an option. They only brought up the Stimulators because of the "opiod crisis" and as you said, their fear of the DEA for prescribing it.
I never heard of the pain pump until a friend of mine who was an engineer for 15 years for Medtronic developing the pain pump brought it up.
When I asked my pain clinic they said - "yes, that might be a really good fit for my pain issue". What??!!??!! They could not come up with it themselves? they even implant them daily in their surgery center, but they somehow never even informed me that it was an thing.
The one thing (good and bad) about all these pumps and stimulators is that they are targeted so if you can get them to work on you it is over a limited area. Since my chronic pain is all over my body, I have to pick the area that is worst and basically just suffer with the rest.
Whereas, the oral opiods would treat all of the pain at once.
No-one should "shame" anyone else.
I'd been getting treated for chronic pain for over 12 years and it was never presented as an option. They only brought up the Stimulators because of the "opiod crisis" and as you said, their fear of the DEA for prescribing it.
I never heard of the pain pump until a friend of mine who was an engineer for 15 years for Medtronic developing the pain pump brought it up.
When I asked my pain clinic they said - "yes, that might be a really good fit for my pain issue". What??!!??!! They could not come up with it themselves? they even implant them daily in their surgery center, but they somehow never even informed me that it was an thing.
The one thing (good and bad) about all these pumps and stimulators is that they are targeted so if you can get them to work on you it is over a limited area. Since my chronic pain is all over my body, I have to pick the area that is worst and basically just suffer with the rest.
Whereas, the oral opiods would treat all of the pain at once.
I had a similar situation. Pain MD (neurologist by specialty) never suggested one and once neurosurgeon proposed I have more surgery, it was like she just gave up on other options. If I hadn’t sought out a second opinion, I would not have even thought about a SCS! I have since learned a pain management MD whose specialty is Anesthesiology has a much broader concept of what to try for pain management options. Something to keep in mind!
I wish I had better access to Pain Specialist. Wyoming is so limited. Many have left the state with most if not all not taking new patients on opioids (my only form of effective pain treatment after 3 years of trial and experimentation with every other option in the arsenal.
I wish I had better access to Pain Specialist. Wyoming is so limited. Many have left the state with most if not all not taking new patients on opioids (my only form of effective pain treatment after 3 years of trial and experimentation with every other option in the arsenal.
I wish I had better access to Pain Specialist. Wyoming is so limited. Many have left the state with most if not all not taking new patients on opioids (my only form of effective pain treatment after 3 years of trial and experimentation with every other option in the arsenal.
The bonus of the pain pump is they fill it with Dilaudid which for me was the only effective treatment found over years of trial and error (at my expense).
Another thing to consider is getting some genetic testing done.
I had it done after many years of Tyrol and error. Really enlightening that the stuff they said to avoid was the stuff we found had not worked.
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I so agree!
I have CRPS with low back pain, intense foot pain on the right side. I can stand and walk for about 15 minutes. As far as sitting upright, that lasts about half an hour to an hour. I sleep in a reclining position in my recliner, flat in the bed is out, on my left side is out (after two years, the vertigo set in.) I have an Abbott/St. Jude DRG SCS that yes, with the trial was awesome, the real thing equals 10-15% IF I’m lucky. I’m managed to around 40% total relief for progressive CRPS type II, osteoarthritis, migraine pain, and severe back and joint pain by a pain specialist in my state (Wyoming) who is more afraid of the DEA than their oath. Understandable, yes. Right? Remains to be seen. I guess.
I know nothing about pain pumps. Don’t shame me. I’m a pharmacist and have been for a long time, but this isn’t an area of my expertise.
No-one should "shame" anyone else.
I'd been getting treated for chronic pain for over 12 years and it was never presented as an option. They only brought up the Stimulators because of the "opiod crisis" and as you said, their fear of the DEA for prescribing it.
I never heard of the pain pump until a friend of mine who was an engineer for 15 years for Medtronic developing the pain pump brought it up.
When I asked my pain clinic they said - "yes, that might be a really good fit for my pain issue". What??!!??!! They could not come up with it themselves? they even implant them daily in their surgery center, but they somehow never even informed me that it was an thing.
The one thing (good and bad) about all these pumps and stimulators is that they are targeted so if you can get them to work on you it is over a limited area. Since my chronic pain is all over my body, I have to pick the area that is worst and basically just suffer with the rest.
Whereas, the oral opiods would treat all of the pain at once.
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2 ReactionsYeah, I really don’t know if a pump would benefit me or not. I like to think it would because I have so much pain on the right side.
I had a similar situation. Pain MD (neurologist by specialty) never suggested one and once neurosurgeon proposed I have more surgery, it was like she just gave up on other options. If I hadn’t sought out a second opinion, I would not have even thought about a SCS! I have since learned a pain management MD whose specialty is Anesthesiology has a much broader concept of what to try for pain management options. Something to keep in mind!
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI wish I had better access to Pain Specialist. Wyoming is so limited. Many have left the state with most if not all not taking new patients on opioids (my only form of effective pain treatment after 3 years of trial and experimentation with every other option in the arsenal.
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1 Reaction@faithwalker007 not having an accessible pain clinic for every person should be illegal. I am so sorry!
The bonus of the pain pump is they fill it with Dilaudid which for me was the only effective treatment found over years of trial and error (at my expense).
Another thing to consider is getting some genetic testing done.
I had it done after many years of Tyrol and error. Really enlightening that the stuff they said to avoid was the stuff we found had not worked.
Thank you.
Hi, did you try the SCS (spinal cord stimulator) for your neck pain ?