I am being referred to rochester mayo clinic for second opinions

Your spine will improve with the hip lift .Pain sucks I know good luck and<br />
god bless Deena<br />

Hi @chassy. Welcome to Connect! There are two ongoing discussions which may interest you in which members are discussing chronic pain and specifically SCS- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anybody-had-an-implantable-neurostimulator-for-chronic-pain/ and https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/are-there-any-discussions-for-chronic-pain/. I'd suggest you read through those discussions and chat with people like @ladyjane85, @zjandre, @seanbeck and @dbentley who may have some insights and be able to provide some support.

I am on my 2nd Spinal Cord Stimulator and I also have a Pain Pump that<br />
pumps Hydromorphone, (Hydrocodone & Morphine) and Fentanyl into my body 24<br />
hours per day. I also can take 4 Hydrocodone a day if necessary, I<br />
usually take at least 2 each day. My average Pain level is 5 on a Good<br />
Day and higher on Bad Days. Most people would have had gotten relief by<br />
now but not me.<br />
<br />
My 1st Stimulator was the type where you felt the vibrations in your<br />
body, it really never gave me any relief. When my battery needed<br />
replacing after 7 years, they implanted the newer brand, Nervo which has<br />
higher frequency of stimulations that you can not feel, you don't even know<br />
it is on. <br />
<br />
The remote control is set for 3 programs with 8 stages on each program.<br />
You have 24 potential different settings, so there should be one that should<br />
give you relief. When you have gone through these 24 settings, it can be<br />
reprogramed with 3 more programs and 24 more settings. There are hundreds<br />
of potential settings. I was told that the majority of patients will<br />
find a program that gives them relief by the time that have gone thru 4 or 5<br />
programs. Lucky me, I have gone through about 10 programs and 80<br />
settings and still have not found the right one for me.<br />
<br />
From what I understand, the Nervo stimulator has had rave reviews by a<br />
number of doctors. It very may work for you. I would definitely try<br />
it before they put a Pain Pump, which will definitely make you a Drug<br />
Addict.<br />
<br />
Good Luck and God Bless You!<br />
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from @ladyjane85 to @chassy I had the SCS for over a year<br />
due to my chronic back pain with fusions, rod a screws twice. I had it<br />
removed due to no relief of pain. It is supposed to block your brain<br />
from feeling the pain, but feeling this :vibration" instead. It does<br />
not work any better than a TENS unit but stronger. My 7 to 9 pain was<br />
not fooled. So now I have had 5 surgeries on my back which keeps<br />
deterioratng above the fusions. I am unable to take meds due to great<br />
sensitivity to over 40 pain killers giving me various side effects<br />
which have even put me in the hospital. The wiring and battery pack of<br />
the stimulator requires quite a long incision. Of course, they will<br />
give you a few days of trial that only demands a little incision. I<br />
psyched myself up that it would work, so went through with it. They<br />
now say there is nothing they can do to relieve my pain - currently<br />
having massage and some stimulation with heat by a physical therapist<br />
as long as medicare allows. This feels good while it is being done,<br />
then I slowly limp out. No relief.<br />