Anyone with a Medtronic Stimulator that they're not happy with?

Posted by stormcruzzer @stormcruzzer, Jan 5, 2023

My trial was great, it brought my pain from a 8-9 down to a 5-6. I'm currently having to recharge my battery daily, where I have to sit for a full hour and a half at a time. Sitting with Arachnoiditis is absolute hell, so charging causes my pain to skyrocket and lasts throughout the rest of the day/night.

During the stimulator trial I was able to sit for quite some time and not deal with the pain near this bad. Doctor is extremely concerned and said it is not normal, but doesn't have any answers yet of why I'm not getting the relief, so I'm being juggled back and forth with Medtronic and Pain Management and nobody seems to have any answers.

Anyone else have a similar experience with either a Medtronic's device or another brand?

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For the Medtronic trial, it felt like I had a nail in my back. The dr and Medtronic pushed getting the SCS device implanted anyway. I would not. It is good the read your comment.

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@cayno

For the Medtronic trial, it felt like I had a nail in my back. The dr and Medtronic pushed getting the SCS device implanted anyway. I would not. It is good the read your comment.

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My trial went smooth as silk. Virtually painless. Brought my pain down from a 7-8 to around a 2-3. Had the permanent implant. Not quite as effective as the trial, but still pretty good... for about 3 years. Then it just stopped. Seems that anumber of electrodes on the paddle had burned. Rep also noted that neurosurgeon din't quite get the paddle stitched in the 'sweet spot." Now, I'm trying the pain pump.

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Oh lord yes, and it was not working I had to keep in for 11 months. Caused more pain. Unfortunately, it's about money. The doctors in my HMO had some type of financial/? benefit. Waste of time to call Medtronics. The gentlemen/woman trying different settings to make it work. I mean offense, he was a salesmen. He was in the OR for the trial and when I was going back and forth and my insurance was charged as an office visit, which is fraud. It was a horrible experience. Do you have PHN?

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@justclintdavis

I am looking at getting an Medtronics pain stimulator installed and would like to hear feedback. Pros/Cons. I have sciatica on my right side.

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I can tell u I have had mine for 12 years, 10 of which the battery has been dead. Did nothing for knee pain from a replacemt surgery that only made things worse.
Multiple adjustments with reps, but nothing helped. So now, after all this time, was scheduled to get an MRI, only to find since battery is dead, they can’t do MRI since it is unable to go into MRI mode. My pain management physician office has contacted Medtronic, spoke to a rep named Adam who was supposed to get a form filled out for my dr to give to Radiologist. He said Kristen had those forms. He Would get it to Dr. he was also,supposed to,contact me. T hat was 3 days ago and nothing.
This has thrown everything out of whack, so right now my only other option is to have this dam thing removed, which I should have done years ago.
You make the decision about your situation, but know if I had to do it all over again I def would not.

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