Hello @tiger4250 -- Welcome to Connect. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate to deal with. Connect is a good place to ask questions and learn what others with similar health concerns are doing for treatments. I have no experience with a spinal cord pain stimulator but I'm tagging several members have discussed the stimulators in their posts. @lisab62, @jimhd, @pamperthyself, @patch can you offer any suggestions for Darlene @tiger4250 ?

Darlene, I would seek a second opinion if you have any concerns about it.

John

Hello @tiger4250

I believe that a second opinion is always a good idea. Ask the doctors you talk to if any of their patients have had the same type of spinal problems you have had and what their pain-control experience has been after the stimulator was implanted. Are you going to have this done at a large medical facility that does a lot of these procedures? Remember that the doctor's experience is also a factor.

I look forward to hearing about your decision making process.

Teresa

Thank you for your response. I truly believe a second opinion is needed in this procedure. My insurance will pay for a second opinion. I had all my surgeries in Ohio before moving back to my home state of Florida. I have bilateral knee replacements, right hip replacement and had two back surgeries. I have been through a lot. I guess my 1st step is to ask my PCP for a referral to a neurosurgeon. That is who did both my back surgeries. I feel they are the best qualified to do these surgeries. I will call them tomorrow and get a referral. Thank you for helping me make this decision.
Darlene

if your considering a simulator and it turns out to not the answer ask about a pain pump. I have one and it's a life saver. Yes I still have pain but it is manageable. When you've lived with pain that is beyond bearable and you've considered taking the final step, you realize that there is a lot you can live with. I have a small pump surgically implanted in my tummy. I get 2.75 mgs. of Dilaudid every 24 hours, plus .9 mgs. that I can trigger in 10, .09 mgs. doses every 24 hours via a remote control. All the drug every s are in my pump. I go to MHealth every 3 to 4 months to have the pump refilled. No more trying to get prescriptions filled. No more doctors and nurses treating you like a criminal because they think you are a "drug seeker". I have my life back and most of my day is pain free. I can exercise again. I got mine at MHealth in MPLS. MN. Dr. Park at the pain clinic is the guy to see. Even if you want to explore other therapies, there is no better place than the MHealth Pain Clinic. Good luck, Love and Blessings

Thank you for replying. I have thought about a pain pump. Because I really don’t see how a pain stimulator is going to help my pain. And you are so right about pharmacies treating me like a druggy. I’v Had to have my regular pharmacy call another pharmacy so I can get a refill of my pain medication. It’s terrible how they treat people.
I go to the pain doctor this Monday and will be asking more questions since I just got surgical clearance.

Good luck