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Anyone with a Medtronic Stimulator that they're not happy with?
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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PS. Removal is more difficult if one has paddles as opposed to just ' electrodes ' ( not sure exact name, ). I believe i had paddles cuz my bled was at lead paddle, which is unusual. I had MRI's that reveal none of this. This was ONLY revealed when I did MRI in surgeon's office, just prior to removal so pls also know one's MRI results only as good as Radiologist..and many are obviously lacking. I was constantly told all was well...it was not !
Got my trial spinal cord stimulator removed yesterday (8/22/25) It didn't work for my nerve pain. They tried to get me to keep it in over the weekend and try and different setting. I declined. I was so ready to have it removed. I am so happy it was just a trial. It did not hurt to remove it. The only thing I felt was the tape that was holding the implant on my back. Now that hurt a lot! I don't know what's next to relieve my nerve pain.
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1 ReactionI was given gabapentin when I was first diagnosed. That drug caused me to fall and lose focus. I went to another neurologist and he suggested pregabalin and baclofin.ye I have been ok with it. I take 75 mg of pregabalin {Lyrica} every 6 hours 3 times each day starting at 8 a.m. then 2 pm then again at 8 pm It all depends when I start the first dose. then it is always 6 hours then another 6 hours. with each dose of pregabalin I take baclofin. 2 then 1 then 2 with last dose of the day. I have alot of pain in my feet, and legs I apply Aspercreme with lidocaine -found it at Walmart, several times a day if I am able. I also have had 3 fusions 1 cervical, one laminectomy/discectomy and bilateral sacral fusion. I had a Boston Scientific Spinal Cord stimulator implanted 3 years ago. I chose this one because you are able to have an MRI with it. It doesn't stop all pain but if I turn it off I know I need it. I am going to research Protandim NRF-2. A tip from a Facebook neuropathy group. She sent me a video and info how her husband has alot of relief with it. I will try anything to keep off the typical meds for this horrible condition. My pain with PN has been disabling at times, I must use a cane. I am really searching for a holistic way to stop these meds. Hope this helps some.
@love2cusmile
Did it hurt to have the trial leads inserted?
@lisajanec I was put in a twilight sleep so I didn't have pain when they inserted the trial leads however for the next four days I was in extreme pain from the surgical site not from the thoracic region where my original pain was coming from. I just had the permanent implant on January 23rd and they turned it on January 28th and I had so much pain from the surgery which I was not expecting. The Med Tronics representative told me it could take up to two weeks to begin actually working on stopping the pain signals from reaching my brain so I am still having to avoid everything that triggers my pain and take pain medication. I am just waiting to see if it works. I had great results in the trial, no pain at all in the thoracic spine just horrid pain from the surgery to put the leads in my spine, so I am praying this kicks in and blocks the pain signals. If it works it will be the first time in six years where I can function normally again. I have already undergone 3 cervical surgeries and 3 lumbar surgeries but there was nothing in the thoracic spine that indicated surgery would help. So my last ditch attempt was the SCS.
@annamtk have you heard of the Spero Clinic in Fayetteville AR, they have a successful program for CRPS.
@heisenberg34 I see your post is from 2023 but curious how things have changed since. I also live in Delaware and after (what I feel) is failed spinal fusion surgery, I'm considering a SCS or pain pump. May I ask who was your doctor? Mine is Dr. Pawan Rastogi at Delaware Neurological Surgeons in Wilmington, I appreciate any guidance you can provide, Hopefully your pain is manageable now.
@bab1008 My SCS worked well. My pain was dropped down to about a 2 from a 7. For so reason it just stopped working in 2021. It was thought that the paddle lead had a bunch of electrodes that that had shorted out. I had may a pain pump implanted three years ago. It gave me just one day of good relief in three years. I tried to have a trial of Boston Scientific's wavewriter in September of 2014. They could not get the lead in the sweet spot due to scar tissue. So, here I am still in pain. My next move is medical marijuana. Good luck with your pain journey.
@heisenberg34 I had a Boston Scientific spinal stimulator for 3 years. Initially the battery pack was placed in my rear. Every time I sat down I got pinch from the battery pack. So it was moved to my hip area. After 1 1/2 years I started getting shocked from the battery pack and the stimulator. I had it removed last year. I still have intense pain at the stimulator site, like being stabbed by a hot sharp knife whenever I do any activity. I use medical marijuana now. I smoke and use edibles. It helps with the nerve pain. Sometimes I just need to smoke a little so I can finish my tasks. It is much better than opioids.
@luvrofthelord Update on the Medtronic Spinal Cord Stimulator. I have had more pain since the implantation in January than the prior 8 years. My pain doctor did a facet joint injection which did nothing for the pain and a few weeks ago he did an intercostal nerve block which did nothing for the pain. Now he wants to remove one of the wires from the stimulator and my spine and re-implant another wire thinking that one of the wires may be impinging on my nerves. Not so sure how I feel about all this. He did tell me that once they remove the device, Medicare will never allow another to be implanted. I am going to have to make a decision soon and I am not sure what to do.
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