What's your experience: Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Simulator?

Posted by kenc @kenc, Mar 30, 2022

Having continuing post operation pain in the area where my anus was, which was removed resulting from colitis. After multiple medications and consults w/ several pain specialists a neurosurgeon recommended a Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS). I am reluctant to undergo anymore surgeries and pain mgt. failures until I find out some firsthand experience from people with an SCS, preferably the one offered by Boston Scientific. Would appreciate very much any experiences or advice on the apparatus.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Has anyone tried Boston Scientific SCS for nerve damage.?

REPLY
Profile picture for jmbar @jmbar

Has anyone tried Boston Scientific SCS for nerve damage.?

Jump to this post

If you are talking about spinal cord stimulators, I wanted one but it wasn’t technically feasible, not enough space in my spinal canal since surgery, I was pretty hopeful about it tho.

REPLY
Profile picture for jmbar @jmbar

Has anyone tried Boston Scientific SCS for nerve damage.?

Jump to this post

I had my temporary put in before Christmas and I got about 60% pain relief . Then January I had the permanent with leads put in 95% pain free. After being miserable for 2 years from a failed lumbar fusion and 6 surgeons denying anything wrong except #4 Mayo Clinic found a loose screw, I had it done and was finally able to sleep in my bed so day 4 I was putting an air bed away that I occasionally slept on and accidentally forgot since I was finally pain free and bent to far moving the leads. I had to have it redone in April and leads replaced with paddles. Reps said I’m rare so hopefully others don’t have this. Surgeon cut me between shoulder blades to put in the paddles causing that area to go numb. Reps couldn’t get me no relief on my spine I felt the stimulator everywhere except the fusion and paddles area. After having it readjusted I ended up in the hospital for 5 days for temporal headaches that they couldn’t figure out, I was released so I went home and turned the stimulator off and the headaches went away. Tip of my right thumb had also started tingling and went numb surgeon said that’s my neck nothing to do with the paddles, when I turned the stimulator off the numbness eased and the thumb locked up(apparently he was wrong) . If you have it make sure to get the sticky pads to put the charger on your skin I could never keep the belt in place! Let them know if you start having headaches they changed my program and they went away, Document the strange things I noticed when I turned it off because of the headaches my left foot went cold for about 30 minutes and since I have to do pedicures because I can’t bend my toenails on the left foot had barely grown and right foot was ready to be trimmed a few days later with it still turned off the nails began growing fast. Someone else mentioned their fingernails done that. Don’t hesitate to message or call your stimulator questions even the dumb ones! Good Luck

REPLY
Profile picture for sbtheplumber1 @sbtheplumber1

I had my temporary put in before Christmas and I got about 60% pain relief . Then January I had the permanent with leads put in 95% pain free. After being miserable for 2 years from a failed lumbar fusion and 6 surgeons denying anything wrong except #4 Mayo Clinic found a loose screw, I had it done and was finally able to sleep in my bed so day 4 I was putting an air bed away that I occasionally slept on and accidentally forgot since I was finally pain free and bent to far moving the leads. I had to have it redone in April and leads replaced with paddles. Reps said I’m rare so hopefully others don’t have this. Surgeon cut me between shoulder blades to put in the paddles causing that area to go numb. Reps couldn’t get me no relief on my spine I felt the stimulator everywhere except the fusion and paddles area. After having it readjusted I ended up in the hospital for 5 days for temporal headaches that they couldn’t figure out, I was released so I went home and turned the stimulator off and the headaches went away. Tip of my right thumb had also started tingling and went numb surgeon said that’s my neck nothing to do with the paddles, when I turned the stimulator off the numbness eased and the thumb locked up(apparently he was wrong) . If you have it make sure to get the sticky pads to put the charger on your skin I could never keep the belt in place! Let them know if you start having headaches they changed my program and they went away, Document the strange things I noticed when I turned it off because of the headaches my left foot went cold for about 30 minutes and since I have to do pedicures because I can’t bend my toenails on the left foot had barely grown and right foot was ready to be trimmed a few days later with it still turned off the nails began growing fast. Someone else mentioned their fingernails done that. Don’t hesitate to message or call your stimulator questions even the dumb ones! Good Luck

Jump to this post

It has helped the nerves in my legs and feet!

REPLY
Profile picture for grannyzoo @grannyzoo

Hi! I just had a Boston Scientific implant done on the 14th of March. The temporary implant was incredible !

I did my homework on about five different implants. It was a “no brained”…Boston Scientific was the one for me. The only issue I’m running into is something is causing mine to turn off at this moment. It happens only at home. Our home butts up to an 87 acre solar farm. When I leave the house there are absolutely no problems. I spoke with a gal that had their implant and she’s running marathons and raises llamas. She’s in her early 70’s. I’m up there, too. I am able to walk , drive and ride with mine but I’m still in the no “BLT” time frame. (No bending, lifting or twisting. Not supposed to raise my arms over my head.) It takes about 9 months for the scar tissue to fuse around the wire to hold them permanently in place. Would I do it again? YOU BET!

The company sent me information about the implant and answered my questions. The rep has been extremely helpful. My physician is very familiar with it. Again, I was able to choose the implant based on my homework and advice of my physician.

I can get an MRI with mine. Not so with the other ones. My battery pack is in my flank under the right ribs. My unit is rechargeable and at this moment it’s on my back recharging for the first time.

Do your homework. Call the companies your doctor has recommended.

Jump to this post

@grannyzoo
What was your recovery time from the scs surgery? I’m concerned pain from at the surgery site.

REPLY

@randy100 morris

I am considering the scs thank you for the post I will be calling my doctor in the morning

REPLY
Profile picture for kenc @kenc

Not positive. I shut mine off.

Jump to this post

@kenc can you please give me some more information? What type of pain do you have? Did you do a trial? Any side effects?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.