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Comparison of Spinal Cord Stimulators from Boston Sci., Nevro
I've lived with severe chronic pain in my legs and lumbar spine for the past ten years. Was on opiates for 8 years until I attended & graduated from Mayo's 3-week Pain Rehab Program in 2018. That program helped immensely and I got off 5 meds I used to take, including morphine and hydrocodone. Unfortunately, in the last year my spine health has worsened. I now have a toxic mix of scar tissue (from a dural tear during a microdiscectomy), stenosis at multiple levels, bulging discs and scoliosis. I am now scheduled to do a trial of Boston Scientific's "Wave Writer" SCS on August 10, 2020. Unfortunately my doctor did not guide me in the selection of this manufacturer/model. I did my own research. I considered doing trials of Nevro's HF-10 and Boston Scientific's Wave Writer. Finally decided on the Wave Writer.
I'm posting here to ask for people's knowledge of and/or experience with these two SCS's. Please reply if you can share any information. Thanks!
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@cynmead I have had coccyx pain since 2009. Doctor said if was referred pain from L5-S1 so I had fusion done. It didn't help. Ortho said it was fractured coccyx, so I had what was supposed to be complete coccygectomy. Did not help. Images showed Tarlov cysts, under my sacrum, near my spinal cord. They appeared to be touching nerve endings so had laminectomy done by special surgeon in Dallas. Didn't help. Then, I went to a coccyx specialist at Rutgers who could immediately see that I still had fragments of my coccyx. Had a revision coccygectomy. Didn't help. A spinal cord stimulator had been suggested several times throughout the years but I wanted to fix the problem, not just mask it with a SCS. I had researched them in 2009 and a couple more time after. I often saw poor reviews and was scared. After, all I put my body through, I wish I had tried SCS first. It's relatively non-invasive compared to what I already had done. My husband has Parkinson's and had a Deep Brain Stimulator implanted in his brain, about two years ago. It is helping him. The technology and concept are quite similar. If he can find success with DBS, Brain Surgery, I figure a trial of SCS and SCS surgery should not scare me. I am waiting to see if my insurance company will approve the SCS trial for me.
@levar I hope you do the trial. It should give you an idea as to whether you will get any pain relief. Just be forewarned... there is no guarantee that the permanent implant will help, even if the trial is successful. You can see that from many here on Mayo Connect. I had one for about two and a half years, and it helped a lot...until it just stopped working. I'm not trying to dissuade you. Just go into this with your eyes wide open.
I had DBS surgery at Mayo about 7 years ago I've had PD 10 years. I had a Medtronic SCS implanted in my back after a one week trial period months ago. Medtronic device was preferred because Medtronic was also for the DBS. I've also heard good results about Nevro. I was told that I should not expect 100% pain relief, but 50% would be considered a success. The SCS surgery was fairly easy and not too invasive. Recovery was a breeze. I am currently at about 50% relief and still making adjustments.
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1 Reaction@heisenberg34
Ty. What pain med helped you? I tried oxycodone 1 per day as opposed to 3 per day but it didn't help plus gave me a headache. Also the ortho Dr. told me my compression fracture would heal by itself that was 5 mo ago. I think L4-5 is where it hurts-pain is a bit limiting.
The other thing is you're a man so you have hormones, I'm way past menopause. Dx with severe osteoporosis.
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1 Reaction@passerby I was on a cocktail of Tramadol, diclofenac potassium, and diazepam. Prior to that, I had a compression fracture at L1. It did resolve itself in a couple of months. At 78 I’m not sure how much my hormones are affecting much of anything. I wish you well.
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1 Reaction@heisenberg34
Thanks! I'll look up tramadol. Although if it's an opioid idk if dr will give me. I have gabapentin but haven't tried them. I'm pretty stubborn & try to push thru . when it hurts it makes me mad. Been getting diazepam for years, take one if I feel stressy. I wish you well too.
I use TENS unit w electrodes and they just work fine as NEVRO HFX unit for less price from Amazon.
Hope this helps you.
VJ
@heisenberg34 where did you have your SCS implanted at? Mayo?
@swiftnurse No. Lehigh Valley Health Network in PA. In 2018.
I had it for about 3 months or so; no effect for me. My surgeon removed it during my L4/5 surgery.