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Comparison of Spinal Cord Stimulators from Boston Sci., Nevro

Posted by elsa @elsa, Jul 26, 2020

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!

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

nicom26 | @nicom26 | Apr 16, 2023
In reply to @martyk "Hello nicom26,I did do the NEVRO trial on March 13th. I had it removed after 5..." + (show)
@martyk

Hello nicom26,I did do the NEVRO trial on March 13th. I had it removed after 5 days on March 17th. It was actually 4 days. It was inserted at 1pm on the 13th and removed in the doctor's office at 1pm on the 17th. I had pain in my lower back, legs and right foot. I don't think I got 50% relief. I did get some relief but I don't think it was 50%. I was expecting a higher percentage. So I saw another pain management doctor on Monday and he does the permanent SCS but he wants to see a 70% improvement in pain before he implants a permanent one. So he thinks we should try an epidural injection on Monday. I will let you know how I make out. Good luck to you.
Marty

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Hey there Marty,

Thanks so much for the update. Sorry to hear about the failed trial and I’m hoping for good news from you that with the other doc performing the permanent surgeries that your trial actually hits that 70% mark. I’m rooting for you!

How was your visit last Monday? Was this provider able to start your trial same day or was it more consultation? In any case I trust you’ll keep me - and whomever else is reading along- updated.

Here’s to a very hopeful 70% or more! IDK if you’ve only tried Nevro but the Abbott Proclaim DBS and SCS that I have permanently definitely reached the 70% or more that my neurosurgeon wanted to see in the trial and while of course I need two more laminectomies and battery packs for SCS of rest of spine, I’ve had the Abbott Proclaim for just shy of a year now. It’s been helpful. I’m suspecting that as soon as I can get the trial and the next surgeries to finish my spine that things will be much better! I’ve I’ve learned anything in the fight against chronic pain illness multiple diagnoses etc is that all I have control over is my attitude, you know? So I try to stay positive. It’s tough though. But I try. And I’m sending positivity your way also! Take good care Ray. Best, Nicole Marie

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2 replies
nicom26 | @nicom26 | Apr 16, 2023
In reply to @nicom26 "Hey there Marty, Thanks so much for the update. Sorry to hear about the failed trial..." + (show)
@nicom26

Hey there Marty,

Thanks so much for the update. Sorry to hear about the failed trial and I’m hoping for good news from you that with the other doc performing the permanent surgeries that your trial actually hits that 70% mark. I’m rooting for you!

How was your visit last Monday? Was this provider able to start your trial same day or was it more consultation? In any case I trust you’ll keep me - and whomever else is reading along- updated.

Here’s to a very hopeful 70% or more! IDK if you’ve only tried Nevro but the Abbott Proclaim DBS and SCS that I have permanently definitely reached the 70% or more that my neurosurgeon wanted to see in the trial and while of course I need two more laminectomies and battery packs for SCS of rest of spine, I’ve had the Abbott Proclaim for just shy of a year now. It’s been helpful. I’m suspecting that as soon as I can get the trial and the next surgeries to finish my spine that things will be much better! I’ve I’ve learned anything in the fight against chronic pain illness multiple diagnoses etc is that all I have control over is my attitude, you know? So I try to stay positive. It’s tough though. But I try. And I’m sending positivity your way also! Take good care Ray. Best, Nicole Marie

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Take good care, *Marty! So sorry- autocorrect fail. All the best and will be hearing from you with updates when you are ready to share- keeping you in mind and sending all the positivity your way in the meantime. Okay Marty, thanks so much for replying to my post and for making me feel less alone and more informed!

REPLY
1 reply
martyk | @martyk | Apr 17, 2023
In reply to @nicom26 "Hey there Marty, Thanks so much for the update. Sorry to hear about the failed trial..." + (show)
@nicom26

Hey there Marty,

Thanks so much for the update. Sorry to hear about the failed trial and I’m hoping for good news from you that with the other doc performing the permanent surgeries that your trial actually hits that 70% mark. I’m rooting for you!

How was your visit last Monday? Was this provider able to start your trial same day or was it more consultation? In any case I trust you’ll keep me - and whomever else is reading along- updated.

Here’s to a very hopeful 70% or more! IDK if you’ve only tried Nevro but the Abbott Proclaim DBS and SCS that I have permanently definitely reached the 70% or more that my neurosurgeon wanted to see in the trial and while of course I need two more laminectomies and battery packs for SCS of rest of spine, I’ve had the Abbott Proclaim for just shy of a year now. It’s been helpful. I’m suspecting that as soon as I can get the trial and the next surgeries to finish my spine that things will be much better! I’ve I’ve learned anything in the fight against chronic pain illness multiple diagnoses etc is that all I have control over is my attitude, you know? So I try to stay positive. It’s tough though. But I try. And I’m sending positivity your way also! Take good care Ray. Best, Nicole Marie

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Thank you Nicole Marie, at this time I am not doing another SCS. I'm trying epidurals which are not that invasive. Had one last Monday. I still have to much pain in the lower back, left leg and feet. Talked to the doctor on Friday. He wants to try another epidural next Monday. He wants to target another part of the spine. He said sometimes it takes a couple of treatments to get favorable results. He prescribed gabbapentin 600 mg three times a day. Just started taking it on Saturday. Not sure yet if it is helping.

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martyk | @martyk | Apr 17, 2023
In reply to @nicom26 "Take good care, *Marty! So sorry- autocorrect fail. All the best and will be hearing from..." + (show)
@nicom26

Take good care, *Marty! So sorry- autocorrect fail. All the best and will be hearing from you with updates when you are ready to share- keeping you in mind and sending all the positivity your way in the meantime. Okay Marty, thanks so much for replying to my post and for making me feel less alone and more informed!

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Hi Nicom, not trying another SCS at this time. I had an epidural last Monday in the lower back. Hasn't helped that much. He wants to do another one next Monday. Doctor said it sometimes takes two treatments to be successful. He wants to hit another spot on the spine. In the meantime he has prescribed gabbapentin 600 mg three times a day. Just started taking that on Saturday, not sure yet if it is helping. What do you mean be autocorrect?

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jm1 | @jm1 | Jun 14, 2023
In reply to @lilypaws "@baq315a Why don't you want surgery. I had a nine hour surgery at Mayo #1 hospital..." + (show)
@lilypaws

@baq315a Why don't you want surgery. I had a nine hour surgery at Mayo #1 hospital in Rochester, MN. but they have two others. I had degeneration of my spine which cause a scoliosis and I had stenosis in my L4 and L5. It's a long recovery, but I had I on June 9th and I'm off of all pain pills. He had to go from T10 to my pelvis. My surgeon did not recommend any implanted pain like BSX wave writer, because it could cause to get infection. So I went for a year with my pain getting worse until the surgery. But my surgeon was great and was a Professor In spinal surgery plus other qalifications. Just a thought for you. I know it's scary, I wasn't scared I wanted my pain taken care of, I had my surgery on June 9th and I am all ready off of all my pain pills for 2 weeks. It was a big surgery and takes time to heal, I wear a brace and can't bend, Twist or lift anything over 10 pounds. I hope I didn't scare you, but most of my pain is gone. Best wishes to you and hope you get better without surgery, but that may be the only answer. I'm not a doctor.

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May I ask who your surgeon was?

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annie1 | @annie1 | Sep 10, 2023

Which of the two has the least amount of negative incidents, the Wave Writer or Nevro ?

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1 reply
annie1 | @annie1 | Nov 9, 2023
In reply to @annie1 "Which of the two has the least amount of negative incidents, the Wave Writer or Nevro..." + (show)
@annie1

Which of the two has the least amount of negative incidents, the Wave Writer or Nevro ?

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I am trying to decide between the Nevro HF10 and Boston Scientific. The pain mgmt Dr wants to schedule the trial but I don't know which one is more helpful. My pain is predominantly in my legs. My calf muscles twitch and I have bad cramps after walking. Thanks for any advice.

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1 reply
wascaly | @wascaly | Nov 10, 2023
In reply to @annie1 "I am trying to decide between the Nevro HF10 and Boston Scientific. The pain mgmt Dr..." + (show)
@annie1

I am trying to decide between the Nevro HF10 and Boston Scientific. The pain mgmt Dr wants to schedule the trial but I don't know which one is more helpful. My pain is predominantly in my legs. My calf muscles twitch and I have bad cramps after walking. Thanks for any advice.

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I have the Boston Scientific SCS, and can honestly say it does nothing for my pain. I’ve had many many program adjustments, but absolutely none of these programs seem to alleviate my lumbar pain.
I suppose after 16 years and 7 scoliosis surgeries, I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing will help my pain except Devine Intervention. Believe you me, prayer is powerful, but you just have to be willing to wait for His time. We don’t work on the same clocks, so it’s the waiting that’s so difficult.

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lisavila1 | @lisavila1 | Feb 7 12:24pm
In reply to @lifetimepain "Hello, and thank you for your help in steering me to the proper group! I had..." + (show)
@lifetimepain

Hello, and thank you for your help in steering me to the proper group! I had the surgery on October 12th. My implant is from Nevro. The trial period went very very well. I may have actually hit 80% reduction in pain. Then Corona virus happened and I had to delay for about 6 months. The procedure went very well, other than we discovered that my skin reacted horribly to both the staples and surgical adhesive. Was given antibiotics and that was that.

The leads in my spine were inserted in a completely different location than where the trial was, so we're sort of starting over. I have no relief yet. My remote has settings - A, 1 thru 7, B, 1 thru 7 and C, 1 thru 7. I just learned that the higher the setting does NOT mean the stronger amount of pain relief. For instance, program A may have been a projection of 180 degrees, program B is something different. The trial period device sent the signal in a 360 degree pattern, which apparently isn't an option for the permanent device.

*Back in 1982 I had a retail job wherein I was standing all day and was when I realized my back was screaming. Had xrays in Ft. Laud., FL and found spondylolisthesis in 2 locations, mild scoliosis, and a bit of osteoporosis. 2 Harrington rods were inserted and I was strapped to a Stryker frame for 6 months. No pain relief, they were trying to save use of my legs. Skip forward to 1993, saw new docs in Idaho Falls, ID and found one rod had broken in half. That doc tried to remove rods, was unsuccessful and added 6 screws. Now found another spondylolisthesis location, severe scoliosis both front-to-back and side-to-side, advanced osteoporosis, and advanced osteoarthritis.. A rheumatologist found (after 4 years) that I have Ehler's-Danlos syndrome, which involves a genetic error in collagen and there are too many symptoms to mention - but - one symptom is Mitral Valve Prolapse.*

I am waiting to hear from my Nevro rep, but what I've noticed is that whenever I change a setting on my Nevro remote, my heart hammers like crazy for a while. It's taken me almost a month to put 2 and 2 together. I will definitely continue to update you all. btw, I am 63.

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Hello, just wondering if you are having any success with the nevro implant?

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1 reply
navypatriot2024 | @navypatriot2024 | Feb 7 11:47pm
In reply to @lisavila1 "Hello, just wondering if you are having any success with the nevro implant?" + (show)
@lisavila1

Hello, just wondering if you are having any success with the nevro implant?

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Hi! I have had the Boston Scientific for about 12 years now and I had to let the battery die because it was coming on "un-commanded" while I was driving on two separate occasions and it scared the crap out of me! My latest pain doctor put me in for a battery replacement (requires surgery) and he swears that those issues have been worked out in the "New & Improved" SCS. We'll see!

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