Has anyone had the Stimwave spine stimulator installed?

Posted by WS4K @ws4k, Dec 12, 2018

Hello to ALL! I have a severe back injury and even after three surgeries and several fusions, I am still experiencing severe and chronic pain. My pain management specialist is talking about a spine stimulator. After some research I located the Stim Wave. With this unit, only the leads are implanted. No wires come through. The antenna is worn like a pager on your belt.

Has anyone tried one of the Stim Wave stimulators yet? Any feed back on them?

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I had the Stimwave SCS implanted 17 days ago and turned on 7 days ago. So I am still just trying to understand and figure it out. I am having difficulty figuring out if I have leads and battery placed correctly. Everything is outside except for the very small wire implanted in your spine. I am also still having to take a small amount of hydrocodone to be comfortable. I have been on that for 4 years, because of constant pain after 3 back surgeries, including fusion in the lumbar area because of scoliosis. I will be happy with even this amount of improvement if it lasts, but I am not allowed to do much for another 3 weeks so its hard to know how well it is going to work. @pat79

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@pvarn01

I'm on the fourth day of a Stimwave "Freedom" trial implanted in my upper back for lower leg sciatic pain. Two days to go.

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Seventh day for me since they turned it on. Can't really be sure if it is successful or not. I'm not supposed to do any bending, twisting or lifting which eliminates a lot of movement. Mostly I seem to feel a lot of pressure from it.

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@ws4k

The holidays slowed my response.

Fall of 2012 I was severely injured making a felony arrest. I needed immediate surgery but workers comp wasn't interested. 15 months later, I lost the use of my left leg completely. I couldnt drive and had to use a Walker. I sold my house so I could have surgery. I had L4, L5, and S1 fused, a rod installed, and screwed together.

I regained leg use and am able to drive again. My physical activity has been cut back to almost none. Anything I do sends pain levels sky high. epidurals haven't worked. Several different kinds of therapy has helped but not cured the pain. My doctor suggested a spinal stimulator and gave five brochures to review. The Stim Wave was one of the five. I had found it in my own research as well.it interests be because of the new technology.

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I'm interested in your research. I need something badly for pain. I have thought about a spinal stimulator but need more info and a new DR. The DR. I have now only gives out pills, opioids that don't help. As with you, epidurals never worked for me either.

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@wilcy

Am 68 with spinal stenosis! Have tried shots, drugs and nothing worked! Pain management suggested stimulator implant , 3 days ago I had a trail done! Wires put in next to spine! I have portable programmer on belt ! Works off radio high frequency radio waves! This doesn’t work for everyone! The wires have to be put in exact spot! So far it’s working! Have to wait 2 weeks before permanent controller can be install inside my back!

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Hi how are you doing? What kind did you get?

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has anyone had any success with the boston scientific wavewriter alpha stimulator?

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@bob3

has anyone had any success with the boston scientific wavewriter alpha stimulator?

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I had a successful trial with the Boston Scientific Wave Writer for low backpain after L4-5 fusion 3 years ago. I have had lots debilitating pain for over a year. I am waiting on approval for the permanent placement. Day 1 & 2 are considered wash days due to placement pain (felt like pulled muscles in my back & I should have iced like suggested). I took pain meds those 2 days so I couldn't differentiate what was helping my pain. Day 3 & 4 were more successful than the 50% reduction in pain that is sought, no pain meds taken. Day 5 & 6 (removed late afternoon of day 6) were not as great as 3 & 4 but still no pain med needed. It had migrated slightly, possible cause. It's hard not to bend. I was able to walk 2.5 - 3 miles everyday with minimal discomfort. I'm confident that once I get the hang of the remote settings my life will improve dramatically. The rep was wonderful, checking in on me everyday. She sets the first program in the recovery room and not sure if I was 100% helpful. I hope to eventually get approved for my neck area. The neurosurgeon wanted to fuse C5-7 but since I'm not happy with my L4-5 fusion, I don't want another surgery.
I sincerely hope you get the relief needed.

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I've never heard anything good about them. A friend of mine recently had one done after a foot surgery that didn't heal right. He's miserable. Of course he doesn't have any kind of pain pills.

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@ryan000000000bski

I've never heard anything good about them. A friend of mine recently had one done after a foot surgery that didn't heal right. He's miserable. Of course he doesn't have any kind of pain pills.

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@ Ryan - Which device did your friend have implanted, there are two different ones being discussed in this thread?

From MedpageToday https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/features/103499# March 2023 article copied and pasted. Stimwave's CEO & founder has been arrested; Stimwave Founder Arrested Over 'Dummy' Pain Implants, DOJ Says
— Medical device company admits wrongdoing, agrees to settlement that includes $10 million penalty.
I feel bad for the patients and doctors that were duped.

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The founder and CEO of the Stimwave has been arrested. You might want to read this article, March 2023. They were making "dummies" and doctors were unknowingly implanting them.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/features/103499#

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I have read about the Stimware lawsuit. There was also one against Abbot for malfunction of their SCS. Medtronic, I believe also had some legal problems with their SCS.
I have read more cons than pros for SCS and pain pumps which make it difficult to decide on one or the other.

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