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Has anyone had a abbot spinal cord stimulator put in?
Hi my name is Joe and new to the group. I have had 10 surgeries on my spine both neck and back. Now as before I deal with chronic pain worse than before all my surgeries. One big reason is scare tissue. I was wondering if anyone has had an Abbott spinal cord stimulator put in. And if it has helped? And how long you have had it installed. I’m thinking this might be my next thing to try. Would appreciate any input you could share. Thank you!
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I agree with everything you said. The rep kept texting to see if I wanted the implant. After receiving my permanent implant , no word from my rep. I had to keep calling and texting her for questions about settings etc. I wasn’t aware that it would take so long to heal from the surgery. I’m still not sure my setting is the best. When I do get ahold of the rep she tells me I’m still healing from the surgery.
Dr Justin Fields. Love him!
Pain Dr is Dr Matthew Crooks.
Dr Fields did the surgery.
I have not heard one word from my rep. My last post opt appointment was a jam to get me out of there because the doctors were leaving early that day and the rep went right along with them leaving me in the room not understanding much about my settings. I went about 1 week unconnected to the generator on my iphone , I couldn’t change anything and it was on burst when it went down but they told me it was still on the last setting , I question that. They told me to call the tech services but they could not figure it out either. Long story short, they put the two programs on the slow turtle phone they gave me that takes so long to connect. It’s come down to me just leaving it on the low burst setting that the rep sent me home with and decided it’s not worth the hassle adjusting it. I’m on week 5 1/2 and can’t wait to get this stretch waist band that I was told to wear 24/7 for 6 weeks off. Living in Arizona with a hot wrap on is not fun I do think I have gotten relief , so it’s not all doom and gloom but I do think abbott could have done a better job following their customers.
I looked up Dr. Fields bio: very impressive. I have scoliosis and e deals with adult deformity conditions. When my spine becomes unbearable, and I cannot play tennis or travel, I have his information in my address book. Thank you for the recommendation.
Hope he can help you if you decide to use him. 👍
What kind of device did they give you that you had to wear a waist band for six weeks?
It is an Abbott Neuro stimulator.
I was told by my pain doctor to wear it 24/7. Supposedly they have had people who failed to keep to the restrictions and the battery moved from its intended place. The band is supposed to guard against that to some extent.
Hi Joe, I am on my 5 th week with the Abbott Neuro stimulator . I would say that I have gotten good relief from mine. Most of my worse pain was in my right thigh from the main nerve. That has gone away as of this date. The recovery kind of stinks for these because you cannot do much at all for 6 weeks. I still have lower back pain that I am not sure is really helping to be honest but that may not be nerves, my back is a mess with fractures and bulged disks after having a Laminectomy on my L3,4,5.
My surgeon gave me two options, either the Stimulator, or a cage system major back surgery in which he tends to avoid if at all possible. I am only 5 weeks in so time will tell, there are mixed reviews on most if not all the companies that sell the stimulator option. It’s definitely not a perfect solution but less evasive than a major back surgery with rods, plates and screws, I will avoid that as long as I can stand the pain. As I sit here in my recliner with a burst setting at 12 which is low, I have no pain but if I stand or walk for an extended period of time, I hurt but much less than before. I would say do your homework and read reviews and find a good qualified Pain doctor or Neurosurgeon surgeon who has done a lot of these implants, you don’t want a newbe doing it for sure.
Hope you find the right person to go to.
Hi
I’ve had mine since June 4 th. I’m still working with my rep to find a good setting. I think it may take a while. Also, the permanent device which was implanted and the leads took time to heal. I may be still healing or so I’m told.
After all that I’m happy I did it.
I'm just at the beginning stage of getting a Spinal Cord Stimulation. Have even gotten to the trial period yet but in the process of doing so. My pain only happens when I move, i.e., stand for more than 5-7 minutes, bend, walk without my rollator, lift things, twist at my waist. I have about 6 broken vertebras. Do you think the SCS would be of any help to me? My doctor has tried everything else, every injection he can do. When I do something that causes the pain I must sit down in my recliner or lay down because the pain is unbearable. As soon as I get to my recliner or bed the pain subsides within 5 minutes. But the moment I get back up and try to continue with what I was doing the pain comes right back. It's so weird the way my movements causes such pain. Do you think the SCS would stop the pain when I make those types of body movements so that I wouldn't have to sit or lay down until the pain passes? I can no longer stand and cook my food at the stove anymore or wash just a few dishes. I don't know if you know the answers to my questions but I had to ask. I do wish you well and hope that you quickly find the right thing that will work for you. I was an Abbott employee for 20 years and was very disappointed to hear that the rep was not helping you. That wasn't the case when I worked there. But times do change over the years since I retired. Our Sales Reps were the best when I worked there and I'm so sorry to hear you're not getting the best from them now. Good luck to you with whatever you and your doctors decide on. I pray your next plan of treatment is the one that will keep you pain free.