Has anyone had an Abbott spinal cord stimulator put in there back? Has

I had one implanted in 2017. I experienced 80% pain relief during the trial, and around that much for the first year. My pain is in my feet and ankles from CIDP.

My experience after the first year was a reduction in benefit over the next few years, then fairly limited effect since then. When the Abbott tech adjusts the settings I feel a little more benefit for a couple of months. I still keep it on in the hope that it's helping. I take medications and have IVig infusions, so it can be a challenge to know how much each thing is having any effect.

Everyone has their own response to the scs, anywhere from nil to wonderful. The trial generally is a pretty good indicator of its efficacy. The trial is a relatively minor procedure, but the implant requires some recovery time to let the tissue around the leads heal and stabilize the leads. Compared to other surgeries I've had, it was probably one of the easier recoveries for me.

What is the purpose of a stimulator for you? People have them for a number of reasons.

There are discussions about stimulators in other places. I'm sure that someone will give you a link to them. I use my phone here and don't have the capability to do many things.

Jim

Hi Jim

Thank you for responding to my text. I’m sorry after the first year you’re not getting the same effect. I had a fear that might be the case for some people. The reason for me getting one after 10 spine surgeries and I’m need of another one I have a lot of pain much which is from scare tissue. I just hurt 24/7. I wear a fentanyl patch and take Percocet for break through pain but it’s like you it does not do the trick. I still really hurt. What kind of infusions do you do and how often? Do they help? I’m open to almost anything at this point. I am going on 25 years of dealing with chronic pain you know as well as I do it gets old.
Thank you again for your response.

I suspect that the distance from the stimulator to my feet has something to do with the problem. If it were implanted in my thigh, it might help more.

My surmise would be that it would help with back pain better than with the extremities. I can surely understand that you don't want more back surgery.

I have IV infusions 2 consecutive days a month of immunoglobulin. I'm getting Privigen right now but I'm going to discuss with my neurologist the possibility of a different medication that might have some kind of noticable effect. It's more than $5,000.00 for each infusion, which Medicare covers, thankfully, or it wouldn't be an option.

Maybe I should ask about a Fentanyl patch at my appointment with the pain specialist at the end of this month. It's something I haven't tried yet.

Jim

Hi Jim

I asked about the infusions thinking you might be getting ketamine I’ve heard that has helped people if you can handle the side effects. The Fentanyl patches are a continuous release of medication they come in different strengths I’m on 50mcg but could go up to 75 or 100 if needed too. I change them every 3 days and
then I take Percocet for
breakthrew pain. It helps but
not enough to give me the
quality life I desire I still hurt
all the time. It might be worth a try if you haven’t tried them. Hope things get better for you Jim.