Anyone with a Medtronic Stimulator that they're not happy with?

For the Medtronic trial, it felt like I had a nail in my back. The dr and Medtronic pushed getting the SCS device implanted anyway. I would not. It is good the read your comment.

My trial went smooth as silk. Virtually painless. Brought my pain down from a 7-8 to around a 2-3. Had the permanent implant. Not quite as effective as the trial, but still pretty good... for about 3 years. Then it just stopped. Seems that anumber of electrodes on the paddle had burned. Rep also noted that neurosurgeon din't quite get the paddle stitched in the 'sweet spot." Now, I'm trying the pain pump.

Oh lord yes, and it was not working I had to keep in for 11 months. Caused more pain. Unfortunately, it's about money. The doctors in my HMO had some type of financial/? benefit. Waste of time to call Medtronics. The gentlemen/woman trying different settings to make it work. I mean offense, he was a salesmen. He was in the OR for the trial and when I was going back and forth and my insurance was charged as an office visit, which is fraud. It was a horrible experience. Do you have PHN?

I can tell u I have had mine for 12 years, 10 of which the battery has been dead. Did nothing for knee pain from a replacemt surgery that only made things worse.
Multiple adjustments with reps, but nothing helped. So now, after all this time, was scheduled to get an MRI, only to find since battery is dead, they can’t do MRI since it is unable to go into MRI mode. My pain management physician office has contacted Medtronic, spoke to a rep named Adam who was supposed to get a form filled out for my dr to give to Radiologist. He said Kristen had those forms. He Would get it to Dr. he was also,supposed to,contact me. T hat was 3 days ago and nothing.
This has thrown everything out of whack, so right now my only other option is to have this dam thing removed, which I should have done years ago.
You make the decision about your situation, but know if I had to do it all over again I def would not.

I'm right there with you only difference is I have had more. The thing is with me is I keep getting different people who are just me if I can stay with the same person it would help tremendously I've got one that does really good almost get it there and they put me with somebody else that messes up make me feel bad more pain than what I've had or my head hurts sick to my stomach squeezing my lungs something is always wrong I don't know why they can just keep me but the same person that I started with but yes I have found that the temporaries work so much better that I'm really disappointed in it's like they get your hopes really up high and you get so excited about not having to live in that pain anymore then they put these permanent once in and it's like what happened where was all that relief I was feeling with the temporaries is it just to fool me so you guys can make money or will we ever get to that sweet spot for my pain is taking away and I'm not sick to where I'm not having headaches or side aches or not being able to breathe cuz there's ways in my lungs sometimes I just want to give up and say forget it but they asked me to stick with them but it's kind of hard when I only see them once a week cuz then I'm in all that pain or sickness until I see them again

I completely agree with you. The trial was great. Permanent never worked. I searched hi and low to get the damn thing out. Doctors definitely get some kind of kickback and Medtronics is horrible. They want to sell their products and that's it. When you live in chronic pain you will try most everything. From reading (should have researched first), the fail rate is high.

I had the Medtronic spinal stimulator put in to help with phantom pains from my below the knee amputation. My pain Dr suggested trying the spinal cord stimulator. I had the trial one put in Dec 2024. The trial seemed to help so I had the permanent one put in Jan.2025. The stimulator hadn’t worked since post op. Chris with Medtronic decided that I should wait until the swelling goes down which in did. I had two more appointments in which Medtronics had then tried to program the stimulator without any relief. I now am having what feels like electric shock from the battery that was implanted. Has anyone else had the same experience?

@fmmartinez58 I am sorry that you had such a poor experience with your Medtronic SCS. I had just the opposite experience. Trial worked great. Dropped my pain from a seven down to a two. Permanent implant was not as great but still reduced my pain by about 50%. My rep, Mike, in PA was great. he was always available to help with reprogramming. Unfortunately, the device suddenly stopped helping after just two and a half years. I tried swapping the battery out for another SCS one, but did not help. Testing revealed that the paddle had a number of burned out electrodes. Long story shorter...I cannot have another SCS stimulator due to scar tissue buildup.

I have seen several folks who had a successful trial, but no successful permanent implant. I can imagine how disappointed they must be. All I can say is keep on keeping on.

I am in the middle of a "trial" spinal cord stimulator. I am trying this stimulator due to nerve pain in my left (dominant) hand caused by surgery. My first day I had nerve stimulation in BOTH my arms and very uncomfortable. I called to talk to my Dr who put it in and was told to call the MEDTRONICS tech. So I did. He said it was a good sign that I felt it in both arms, meaning the leads were placed correctly but the "prime" was too high. He talked me through how to lower the intensity. I honestly don't think this stimulator is for me. I STILL FEEL nerve pain in my left hand. Ugghh! I am glad I got to do the trial first. My question is, is it painful to get the Trial Leads removed from my spine? I am getting it removed Friday Aug 22nd in the office by my Dr's PA. That just doesn't sound right to me.

No it’s not painful at all but the permanent one is pretty intense.
I have an Abbott stimulator for my back and leg pain and now I wish I would have passed on the permanent implant. I ended up turning mine off because I was getting nerve burning . I’m not so sure the leads were placed right. I had decent results from the trial but not the permanent one. Not telling you yes or no but it is good you are on these blogs, I wish I had been on them before I had mine. Just do your homework and ask a lot of questions.