Neurostimulator implant or Spinal Cord Stimulator

@thankful1
I'm not sure about a 10 year battery but even if it is true, how many 10 year intervals do you have left to live from the age you are now until you become say 90 years old? That is how many surgeries you will need for battery replacements (of course, this is only a rough estimate). If you are considering the surgery, I will only caution you to do your own research and read up on as much as you can about it, before going under the knife.

Six month after having the Abbott ProclaimPlusFlexBurst360 implanted for foot neuropathy I've discovered that switching the device off often helps. It's called the carryover effect, according to AI posts I've read. Abbott failed to suggest this idea to me. I found it by trial and error. I've enjoyed spells of relief lasting as long as 20 hours and have slept well for more consecutive nights than in quite some time.

@neurobob
Hi, I just read your comment about switching the stim off often. Would you explain a bit more what you mean? Do you mean it helps the battery last longer? Do you mean the pain relief is better by switching it off often? How frequently and for how long do you switch it off?
I had the Abbot Eterna placed in December and I’m still struggling to find a setting that’s helpful. I’ve been working through various programs and so far none is especially helpful. I do find that the higher the setting the more aggravating it seems to be to my nerves. Everything is so subtle though it’s hard to tell if it’s ever going to be a significant improvement.
Thanks for your help!

@neurobob I had the Medtronic SCS. If I turned it off while driving for long stretches, the pain relief would last sufficiently to last for several hours. Good luck!

@laurenthewise1 Hello, Wise Lauren. I've had the same kind of trouble finding the right settings and so forth with my Abbott. What I've discovered by trial and error is that I can turn it off for pain relief lasting anywhere from 7 to 20 hours. Works sometimes, doesn't work sometimes. Last night, 7 hours of relief. Night before last, none. It's called carryover effect. When the device is running, it apparently stores up relief in the nervous system. That stored-up relief continues with the device off until it runs dry. (Also saves battery juice.) You can google "carryover effect" on NeuroNewsInternational.com if you want to read about the theory of carryover effect. Good luck.

Yes, I have had one for 2 months now. If anyone is interested I can give my honest assessment. It helps me but more to learn and it doesn’t take care of all the pain.

@paulbse
Mine has a rechargeable battery and it is making a difference for me. Well worth it!

@jniz: I sure hope it works out well for you, long term. Keep us posted, please.

Has anyone had a SCS that stopped working, and then had it removed? Did you later try to have a trial with another SCS, and had a successful trial. They could not get the trial lead in the sweet spot due to scat tissue. Please share your experiences.

Yes 2 months is helping but need more time to truly evaluate.