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Should I have the Spinal Cord Stimulator? Looking for reviews on this

Posted by denman55 @denman55, Jun 5, 2023

I have had chronic lower back pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis for over 10-years. I have had multiple therapies and procedures done - including RFA, Epidural steroid injections, a MILD procedure, acupuncture, OT/PT and Chiropractics, as well as an Interspinous spacer and nothing has helped my pain. After all of that, the physician I saw in March's only recommendation was for me to have the Spinal cord stimulator, but I am actually afraid of this and have read that there have been numerous injuries as a result of this implant, and after reviewing the booklet and watching the video I initially felt that it was just to restrictive in terms of how you could move your body. If you have had this procedure please let me know your results. Many thanks.

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mycatsylvie | @mycatsylvie | Nov 11 7:07pm

I had the Medtronic stimulator implanted a year ago. Yes, it does help. Prior to its implant, I was on the floor every night crying in pain and going to ER. I have not cried or been to ER since. But, I’m still in pain. I am planning on having L1-5 fused in Dec. I’m only 56 and have dealt with pain for 5 years. I was finally diagnosed with scoliosis that is causing discs to touch nerve roots. I think the stimulator is worth a try, but it will not remove all your pain.

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Gregda | @gregda | Nov 15 8:29pm
In reply to @heisenberg34 "@ga29 Back at ya some time later. I discovered that in many cases(like mine) that you..." + (show)
Profile picture for heisenberg34 @heisenberg34

@ga29 Back at ya some time later. I discovered that in many cases(like mine) that you have to keep ramping up the medication from the pain pump. It can take a significant amount to reduce your pain. This can take quite a while especially if they start at a low dose and up the dose at only ten percent intervals. Ask Google how many increases it would take to go from your starting dose to a therapeutic dose. Say, starting at 0.02 mg to 2.5 mg daily. It can be quite a few. Any way, I hope you are doing well.

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@heisenberg34 : is the pain from the pump a type of morphine? Or are there other meds not morphine? The 2 Tampa Bay Orthos all mention morphine pumps.. IF morpine, this seems like the last step ???

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heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Nov 16 8:38am

I had morphine in my first trial, no help. Hydromorphone in second trial, dropped pain from an 8 down to a 2. From what I have read, pain pumps can be filled with morphine, hydromorphone, and Baclofen. I seem to recall something about Fentanyl but I'm not sure.

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