Spinal Cord Stim. Trial

Posted by jonc59 @jonc59, 3 days ago

Hi:
I'm at day 3 of my trial (Saluda Evoke), & so far, it seems that I've replaced 1 pain (low back pain) with another (feet, ankles & shins that feel like they are on fire) - this is new.

Since having a 5-level (L2-S1) non-instrumented fusion in May 2018, I've had neuropathy in my feet - they felt like wearing wet socks, but not a huge amount of pain.

Since starting the trial, I've had INTENSE burning pain in my feet, but also seems that I have more feeling in them. Weird! I just got off the phone with the Saluda rep, who suggested lower placement of electrodes to more benefit my feet. I believe that the intensity of this foot burning pain may be receding a bit, but there's so much going-on right now that it's hard to tell.

I've been so obsessed with the pain in my feet that it's hard to judge whether its helping my lumbar issues.

Anyways, my question: Has anyone else experienced added pain in surprising "other" locations with their SCS trial? If yes, how did things finally resolve?

Thanks!!

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heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | 2 days ago

@jonc59 I had my trial of the Medtronic SCS back in 2018. It dropped my pain about 80%. The permanent implant dropped it by about 50%. Still enough to make my life almost normal.

rockon79 | @rockon79 | 12 hours ago

I have had two lumbar spinal surgeries in the past three years to repair various degenerations issues. I am now 80. I have experienced more achiness, numbness and tingling than pain. That constant and intense discomfort can be just as debilitating as pain, and as you mentioned-an obsession forms that makes it difficult to definitively determine what helps, what doesn't and to accurately form an opinion and explain it properly! I have learned that since the spinal cord is intricately involved, the protestations of its discomfort are so complicated that it can manifest in a myriad of traumas and symptoms that even defy the opinions of "experts". I can not comment on a "stim" since I have not tried that, but I can relate to much of what you write. Sometimes that can help and has a value, so that is why I responded.