Anyone tried Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain?

I had a SCS implanted in my spine about 2012 ti help me wuth my severe 24/7 lumbar pain and the resulting pain inmy left hip. Medtronics is the company that made my SCS and who tested me with an external trial prior to the implant surgery. My response was positivrre to the test, so my pain mgt doctor and the representative for Medtronics went ahead and implanted the SCS in my spine and implanted the battery pack in my butt cheek. All was well for about 3 years, then it did not work correctly and it no longer provided stimulation in the correct location as it had migrated within my spine and the battery pack in my butt had migrated too and it kept turning off. My pain mgt doctor at the time and the SCS company operated again and readjusted my SCS and battery. When I woke from the anesthesia my SCS was working, but the stimulation was not where my pain was at all. Instead of in my lumbar area and in my left hip and down my left leg, the entire stimulation was on the right side of my body. I couldn't believe it !!! I went home to recover from the surgery. The next day I made an appt. with a different pain mgt doctor. He listened to me carefully as I recounted the beyond crazy history of me and my SCS/battery. He said he had contact with the
Division Manager of Medtronics and he would call him in for my next appt. Prior to that appt I was prescribed to get several different x-rays, which would show the exact level the SCS is located in, in myy spine. Plus the location of my battery pack was
x-rayed. The x-rays showed both were not positioned correctly. Too shorten a very long story somewhat, My SCS & battery pack were removed. The SCS was replaced with a new one that was MRI compatible as was the battery pack. It was once again working well and helping me. Then about 4 yrs after, I started experiencing discomfort when I had my SCS on. My pain mgt doctor again called in the Medtronics Division Mgr. after I had a fresh set of x-rays to determine the position of my SCS. The
x-ray showed a substantial amount of scar tissue around my spine and a follow-up Ultrasound and MRI showed advanced Arachnoiditis, clumps of nerves at varius locations around my spine. I was told that I most likely also had Arachnoiditis in my spine as well as in various locations in my back and around my spine, (my replacement SCS and battery were MRI compatible). Well, after 8 back surgeries, 34 spinal and back injections, to try to lessen my severe back, hip, groin, and leg pain that is always on the left side of my body & at times also on the right side of my body too. Over the last 8 years I have very severe heavy pain episodes that hits suddenly and they cause me to yell out and to thrash around in my chair or if I'm standing I usuallly fall to the ground, wherever I am. I have no control over where and when these severe pain episodes hit. The episodes are so severe and increase my pain so much, that I pass out from the the level of my pain from 14 to 54 times a day. So the point of my long response to your posting is to ask questions before taking any action. Make informed decisions. Make sure you are ready for a Spinal Cord Stimulator and once again, ask questions. There are no silly or stupid questions - ask away. Good luck. If you decide to move forward with implanting a Spinal Cord Stimulator I hope it is helpful to you. All the best...
Mmata

Jump to this post

I had nerve pain numbing shots several years ago. Helped for long periods of time. Most recent was a year ago. Having no problem with severe pain now. Just soreness pain if I bend down from waist. Sitting - bending down, no problem. When I get pain from bending down usually goes away after sitting in straight back chair for period of time. Cannot sit in chairs like couches, etc. Must always sit in straight back chairs, cushion or not. Even in car seat, must be totally erect. My problem is herniated disk in lower back - so far. From childhood.

Jump to this post

Thank all of you for ur responses. I am scheduled to have one in June. Got to try to live life again!!

Jump to this post

Does any of this help NP?

Jump to this post

May I suggest the Boston scientific models!

Jump to this post

I had a SCS implanted in my spine about 2012 ti help me wuth my severe 24/7 lumbar pain and the resulting pain inmy left hip. Medtronics is the company that made my SCS and who tested me with an external trial prior to the implant surgery. My response was positivrre to the test, so my pain mgt doctor and the representative for Medtronics went ahead and implanted the SCS in my spine and implanted the battery pack in my butt cheek. All was well for about 3 years, then it did not work correctly and it no longer provided stimulation in the correct location as it had migrated within my spine and the battery pack in my butt had migrated too and it kept turning off. My pain mgt doctor at the time and the SCS company operated again and readjusted my SCS and battery. When I woke from the anesthesia my SCS was working, but the stimulation was not where my pain was at all. Instead of in my lumbar area and in my left hip and down my left leg, the entire stimulation was on the right side of my body. I couldn't believe it !!! I went home to recover from the surgery. The next day I made an appt. with a different pain mgt doctor. He listened to me carefully as I recounted the beyond crazy history of me and my SCS/battery. He said he had contact with the
Division Manager of Medtronics and he would call him in for my next appt. Prior to that appt I was prescribed to get several different x-rays, which would show the exact level the SCS is located in, in myy spine. Plus the location of my battery pack was
x-rayed. The x-rays showed both were not positioned correctly. Too shorten a very long story somewhat, My SCS & battery pack were removed. The SCS was replaced with a new one that was MRI compatible as was the battery pack. It was once again working well and helping me. Then about 4 yrs after, I started experiencing discomfort when I had my SCS on. My pain mgt doctor again called in the Medtronics Division Mgr. after I had a fresh set of x-rays to determine the position of my SCS. The
x-ray showed a substantial amount of scar tissue around my spine and a follow-up Ultrasound and MRI showed advanced Arachnoiditis, clumps of nerves at varius locations around my spine. I was told that I most likely also had Arachnoiditis in my spine as well as in various locations in my back and around my spine, (my replacement SCS and battery were MRI compatible). Well, after 8 back surgeries, 34 spinal and back injections, to try to lessen my severe back, hip, groin, and leg pain that is always on the left side of my body & at times also on the right side of my body too. Over the last 8 years I have very severe heavy pain episodes that hits suddenly and they cause me to yell out and to thrash around in my chair or if I'm standing I usuallly fall to the ground, wherever I am. I have no control over where and when these severe pain episodes hit. The episodes are so severe and increase my pain so much, that I pass out from the the level of my pain from 14 to 54 times a day. So the point of my long response to your posting is to ask questions before taking any action. Make informed decisions. Make sure you are ready for a Spinal Cord Stimulator and once again, ask questions. There are no silly or stupid questions - ask away. Good luck. If you decide to move forward with implanting a Spinal Cord Stimulator I hope it is helpful to you. All the best...
Mmata

Jump to this post

It sounds like it worked well for you for several years of enjoyment-free from pain-am I correct?
I am going to be 82 this year (but was very active until this started!! golf, walking, etc)but; point being-if I could be pain free for a few years-will go for it. Got alot of living still to do!!

Jump to this post

Yes more than the back pain actually

Jump to this post