Anyone tried Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain?

Posted by steeldove @steeldove, Oct 25, 2018

Spinal Cord Stimulation – A Compelling Treatment Alternative for Chronic Pain https://www.hss.edu/conditions_spinal-cord-stimulation-treatment-alternative-chronic-pain.asp
Vladimir N. Kramskiy, MD Assistant Attending Neurologist, Hospital for Special Surgery, Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College
What Is Spinal Cord Stimulation?
Read more here: https://www.hss.edu/conditions_spinal-cord-stimulation-treatment-alternative-chronic-pain.asp
Posted: 10/8/2018

Anyone tried Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain?

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@scruffy1

@martyk Two weeks after having my new HFX implanted I started having difficulty charging it. It would charge for a few minutes and shut off. I called the Nevro rep. She instructed me how to diagnose the problem, and it was easy. She thought an electrode or connection was faulty. She was correct. A Nevro HQ tech also put me though the same procedure with the same result. Electrode/connector #5 had significant impedance. This meant that I would have to have the device and leads removed if I ever needed an MRI. NOT GOOD! I met with the Nevro rep and she developed a program that used the electrode on the opposite side of my spine from #5. It worked! I still have 100% relief BUT also still have the MRI issue. Over the next two months I tested the system from time to time with the same bad result...until yesterday! Everything tested as normal!!! I immediately called the HQ tech dept. and a tech ran me through the diagnostics again. NORMAL. He said that it might have been a bubble that somehow dispersed. He said that for 7 days I was cleared to have an MRI (not that I needed one). I will continue to do the diagnostics for the foreseeable future or until I'm satisfied that it's not intermittent issue. It's always sumtim' 🙂

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From what I hear you saying there are several brands of spinal cord stimulator. Can you say more about what they are by brand name. The only one I'm familiar with is made by Medtronic. I'm considering this procedure and need to know as much as possible. Thanks to all of you who have posted on this topic!

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@joanland

From what I hear you saying there are several brands of spinal cord stimulator. Can you say more about what they are by brand name. The only one I'm familiar with is made by Medtronic. I'm considering this procedure and need to know as much as possible. Thanks to all of you who have posted on this topic!

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@joanland Mine is a Nevro model HFX. It is a high frequency one so there is no paresthesia.
Boston Scientific has one and there's Stim-wave and there are several more. Google would be your best source for the others.

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@scruffy1

@joanland Mine is a Nevro model HFX. It is a high frequency one so there is no paresthesia.
Boston Scientific has one and there's Stim-wave and there are several more. Google would be your best source for the others.

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Thanks much, scruffy!

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@joanland

From what I hear you saying there are several brands of spinal cord stimulator. Can you say more about what they are by brand name. The only one I'm familiar with is made by Medtronic. I'm considering this procedure and need to know as much as possible. Thanks to all of you who have posted on this topic!

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Good morning Joanland
I have a Boston Scientific spinal cord stimulator it has been truly amazing for me. I don't know but I'm guessing they all work. Similarly as to you can pick the frequency and intensity and so on on a programmable remote control that makes battery life Paramount I've had my device implanted for about 25 years And the remote will still go 1 to 2 weeks for it needs charging in my back. The battery inside me can last last 4 to 6 weeks or more before needing charging. One thing Boston Scientific did. I don't know if they all do is they can do a trial with an external unit so you know what you get for relief before you have it implanted in your body. Personally, if I only had tingling or numbness I would not do it. My pain was severe. Felt like I was walking with a broken bone in my foot or that I had gasoline poured on them and lit on fire. I used to take 1,300 mg of gabapentin also Lyrica duloxetine meloxicam Diclofenac and many many others And in combination also CBD oil which did nothing for pain, just mental clouding. The others manage the pain but I was so sleepy all the time I was just existing.
I hope this helps. If you have any specific questions, I only look here occasionally but would be happy to answer any specific questions you might have

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@danrz

Good morning Joanland
I have a Boston Scientific spinal cord stimulator it has been truly amazing for me. I don't know but I'm guessing they all work. Similarly as to you can pick the frequency and intensity and so on on a programmable remote control that makes battery life Paramount I've had my device implanted for about 25 years And the remote will still go 1 to 2 weeks for it needs charging in my back. The battery inside me can last last 4 to 6 weeks or more before needing charging. One thing Boston Scientific did. I don't know if they all do is they can do a trial with an external unit so you know what you get for relief before you have it implanted in your body. Personally, if I only had tingling or numbness I would not do it. My pain was severe. Felt like I was walking with a broken bone in my foot or that I had gasoline poured on them and lit on fire. I used to take 1,300 mg of gabapentin also Lyrica duloxetine meloxicam Diclofenac and many many others And in combination also CBD oil which did nothing for pain, just mental clouding. The others manage the pain but I was so sleepy all the time I was just existing.
I hope this helps. If you have any specific questions, I only look here occasionally but would be happy to answer any specific questions you might have

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Is your implant for ideopathic SFN or do you have issues with your back that caused your pain. I’ve seen 3 neurologists and none have ever mentioned an implant for my SFN. I’m wondering when such a device should be considered. Thanks

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I have very bad peripheral neuropathy not from diabetes. It helps with foot pain and a little bit for low back because of the location of the pad in my spine at the time I just needed at for my feet and it is And it has been such a blessing for that

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Yes, I had my first spinal cord stimulator implanted in 2012 and a more up-to-date one in 2018. The second was not done as well as the first and I blame the surgeon. I recently met with a new spinal surgeon recently hired by pain management. He had gone over my records and would like to remove both and start over so I will have better coverage. I have CRPS and SFN in both feet and creeping up to knees. The current SCS doesn't do much for my feet. I am grateful for the coverage I do have. I enjoy the sensations from SCS that cover pain.

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I have had nueropathy for 12 years. I also had a spinal cord stimulator implanted 6 years ago. It has not helped with the nueropathy.

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I have a scs ion my Lumbar. I am fortunate that I have received 100% pain relief since the day it was inserted. I have had it for about two years. I have the Abbott Proclaim and the battery lasts for ten years, so I never need to charge it.

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