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Spinal cord stimulator physical limitations (post recovery period)

Posted by geo2112 @geo2112, Jul 6, 2023

After recovery period of spinal cord stimulator implanted; what physical activity limitations? Had S1-L5 fused at 16 years old, C5-C6 fused at 45 years old, and L5-L3 at 55 years old but have always recovered well and maintained physical activity like weight lifting, cycling, and kayaking. Now 61 years old and having chronic pain in lumbar area. Going to have spinal cord stimulator implanted; will my physical activities be limited once installed and recovered?

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Hayabusa1300 | @milesdaviskindofblue | Jul 7, 2023

That all comes with mental toughness .. I’m not blow smoke in your ears and say it’s a breeze I had one mine .. ( Paddle ) type with leads for all over body coverage I have Spinal Arachnoiditis you will not be able to lift up like you normally would for a 2-weeks mean literally…, I was 50 when I had my trial and 2 months a permanent implant last 8 months and came loose from my spine and had to have emergency surgery and that was 3-weeks later for emergency surgery better think long and hard before you have one placed permanently… Can’t get any MRI’s anymore and if you can it will have to be a place that has a MRI with lower power some places have them most don’t I ran into that where hospital wasn’t able to do any and had to run to a specific location.., big hassle only certain MRI’s can be done when those leads our in because it will mess the implanted battery and leads have to worry about the leads migrating even if your not active
just saying my pain is 10 all the time 24/7 …. 7 days a week never shuts off I would never go through that ever again .., there is pain pumps I do know someone that has one and he likes it I opted to never have a foreign object installed in me ever again I went through Heck and back you have to ask yourself is the risk worth the reward !!!! The trial was better then the permanent solution that’s how they get yeah pulled in recovery is all mentally you will have staples in your back top and on your side
it took about 6 months to recover by the 8 month it came loose .., just realize that there all about placing them but when things go south you’ll have to fight with insurance company to get taken out .., also whom ever places stimulator if something did go wrong no other surgeon will even touch it you would have to go to the same doc that placed that implant in you .. All I can say is good luck with your decision the stories you here our real each to there own I don’t care how many times they tell me I’ve put hundreds of these in yeah ok
you no the risks so it’s your decision. I really didn’t want to reply but I think one needs to know
so I just told you my story it’s your health , your body , good luck with your decision

REPLY
3 replies
bunnybear | @bunnybear | Jul 7, 2023
In reply to @milesdaviskindofblue "That all comes with mental toughness .. I’m not blow smoke in your ears and say..." + (show)
@milesdaviskindofblue

That all comes with mental toughness .. I’m not blow smoke in your ears and say it’s a breeze I had one mine .. ( Paddle ) type with leads for all over body coverage I have Spinal Arachnoiditis you will not be able to lift up like you normally would for a 2-weeks mean literally…, I was 50 when I had my trial and 2 months a permanent implant last 8 months and came loose from my spine and had to have emergency surgery and that was 3-weeks later for emergency surgery better think long and hard before you have one placed permanently… Can’t get any MRI’s anymore and if you can it will have to be a place that has a MRI with lower power some places have them most don’t I ran into that where hospital wasn’t able to do any and had to run to a specific location.., big hassle only certain MRI’s can be done when those leads our in because it will mess the implanted battery and leads have to worry about the leads migrating even if your not active
just saying my pain is 10 all the time 24/7 …. 7 days a week never shuts off I would never go through that ever again .., there is pain pumps I do know someone that has one and he likes it I opted to never have a foreign object installed in me ever again I went through Heck and back you have to ask yourself is the risk worth the reward !!!! The trial was better then the permanent solution that’s how they get yeah pulled in recovery is all mentally you will have staples in your back top and on your side
it took about 6 months to recover by the 8 month it came loose .., just realize that there all about placing them but when things go south you’ll have to fight with insurance company to get taken out .., also whom ever places stimulator if something did go wrong no other surgeon will even touch it you would have to go to the same doc that placed that implant in you .. All I can say is good luck with your decision the stories you here our real each to there own I don’t care how many times they tell me I’ve put hundreds of these in yeah ok
you no the risks so it’s your decision. I really didn’t want to reply but I think one needs to know
so I just told you my story it’s your health , your body , good luck with your decision

Jump to this post

The newer stimulators can be turned off during MRI and are compatible. I am so sorry your stimulator didn’t work. But some do. Mine has not eliminated 100% of pain but has removed enough that I feel positive and happy again. I can stand up straight, not hunched forward in pain. I am still working with the rep to get the placement and intensity maximized. It has 100% been worth it.

REPLY
Hayabusa1300 | @milesdaviskindofblue | Jul 7, 2023

Good luck each to there own that why I said it’s your body and your decision as with everything there is a up side and a downside good yours works hope it stays that way
Yeah you can turn it off but it’s the wires and battery implant that can’t go through MRI intensity mine was new version was just 2 years ago all I can say is good luck with it .

REPLY
NeonDino | @larack | Jul 7, 2023

I got one installed a little over 2 years ago. The leads migrated about a year after implant. I can get MRI's on a 1.5T machine only. Some places don't understand and will say you can't get an MRI at all. I just had one done. I too have arachnoiditis and I was sold this thing as an end to all my pain. Nope. What's the point of lower pain, if you can't move around? I have no idea what I did that the leads migrated, but I did have lower pain that I could move around, so I did.
I'm bedridden again and need my wheelchair, plus all the fun depression that comes back along with that. I have been to 6 different Dr's. No one will touch me. My MRI shows multiple herniated discs and they all say there is nothing they can do. I had one Dr offer to do paddles, but he argued with me that my leads didn't migrate and I didn't have arachnoiditis-so I had to point it out to him on the MRI. I have no idea what do to now.

REPLY
alexis7 | @alexis7 | Jul 7, 2023
In reply to @milesdaviskindofblue "That all comes with mental toughness .. I’m not blow smoke in your ears and say..." + (show)
@milesdaviskindofblue

That all comes with mental toughness .. I’m not blow smoke in your ears and say it’s a breeze I had one mine .. ( Paddle ) type with leads for all over body coverage I have Spinal Arachnoiditis you will not be able to lift up like you normally would for a 2-weeks mean literally…, I was 50 when I had my trial and 2 months a permanent implant last 8 months and came loose from my spine and had to have emergency surgery and that was 3-weeks later for emergency surgery better think long and hard before you have one placed permanently… Can’t get any MRI’s anymore and if you can it will have to be a place that has a MRI with lower power some places have them most don’t I ran into that where hospital wasn’t able to do any and had to run to a specific location.., big hassle only certain MRI’s can be done when those leads our in because it will mess the implanted battery and leads have to worry about the leads migrating even if your not active
just saying my pain is 10 all the time 24/7 …. 7 days a week never shuts off I would never go through that ever again .., there is pain pumps I do know someone that has one and he likes it I opted to never have a foreign object installed in me ever again I went through Heck and back you have to ask yourself is the risk worth the reward !!!! The trial was better then the permanent solution that’s how they get yeah pulled in recovery is all mentally you will have staples in your back top and on your side
it took about 6 months to recover by the 8 month it came loose .., just realize that there all about placing them but when things go south you’ll have to fight with insurance company to get taken out .., also whom ever places stimulator if something did go wrong no other surgeon will even touch it you would have to go to the same doc that placed that implant in you .. All I can say is good luck with your decision the stories you here our real each to there own I don’t care how many times they tell me I’ve put hundreds of these in yeah ok
you no the risks so it’s your decision. I really didn’t want to reply but I think one needs to know
so I just told you my story it’s your health , your body , good luck with your decision

Jump to this post

If you can't get an MRI, why not just do a CT scan? As Gaylerense said, the newer ones are MRI compatible - with certain machines.

REPLY
Hayabusa1300 | @milesdaviskindofblue | Jul 7, 2023

Geo2112 it’s your health and if it’s work for yeah then great if you lift weights and moving around a lot and stretch and pull it’s going move
if you lay around and don’t do any major activities that has a chance of migrating you might be alright who knows ..with every major procedure there is risk I’ve pointed out some it’s all chance. Take care of you because no one else will .., do your homework pay attention to all fine print and dot your i’s accordingly my friend ask a lot of questions good luck with whatever is best for you …

REPLY
geo2112 | @geo2112 | Jul 8, 2023

Thank you everyone for your inputs, my temporary implant set for July 20th, guess I’ll take them for a test drive at least before I commit.

REPLY
labgirl | @labgirl | Jul 8, 2023
In reply to @milesdaviskindofblue "That all comes with mental toughness .. I’m not blow smoke in your ears and say..." + (show)
@milesdaviskindofblue

That all comes with mental toughness .. I’m not blow smoke in your ears and say it’s a breeze I had one mine .. ( Paddle ) type with leads for all over body coverage I have Spinal Arachnoiditis you will not be able to lift up like you normally would for a 2-weeks mean literally…, I was 50 when I had my trial and 2 months a permanent implant last 8 months and came loose from my spine and had to have emergency surgery and that was 3-weeks later for emergency surgery better think long and hard before you have one placed permanently… Can’t get any MRI’s anymore and if you can it will have to be a place that has a MRI with lower power some places have them most don’t I ran into that where hospital wasn’t able to do any and had to run to a specific location.., big hassle only certain MRI’s can be done when those leads our in because it will mess the implanted battery and leads have to worry about the leads migrating even if your not active
just saying my pain is 10 all the time 24/7 …. 7 days a week never shuts off I would never go through that ever again .., there is pain pumps I do know someone that has one and he likes it I opted to never have a foreign object installed in me ever again I went through Heck and back you have to ask yourself is the risk worth the reward !!!! The trial was better then the permanent solution that’s how they get yeah pulled in recovery is all mentally you will have staples in your back top and on your side
it took about 6 months to recover by the 8 month it came loose .., just realize that there all about placing them but when things go south you’ll have to fight with insurance company to get taken out .., also whom ever places stimulator if something did go wrong no other surgeon will even touch it you would have to go to the same doc that placed that implant in you .. All I can say is good luck with your decision the stories you here our real each to there own I don’t care how many times they tell me I’ve put hundreds of these in yeah ok
you no the risks so it’s your decision. I really didn’t want to reply but I think one needs to know
so I just told you my story it’s your health , your body , good luck with your decision

Jump to this post

Totally agree!

REPLY
vincescs | @vincescs | Jul 9, 2023

I have had a spinal cord stimulator for more than 8 years. I was concerned about possible activity limitations before the implant, but my doctor said the goal was to restore me to better health so that I could be more active. And it's worked out very well for me. I'm able to swim, lift weights, work on my antique car, ride a motorcycle, do home improvement projects, etc.

With that said, there will be some activity limitations to prevent lead migration or fracture. A short list might include riding roller coasters, bungee jumping, golfing, or scuba diving below 10 meters. I don't do any of those things anyway, so I have no regrets about having the stimulator implanted.

REPLY
2 replies
alexis7 | @alexis7 | Jul 9, 2023
In reply to @vincescs "I have had a spinal cord stimulator for more than 8 years. I was concerned about..." + (show)
@vincescs

I have had a spinal cord stimulator for more than 8 years. I was concerned about possible activity limitations before the implant, but my doctor said the goal was to restore me to better health so that I could be more active. And it's worked out very well for me. I'm able to swim, lift weights, work on my antique car, ride a motorcycle, do home improvement projects, etc.

With that said, there will be some activity limitations to prevent lead migration or fracture. A short list might include riding roller coasters, bungee jumping, golfing, or scuba diving below 10 meters. I don't do any of those things anyway, so I have no regrets about having the stimulator implanted.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for posting this. I've paused my permanent implant (approve 2 weeks ago) because of all the migration talk. I was told I could play pickleball again (I was pretty competitive) but if golf is on the short list, I'm thinking not. If I can just ride my motorcycle again I'll be happy. Thank you again for sharing your positive experience.

REPLY
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