Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal

I felt like the trial went a lot better than the implant but then again I am only 5 weeks post opt. I had a Laminectomy on my L3,4,5 but it did not work for the pain in my right thigh ,but the trial and the implant did. I still have pain in my lower back and my right butt when I am walking at a fair distance or standing in one place. In all fairness after going on my rant, I have gotten relief . I have my burst setting on 12 where they set it on my last post opt. I made the mistake of setting the unit to high on the setting that I feel and left the house for an hour without my controller and it burnt the back side of my knee that took several hours to go away. All said and done, I have gotten adequate relief but as far as follow up from Abbott or the pain clinic, that is my negative. Another thing that I really think has helped my nerve pain is, the Pre-gabalin that my Neuro Surgeon put me on. My nerve pain after my Laminectomy was terrible but it has since the med, calmed way down.
Well, I hope things get better for you, chronic pain is a struggle to live with but I pray that the Lord will give me patience and strength to bear up under it and I pray that for you.
God bless

Thank you. I appreciate your prayers. I will pray that you continue to find more and more relief. Just watch that burst setting. We don’t want any any BBQed rump roast. lol
I have seen both sides of Pregablin…some have found relief. Others not so much.

I sure will watch that burst, don’t want to fry my nerves lol!!!
you take care

I understand what you're talking about. I had an Abbott SCS inplanted June 2020. I have never gotten any relieve. I only received support from Abbott for a couple months and that was minimal. I did not receive support for almost two years. I finally got a new representative and that was very poor. After five years my battery died. I tried receiving help as soon as I got the message that my generator was going to expire. I reached out to Abbott and the neurosurgeon who inplanted it. The neurosureon referred me to another neurosurgeon, because he told me he very rarely does anymore SCS due to lack of support from the manufactures. Unfortunately I had to have a Watchman device placed in May of this year. I was placed on Plavix, so now I have to wait until after November to have anything done. I now walk around with a dead SCS in my body. Once I am able to get the SCS removed, I am now very concerned about the surgery and the complications post-op. I don't thing the doctors and specially the SCS companies tell the patients the whole truth about SCSs. Thanks for letting me vent.

I get it and to tell you the truth I may have buyers remorse over having it installed because what if the unit goes down 5 years from now and getting it removed after all the scar tissue grown around it. I would guess removing it would be more painful than the implant.
In retrospect I wish I had gotten on this blog before getting it, I bet I would have passed on it.
Hope you have an easy surgery and I will pray for you that it will go well for you.

Understand how you feel. If it’s any comfort, I had my Medtronic’s SCS removed last Tim May. The surgery went smoothly and had only minimal pain post op for about a week. Removing the paddle was tricky so it’s important to have a great neurosurgeon who has expertise with this surgery.
I pray you have good results too. God bless and keep you.

Hi Archie here-/ I’m starting to walk the removal path. I get absolutely NO RELIEF from the SCS, only complications. Most problems related to Gastroparesis. “if your body says no, it’s gotta go!” No ambiguity here.
Be well, Archie

A friend who has one seems to be a poster boy for why they are great. Like a lot of things and meds some work for some, but not so much for others. Prudent to remind that they don't cure pain, but only mitigate it. How many have had less than stellar results because the "electrode" for lack of a better term wasn't properly placed?

Thank you, I definitely will make sure I have the best in the Columbia SC area. I saw one in Charleston SC a couple months ago. I wouldn't let him operate on the dog.

Archie,
Mine was removed 10 days ago. Like you, it had to go !!
Its a painful surgery, Despite asking, Drs fluffed it off. Please ask many questions and read . I dont want to recount my story , we are all different.
The procedure was grossly mis- represented to me initially. I refused it for 2 yrs due concerns.
Physiologically im relieved its gone. Please just do your research so you get no surprises, Drs are ' economical ' with the truth. Best of Luck !!