Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal

You were very fortunate...im facing 2 month recovery.
Everyone is different and no matter how arduous, we need to listen to our bodies.
Good luck to all contemplating removal.

I agree 100%, I have found myself not listening to my body, but I have a wonderful wife that helps me.

Like I said previously , I have only had the Abbott SCS for 6 weeks. To tell you the truth I don’t know if it is doing anything for me besides giving me burning in odd places. I have burning on the skin in places like nerve pain . I have mainly just kept the setting low, basically where the rep set them, right at number 12 in the burst setting. The problem is I have so many things going on that I am trying to figure out it is the stimulator or not. I am taking just 150 mg of Pre-gabalin initially for nerve pain but it also ended up helping my restless leg syndrome. I am in the process of of weaning myself off of Clonazapam for restless legs with doctors supervision.There can be some significant side effects getting off this med. So it becomes a guessing game as to the burning on my skin in a very sensitive part.
I have completely turned off the SCS for the time being to see if the pain subsides, then I would have a good idea that the problem is from the SCS. If that would be the case , I won’t hesitate to have it removed and I am sure the pain clinic would try to talk me out of it, but I have news for them and the rep. They pretty much shoved me out of the door with the message, we don’t need to see you but if you have issues or questions just give us a call. That was pretty much it and the rep barely explained anything. I’m just not sure what is causing the burning. If anyone has any information about that, I’d appreciate it.

Burning pain is obviously nerve pain as you note . I have steadfastly refused nerve medication, im on enough.
I intuitively knew after 3 months SCS was cause of my terrible issues. I switched it off permanently. I think you can only listen carefully to your body but pls know the SCS can cause some very bizzare pains. I now have frightening pains in the souls of my feet when I eat . My issues started at about week 6. Good luck.

I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience. Sometimes I wonder if it's the device or a poor surgery that did not properly implant the device. Did you have a successful trial? It seems that having a good trial is no indicator of whether the permanent implant will help.
I certainly hope that you can get over the different issues you are currently experiencing.

I personally found the trial misleading for 2 reasons. But yes the trial gave good relief in the calves of my legs, which were feeling very heavy...due Stenosis I believe. It didnt give much back relief but walking was much easier.
I didn't think the allotted time , not even 4 full days was sufficient for an accurate assessment and also its a bit hard to judge due the uncomfortableness of the procedure.
Because the trial " hardware" was so minimal I was lulled into a false sense that the procedure was not overly invasive. The first inkling I had was just before being put 'out' my Dr said ' be prepared, you are going to be pretty sore when you wake up' ...right then I wanted out....I felt my Dr hadn't been honest with me...but I went into it with a positive attitude .
I think pain makes us desperate but its so wrong Drs minimize this procedure, that's my concern. Gd luck to us all !!

You are 100% correct when you say that pain makes us desperate for help at times. Early onI would let them do just about anything if it promised help. I am nine years on my pain journey and still seeking help.
I hope and pray you find something that works.

Those of you who have had the Neuro Stimulator removed , did you have any issues with insurance paying for it?

thanks

Medicare Advantage paid for it except for a $200 copay.

No problem with our Cigna Insurance. Botched lead install by pain MD. Had it removed by a neurosurgeon (probably overkill, but….)