1. < Chronic Pain

Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal

Posted by heisenberg34 @heisenberg34, Aug 5, 2023

My Medtronics SCS stopped working after about three years. A NEVRO rep talked me into having one of theirs implanted. They had to use an adapter to connect Nevro unit to Medtronics lead. As a result, I cannot have an MRI. Also, the Nevro did not help at all. I would like to have all the SCS stuff removed (or, at least, the NEVRO battery replaced with a Medtronics) so I can have the MRI that my pain specialists seem to want very badly. Anyone out there have this experience this?

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sweetmommap22 | @sweetmommap22 | Mar 27 3:16pm
In reply to @labgirl "I have not had my SCS removed, but I can empathize with the situation you're in...." + (show)
@labgirl

I have not had my SCS removed, but I can empathize with the situation you're in. My ABBOTT SCS never worked from day one of implant.
Based on the very negative experience I had in terms of the implantation and subsequent failure of the unit to deliver relief, I have not been willing to entertain the thought of anyone ever slicing up my back again.
The two times I allowed an orthopedic surgeon to open my back have only resulted in more pain.........pain that will last the rest of my life.
Everyone's situation is different and if you can tolerate removal of the 2nd unit, I support your strength and resolve to find relief.
It's a shame that so many of us have suffered (not improved) as a result of these spinal cord stimulators that are so vigorously "pushed" by both vendors and surgeons.
I truly wish you the best going forward.

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I wish I never listened to my Dr and the Abbott rep. Getting the DRG stimulator was the worst thing!! I did get mild relief in my foot (original start of my CRPS) but it caused so much pain and discomfort in my spine and battery incision site, that it caused CRPS to spread. I begged and begged for them to remove. They kept saying give it more time. After 8 months, CRPS spreading like wildfire, they finally removed it.

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2 replies
heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Mar 27 3:31pm

So sorry that you had such a terrible experience. Did you have the trial? If so, how did it go? A good trial should result in at least decent relief from the permanent implant, assuming the surgery was done properly.

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1 reply
sweetmommap22 | @sweetmommap22 | Mar 31 11:03am
In reply to @heisenberg34 "So sorry that you had such a terrible experience. Did you have the trial? If so,..." + (show)
@heisenberg34

So sorry that you had such a terrible experience. Did you have the trial? If so, how did it go? A good trial should result in at least decent relief from the permanent implant, assuming the surgery was done properly.

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Yes I did have the trial. It did help with the foot pain but it caused spread to back and legs. Dr didn't realize that at the time so we decided to go through with the permanent.

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1 reply
heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Mar 31 11:28am
In reply to @sweetmommap22 "Yes I did have the trial. It did help with the foot pain but it caused..." + (show)
@sweetmommap22

Yes I did have the trial. It did help with the foot pain but it caused spread to back and legs. Dr didn't realize that at the time so we decided to go through with the permanent.

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Didn't you tell the doc that you had those reactions? He should have asked you specifically. If not, that's partly on him.

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wendyhobbie | @wendyhobbie | Apr 1 11:46am

Thank you for sharing this. I’m undergoing alternative solutions to my pain. I told my doctor that I was not ready for a stimulator.

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1 reply
labgirl | @labgirl | Apr 1 11:24pm
In reply to @sweetmommap22 "I wish I never listened to my Dr and the Abbott rep. Getting the DRG stimulator..." + (show)
@sweetmommap22

I wish I never listened to my Dr and the Abbott rep. Getting the DRG stimulator was the worst thing!! I did get mild relief in my foot (original start of my CRPS) but it caused so much pain and discomfort in my spine and battery incision site, that it caused CRPS to spread. I begged and begged for them to remove. They kept saying give it more time. After 8 months, CRPS spreading like wildfire, they finally removed it.

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I, too, wish I had never had the ABBOTT device implanted. It has never worked, and I have concerns about what negative effects might occur due to having this device implanted in my body for life.

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1 reply
sweetmommap22 | @sweetmommap22 | Apr 2 8:34am
In reply to @labgirl "I, too, wish I had never had the ABBOTT device implanted. It has never worked, and..." + (show)
@labgirl

I, too, wish I had never had the ABBOTT device implanted. It has never worked, and I have concerns about what negative effects might occur due to having this device implanted in my body for life.

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Exactly!

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kate2002 | @kate2002 | Apr 2 11:54am
In reply to @sweetmommap22 "I wish I never listened to my Dr and the Abbott rep. Getting the DRG stimulator..." + (show)
@sweetmommap22

I wish I never listened to my Dr and the Abbott rep. Getting the DRG stimulator was the worst thing!! I did get mild relief in my foot (original start of my CRPS) but it caused so much pain and discomfort in my spine and battery incision site, that it caused CRPS to spread. I begged and begged for them to remove. They kept saying give it more time. After 8 months, CRPS spreading like wildfire, they finally removed it.

Jump to this post

I LUCKED OUT.
Sound terrible but two women I know were talked into the simulator and both had it removed. CRPS ( I developed it in 1999) has made us hypersensitive to everything. I really want you to look back at your life since developing CRPS. You'll find its true. All doctors look at is the pain. Pain is an 1/8 of it. Our senses are overloaded, inflammation everywhere, What we eat and drink is a HUGE contributor to all the inflammation. I found Dr. Robert Getson on U Tube , RSDSA sight. He lectures are old but he literally is my HERO. I watched everyone of them and did what he said. I found functional medicine, eat as organic as I can, take Tumerac every day, unstressed my life. I'm 62 , a nurse, and work full time at a very relaxed home care. Cook from scratch, moved out of my ex husbands house(long over do) have my own apartment. But reality is that I might be able to support myself but on my days off I'm pretty much on the couch and not doing much. But considering what I was like before this is night and day. I'm still on Vicodin everyday. Good Luck

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1 reply
sweetmommap22 | @sweetmommap22 | Apr 2 12:45pm
In reply to @kate2002 "I LUCKED OUT. Sound terrible but two women I know were talked into the simulator and..." + (show)
@kate2002

I LUCKED OUT.
Sound terrible but two women I know were talked into the simulator and both had it removed. CRPS ( I developed it in 1999) has made us hypersensitive to everything. I really want you to look back at your life since developing CRPS. You'll find its true. All doctors look at is the pain. Pain is an 1/8 of it. Our senses are overloaded, inflammation everywhere, What we eat and drink is a HUGE contributor to all the inflammation. I found Dr. Robert Getson on U Tube , RSDSA sight. He lectures are old but he literally is my HERO. I watched everyone of them and did what he said. I found functional medicine, eat as organic as I can, take Tumerac every day, unstressed my life. I'm 62 , a nurse, and work full time at a very relaxed home care. Cook from scratch, moved out of my ex husbands house(long over do) have my own apartment. But reality is that I might be able to support myself but on my days off I'm pretty much on the couch and not doing much. But considering what I was like before this is night and day. I'm still on Vicodin everyday. Good Luck

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Yes, I believe that getting overloaded has a lot to do with flare ups. I tried Tumerac but could not tell a difference. How is the Vicodin? I was on Oxys and now have been on Hydrocodone. Super willing to try different things. If you dont mind me asking, how was your relationship with your Ex ( obviously he is your ex) but i had a narcissistic husband (17 years) just wondering if that fight or flight lifestyle has played a part of diagnosis of CRPS...

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1 reply
sweetmommap22 | @sweetmommap22 | Apr 2 12:48pm
In reply to @wendyhobbie "Thank you for sharing this. I’m undergoing alternative solutions to my pain. I told my doctor..." + (show)
@wendyhobbie

Thank you for sharing this. I’m undergoing alternative solutions to my pain. I told my doctor that I was not ready for a stimulator.

Jump to this post

Try any and everything before getting the stimulator!!

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