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Debating SCS- Senza Nevro HF10 system or the Boston Scientific system

Posted , 24 users are following.

kilee
kilee

I now need to decide which SCS system I want to have implanted. I underswtand the Senza Nevro HF10 is relatively new in the USA and the Boston Scientific has been around a long time. I have had lower back pain and leg pain for many many years. Three spine surgeries have not reduced the constant pain I am in. I'm so tired of all the narcotic pain meds and wanting off of all of them. Please comment so as to help me make my decision. Which device shall I choose? Thank you for your time.

2 likes, 95 replies

95 Replies

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  • Dog_Lover
    Dog_Lover kilee

    Posted

    I'm so curious to know if you had the HF10 implanted and what you think about it so far.
  • marie04822
    marie04822 kilee

    Posted

    I can't really suggest which system might be the correct one for your situation.  I can only tell you about my situation and what was suggested for me.  I have "lived" in a recliner or laying flat in bed since I had back surgery (fusions) 3 years ago.  I have had several injections and I am, also, on narcotic pain pills.  My surgeon came highly recommended from 2 other Specialists in Phoenix. When I went back to my surgeon he said I needed   additional back surgery.  That's when I knew I needed to get another opinion. I went to a Neurologist at Mayo. He said no more surgery and no more injections.  He referred me to the Mayo Pain Clinic. I am now scheduled to begin the test  for the Nevro 10HF System on May 10.   My feeling is Mayo Clinic is on the cutting edge of medicine and sometimes you   have to go on faith. Good luck to you. Marie
    • dianneg
      dianneg marie04822

      Posted

      I was wondering what the Mayo Clinic said and recommended? Did you have the Nevro HF 10 put in? Did it help?

      After 3 back surgeries, 2 were fusions, I am still in a lot of pain. I have been increasing my pain meds to get relief.

      I was getting better a year ago but I had cancer breast surgery inot January followed by 63 radiation treatments. When I had the radiation treatments they had to position me and I was in a lot of pain since then.

      I need help in deciding what to do.

    • Alexdog
      Alexdog marie04822

      Posted

      How did your testing go? I had my first pain management appointment today. They put me on more pain meds but said I was a good candidate for the Nevro HF10. I know next to nothing about it and am trying to find unbiased reviews. Thanks!
  • Cjp17
    Cjp17 kilee

    Posted

    Hi, I just went through the trial for the Nevro 10, the latest one but mine was for the neck and shoulder or cervical area.  The result was pretty fantastic and I hope the permanent implant will be the same.  I went for the Nevro high stimulation device for a number of reasons.  For one, there is no tingling or shocking and because of that you can drive with this implant.  The non high frequency implants need to be turned off while driving.   The Nevro has been found to give a wider area of relief.  The non high frequency units tend to target arms and legs.  With the Nevro 10 the lower back typically gets relief too.  With the trial for my cervical pain I got relief in my neck upper back and arms.  Studies have shown this to be true.  The Nevro 10 also has a cut off switch if the heat were to get too high during re-charging.  I won't mind one bit charging the unit for 30 minutes on average per day for the amount of relief I got.  As I write this I am getting the full wrath of my pain once again since the trial leads were pulled today.  The Nevro works in a different way than the non high frequency devices.  The Nevro high frequency device causes a chemical reaction where there is an increased flow of a Neuro chemical that quiets and blocks pain messages to the brain.  The trial is about finding the sweet spot or target area to stop the pain.  You don't have to use different levels of frequencies to adjust for pain as in the non high freqency devices.  Once that sweet spot is found in the Nevro you stay at that level.level pretty much.  I am not a medical person but talked to the rep from Nevro and the nurse coordinator for neurostimulators today and they explained how it works.  The non high freqency devices interrupt the signal but don't trigger the flow of this neuro chemical.  It is thought that this is why the Nevro has a wider area of pain relief.  One of the good side effects is that you may sleep better too from the neuro chemical  flow.  I wish I could remember this chemicals name.   I was impressed with the Nevro rep, he made himself available 24/7 though I didn't need it.  Although this newer  Nevro has had a high success rate they both stressed everyone is different in their pain and their response to these pain devices.  I have a severe whiplash injury resulting in torticollis or wry neck.  My hunched shoulder finally relaxed with this trial.  

    I am in Minneapolis, MN and we have very good medical care in this city.  I would ask your pain Doctor how the trial proceeds and make sure the rep guides you through the trial.  I read that some folks were sent home with instructions and then on their own.  Not good patient care in my opinion and doomed for failure; you need the coaching.  I found the info on these devices a bit dumbed down as if the high tech nature of it would scare people away.  I want to know as much as I can so I can wrap my mind around it.  I am very excited about the future because of this trial and I am going to assume all will go well and not borrow trouble.   Best of luck to you and your decision.

     

    • cynthia70714
      cynthia70714 Cjp17

      Posted

      Cjp17,

      I am happy you found a good rep from nervo and you are having success, me on the other hand the opposite no communication assumptions and no real dr just a bunch of different aprn faces, and no info in my medical file, my pain center is a mess, it's like your a number and no one cares about you, they act like it's you, well I tried to tell the first nervo rep it wasn't working and didnt do nothing to make me feel any better try to push the blame on me, I try to tell him what it was doing, finally it started to push out of my back so I had to have a revision surgery to put it in my stomach but dr called it a failed one and was going change stimulator to st. Jude's but of course he listened to the rep from Nevro instead of me and now I still have no relief new rep from Nevro and still the same problems so I hope you have a better experience

      Thanks for listening

      Cynthia (Connecticut)

    • Dog_Lover
      Dog_Lover Cjp17

      Posted

      Thank you!  Your feedback regarding this device is the only one I've read so far. My experience with the Nervo rep in Dallas, TX, was exactly like yours. I still haven't decided if I'm going to do this yet but you're encouraging experience is exciting. Thanks.  Please continue keeping me/us posted on your progress, 
    • cynthia70714
      cynthia70714 Dog_Lover

      Posted

      Haha I definitely will I'm sure they are gonna get tired of me and shut it off I mean if it doesn't work why keep trying?! Makes no sense but I will keep doing what the ask of me, but get rude with me you are gonna get it back. I don't understand why they are so rude?

      Cynthia

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly Cjp17

      Posted

      Best of luck to you, I really hope it works out for you!
    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly cynthia70714

      Posted

      You poor thing.,  I feel so bad for you.  I think at some point you are going to just have the whole thing removed.  It doesn't sound like it is helping you and is just making your more miserable.  I hope it works out for Cjp17, but I have heard many times that the trial goes well, but the permanent implant does not go as well.  Let's hope that she gets relief from it.  As for me, I am not going to do it.  

      Good luck to you Cynthia, stick up for yourself!

    • dianneg
      dianneg Cjp17

      Posted

      What did you decide to do? Did you get the Nevro HF10 and how are you feeling, any relief from pain? I am trying to decide whether I should do the trial.
    • dianneg
      dianneg Dog_Lover

      Posted

      Dog Lover, I am trying to decide if I will be doing the trial and your message concerns me. I live in a small town about 65 miles SW of Fort Worth my pain Dr has a couple locations, I am wondering if it is the same Dr. I have been going to the Cleburne, Texas location. It sounds like I might end up with the same Nevro Rep, unless there are several of them.

      What did you decide to do and was the Rep any better? I really hope that you were able to get some relief. I am laying in bed right now at 5:00p.m. and have been here for several hours because of the pain. Please let me know, thank you.

    • Dog_Lover
      Dog_Lover dianneg

      Posted

      My pain dr (who is great!) works in Addison & Dallas Baylor Med. Before going further, he suggested I ask my surgeon for his opinion on if this device would even help me. A more current MRI shows I actually now need a 4 level fusion instead - major surgery - so a nerve stimulator won't do anything to allieviate my pain right now.

      I liked the rep but he only told me success stories. I've learned much more about the device by reading this site. The primary complaint I keep reading about is the placement of the device itself, which needs to be placed into a fatty area or else it will cause you even more pain. Susan

    • glxpassat
      glxpassat Dog_Lover

      Posted

      Remember you have to take the internet as a "grain of salt." meaning the thousands of people that truly do have success stories, aren't going to randomly post things, because they dont have problems. I only post questions if I'm having a problem.

      But regarding the SCS, what I've read and noticed people that have had a multitude of back surgeries, DONT get good results from the SCS. That's because there's a lot of previous scar tissue. Scar tissue is gonna create a lot of problems with the device working effectively. For me I had not had a previous back surgery. The stim was being placed for the nerve damage in my leg... So no scar tissue = a much better success rate. Sadly it seems people with previous back surgeries aren't gonna have a high change of it working.

      I'd think that eventually they can work through those problems aa it advances? I sooo hope something will help!? Chronic pain is awful, and i can soooooo relate😭

    • dianneg
      dianneg Dog_Lover

      Posted

      Dog Lover I am so sorry that you will have to have another back surgery. I have had 3 so far and I am still in pain. I wish you much success.
    • Dee99
      Dee99 glxpassat

      Posted

      Does it bother you when you twist or bend it being up that high?
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