Malfunction of SCS

Yes the Neurostimulator, as it is called here in Oz, is another avenue of pain relief after others have failed. If you qualify then you have a trial period of about 8 days.  Mine was done under general anaesthesia and I stayed in overnight so that the device (I call mine “ET”, which I think is quite apt actually) can be programmed. A very thin wire is “threaded” in to your back and in to the epidural space next to your spine.  The first part is done under slight sedation and the area frozen so that you can “guide” the surgeon and tell him when your pain stops. He then knows which nerves to control.  This does not hurt one bit. After that few very short time you are put to sleep and he finishes the operation.   The wire protrudes from your lower back but is completely enclosed in dressings. It is attached to a battery pack which is  taped to your side.  This is how it was for me. The next morning a Rep from the “ET” Comoany comes in and programs it all in for you and explains how to yes it.  I completely forgot everything she told me so thank goodness I had the manual to read.  

The only pain was in my lower back but if course they keep that under control.  

When the trial period is over you go back to the Specialist who removed everything. I promise you I didn’t feel a thing, and I am not the bravest cookie let me tell you. 

It is then decision time for you. I was really happy with the result so decided to go for the “real” thing.  

As mine was being paid for by an Insurance Company (I had initially had a workplace accident) I had to wait about 6 weeks for all the paperwork to go through. 

I am not sure whether you are in America but if you are, then it would seem that over there, Drs prefer to put “ET” in a different place to where they put them here in Australia, which is in the abdomen.  I cannot imagine having it in my backside as they do in the US  but it obviously works.  Having mine in my abdomen is unfortunately causing me a few headaches. 

Anyway Joy, I hope this has helped you and  I will keep everything crossed for you that it all works out.  Please let us all know. 

Regards

Disley

I had spinal surgery in the L4-L5-S1 region about 3 years ago.  I had simultaneous numbness in my legs, and pains in my feet.  Diagnosis was stenosis, with arthritis spurs impinging on the nerves.  The surgery succeeded in removing the numbness, but the pains in my feet are worse than ever, with the diagnosis now of peripheral neuropathy.  The same neurosurgeon who did the spinal surgery installed a Medtronic SCS trial about a year after the initial surgery.  My trial was supposed to last 3 days, but I stopped it after the second day.  The pain coming from the SCS was worse than the pains in my feet.  I tried to adjust the SCS signal, but nothing seemed to work.  I called the manufacturer's rep who is supposed to guide you in making changes after the initial setup in the operating room, but found him to be worthless.  Installation of the SCS and its removal were simple/painless. 

Last summer, the same neurosurgeon wanted to install a new higher frequency SCS, that he felt would do better than the Medtronic SCS.  I did some searching on the web, and on this site, and came to the conclusion not to go ahead with the second SCS.  I read too many stories of folks having much different results with the permanent SCS, as compared to the experience they had during the trial.  I also read of folks having excruciating pains from the SCS after several years.  In those situations, they had to choose to remove and replace the SCS, or to remove it totally.  Also, you'll have to have the rechargeable battery replaced at some point (5-10 years), so that's another surgery to plan on, if you go the route of an SCS. 

Being fair, I also read stories of folks who had great success with an SCS installation.  I don't know if it has any bearing on the success or lack thereof, but my peripheral neuropathy pains are intermittent, rather than having constant back pain, which so many folks have to deal with(sic).  I try to manage the pains with daily Gabapentin and Amitriptyline, but when I can't get to sleep within 30 minutes, I have to take Tramadol.  I'm not pleased with any of these medications, and have tried to wean myself off them, but go back on them after a few sleepless nights.

?Bottom line is to suggest you dig into this website for experiences among previous SCS patients who have similar symptoms to yours.  Because I don't have any back pain, my experience may not be indicative of what you'd achieve with an SCS.  One other word of awareness.  Because the trial SCS installation was done in New York State, I had to fill out lengthy questionnaires and be interviewed by a Psychologist.  That was necessary "to ensure that I would be OK with having a foreign instrument inserted into my body".  What a total crock!  I have 2 replacement knees, a replacement hip, and titanium plates in my neck from neck surgery that was done decades ago.  As an Engineer, I look favorably upon changes in any body parts that aren't functioning as well as they should, so inserting an SCS clearly wasn't going to be an issue for me, since I already had enough metal parts in me to set off all the alarms when I go through airport security!.  However, so that Medicare and my Medicare Supplemental insurer would pay for the trial SCS, I had to go through the waste of taxpayer money and be interviewed by the Psychologist.  To add insult to injury, when I was evaluating whether to try the second SCS, I was going to have to go through the whole same nonsense of the questionnaire and interview by the same Psychologist because it had been more than 12 months from my first SCS trial.  Fortunately not all States here in the USA have such stupid requirements as NY, so if you're in a more enlightened State, or another country, maybe you'll be spared this waste of time and money.

?Good luck with your decision.  I hope an SCS can give you relief.