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Spinal Cord Stimulator

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khi
khi

Has anyone had a spinal cord stimulator,it has been one suggestion for my husband who is still suffering after 4 years after his first surgery, he has had a further op two years ago and is still suffering immense pain, has weakness in his leg and finds walking difficult and now needs a stick to walk with. I am hoping someone has had a spinal cord stimulator that has had similar condition as my husband because as I understand it it is only a minor op to implant.  I think the other option is fusion which I have heard horror stories about, especially as he doesn't seem to have success with major ops.  Thanks

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  • michael11297
    michael11297 khi

    Posted

    Hi 

    I  am  2 weeks post op on my permanent SCS. I still have lots of surgical pain, especially where the battery is located. They turned my unit on about 1 week ago and I have no more nerve pain.  I was involved in a rear-end collision about 2 years ago and developed permanent nerve damage in 3 spots between my neck and right hand. I  have 2 leads and they are both thankfully working. I am still trying to get sleep patterns fixed and dealing with a little nausea but I'll take that over the nerve pain any day. How are you doing?

    • kilee
      kilee michael11297

      Posted

      Michael, is that the NEVRO HF10 SCS?

      I just had the permanent one inserted abt 15 hours ago.YES I'M HURTING RIGHT NOW.

      Kilee

    • michael11297
      michael11297 kilee

      Posted

      No

      I have Medtronics

      Hang in there the surgical pain does get better

      I am now 6weeks post op and only have a little pain from the battery location. I used lots of ice in the beginning and my bruises faded quickly

      The amazing payoff for me is sleeping through the night and no nerve pain

      Good luck

      Michael

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly kilee

      Posted

      Hi Kilee,

      I'm sure you are in a  lot of surgical pain right now.  I think the more surgeries we have, the harder it is to recover.  I remember after I had my last Medtronic implant, I was calling the poor nurse in there constantly.  The only thing that saved me was that I brought my own pain meds from home which I was taking at the same time as what they gave me!  It's rough I know.  Just do everything you can to distract yourself.  At least you are able to get on the computer and talk to people.  Please keep posting.  I sure hope this gives you the long term relief you are looking for.

      Linda

    • mas543
      mas543 kilee

      Posted

      Please keep us updated. I am trying to decide if I should get a SCS and which one. I am leaning towards the NEVRO HF10. I have had 5 back surgeries. 4 of them in 2009, the last one being a fusion at L4/L5 and I had no back pain until 2015. When I herniated the disc above. I had back surgery Oct. 2015 and have had horrible nerve pain ever since. I was told that a SCS will help. My S1 nerve is really damaged and I have a hard time sitting, walking, basically doing anything without meds. I work and can't be on meds...

      Mel

    • kilee
      kilee mas543

      Posted

      Mel, I did the trial and of thethe NEVRO hf 10 and then took a month to do my research to make sure that the nevro was the one for me. I learned that that NEVRO works for both back and leg pain, that it can be left on all the time instead of being turned off when I drive or sleep, I learned that the Medtronic only works for leg pain and I believe the Boston Scientific is specific for the back. If you only have pain in one place or another consider that in the future you may have additional pain in the other location and then you are already with the right device. I did decide to have the implant and I'm not unhappy. My NEVRO HF10 Rep is awesome and stays in touch with me to counsel and suggest settings. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions and how you are doing PLEASE. Kilee
    • kilee
      kilee mas543

      Posted

      Mel, additionally, I have had three spinal surgeries and both hips replaced. Kilee
    • mas543
      mas543 kilee

      Posted

      This information really helps. THANKS!

       I have my first appt. to get this started next Thursday with the Pain Physchologist, for the insurance company.

      Mel

    • mas543
      mas543

      Posted

      There seems to be a lot of Mel's on this forum, so I will go with a different name so there is no confusion.

      Thanks all,

      Mas543

    • glxpassat
      glxpassat kilee

      Posted

      Kilee - I recently, 6 weeks ago to be exact, had the permanent Boston Scientific placed. I suffer from a really bad leg injury, leaving me with nerve damage in leg, snd 3 years of unbearable pain. The SCS has been a miracle for me. So the Boston Scientific works well with leg pain. I firmly believe a lot of problems with any brand could be the programmer!? Or for some people who have had so many sugeries in the back; leaving too much scar tissue for the SCS to effectively work...IMO
  • lindagkelly
    lindagkelly khi

    Posted

    Yeah, I've had 2 neurostimulators.  The first one helped my legs quite a bit, especially with weakness and pain in the leg.  You get a tingling sensation in your legs, like having a TENS unit on the inside, which I found to be quite pleasant.  It became less effective after 2 years.  Then I had to have another, more major back surgery, and they removed it.  The second neurostimulator has not been as helpful because the doctor put it in the wrong place. Plus, I have severe neuropathy in my right foot now, so I have to keep it turned down low because the tingling bothers my foot.  I am considering the NEVRO, but I am reading things about it that concern me.  Good luck to you both.
  • lindagkelly
    lindagkelly khi

    Posted

    To everyone, I just watched  video from Madden Physica Therapy that gives 3 top exercises to help with leg pain.  They loo easy enough, and I am going to try them. Madden Physical Therapy

    Top 3 Exercises For Herniated Discs

    *All of these help with leg pain.

    Prone Prop – lay on stomach propped up on elbows or on a pillow for 2 minutes

    Prone Pressup – lay on stomach – prop up on your hands and push up

    Standing back bend. Put your hands on the back of your waist, and bend backwards, or you can press against the wall.

    I'm going to try them.  Good luck all

     

  • april_pain_1
    april_pain_1 khi

    Posted

    Hello, I've been going through many back issues for about 5+ yrs ago, my actually injury is in an unusual spot T10&11,(i've been told not many Benson's happen at this spot, (lucky me), anyway after many 2nd opinions, etc., I spent almost 2 yrs trying to find a surgeon that 1 could do the surgery,2 didn't want to go through the front & take out ALL my organs to get to it, etc. Finally  find Dr Fessler who in the 80's came up with a laser surgery to do on this specific disc area. He was great & gave me back the use of my left side, (forgot to mention this issue caused me to lose all functions on my left side, this was more important than the pain), surgeon explained that given my degenerating disc in several other areas/arthritis, etc that ask he could promise was the use of my left side, the pain my always be an issue.

    I should mention I'm allergic to Ibuprofen, which means I can't take ANY  anti inflammatories,(anyone with pain knows this SUCKS as no matter the amount of strength of pain medication, it won't touch the pain as most pain is due to inflammation)!

    Anyway, I can no longer take anything with acetaminophen as my body has stopped banning it down so I'm on a regiment of 40mg ER Oxycontin, I take one I the am & 1 in the pm, I have 10mg Opana that I can use for pain throughout the day, (basically as some would take Advil etc.), I also get Radio Frequency, nerve ablation injections,(they are supposed to be dine every twelve months, I'm lucky if I make it to 6 months however the absolute soonest they can do is every 8 months). 

    I am a hair stylist who now can only handle 15-20hrs, I love what I do & therefore I'm unwilling to give up plus in only 45. I've fought disability & like my pain Dr says they aren't in the biz of helping patients go backwards, hence disability they are there to help feet better.

    So this is where the HF10 has been introduced... I'm trying to get as much add info as possible as with my job I'm at a family owned company that doesn't offer ANY benefits such as FMLA, basically if I don't work I don't get paid! So when the Dr tells me due to my physical job I'm looking at 6 weeks recovery when the permanent device is placed.

    I first apologize for the length of my message. I however have a few questions that I'm hoping one or more of you may know answers to.

    I've heard that you can go on disability & still work 15+ hours so long as you earn less than they allow, (which I'm sure I'd meet the salary requirements.

    I don't want to go on but disability but can't afford to get the care I need if I didn't as I don't get sick time, vacation, NOTHING. If I don't work I don't get paid period!

    My other concern is had anyone had this device implanted for quite a substantial amount of time & had it worked?

    I just feel lost depressed & at wits end. I try to stay up beat I'm always smiling at work, my clients are amazed wedge they find out as they tell me, I'm always so up beat, always smiling, etc. which is true because I love my job & well I'm actually working I don't even think of the pain, it's afterward, they didn't see me cry all the way home, how it takes awhile to get out of my car as I'm stiffened up, how I lay with ice, taking meds & using my hand held tenz unit. How I cancel suicidal activities because I can't move after a 5-7 hour day of non stop cuts & color, etc... I have a feeling most of you on here will understand where I'm coming from as people who don't have chronic pain have NO CLUE.

    I'm hoping some of toy can let me know how this implants working for them most importantly. I'm also hoping some of toy can help me with the disability process.

    Thank you for letting me put my story out here.

    Blessings~ April

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly april_pain_1

      Posted

      Dear April,

      My heart goes out to you.  I worked for years with pain, but finally can't do it any more, but I worked until I was 60.  I was 49 when I was hurt.  I'm filing for social security disability.  You should meet with a social security representative.  Have you paid into the system?  Yes, you can work and still get ssi.  I can't remember how much, but I was kind of suprised at how much it was.  I just googled it, and it said in 2014 the limit was $1090 a month.  That's not bad.  You need to file as soon as possible. And get an attorney.  It takes a long time to get approved, and you can expect to get turned down and have to appeal.  I think you might be a good candidate for the neurostimulator.  I had a Medtronic that really helped with my legs.  Hang in there. Please feel fee to talk here any time.  We're all here for the same reason and we DO UNDERSTAND CHRONIC PAIN. And you're right, our families and friends just DONT GET IT.

      God bless you,

      Linda

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly april_pain_1

      Posted

      Dear April,

      Did you say suicidal activities? Are you thinking about suicide? If so, please talk to us. Let us know.  I know that it crosses everyone's mind once in a while, especially on a bad day, but if you are really thinking about it, please talk to us. Talk to someone at home.

      I also noticed that you are a hair dresser.  I have a suggestion, which you may already be doing.  Don't reach or stretch to weird angles.  Walk around so that you can do what you need to do without having to reach around at an awkward angle because that's harder on your body.

      I know that you don't know any of us , but we do care.

      How are you doing today?

      Linda

    • kilee
      kilee april_pain_1

      Posted

      April you will not find a great deal of information on the nevro within the United States because it is only been here about 7 months now. It has a bigger history in Europe. I had it implanted after much research. I decided it is the one for me because it deals with both back and leg pain not just one or the other. Let me know if you have more questions that I might be able to answer. I should say here that the nevro Rep has been great and always available to me for questions or help. The fact that you may have pain in your legs only or your back only consider that in the future you may have pain in both areas and then you will already have the necessary device at that point. Kilee
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