Spinal Cord Stimulator

The spinal cord stimulator s now allow CT scans and some are MRI compatible. Mine being the Boston Scientific allows for head MRIs.

Mines a Boston scientific too but I was told no ct or MRIs only X-rays 

What brand of SCS is yours?

Depending on when you had yours implanted? I have the Boston Scientific Spectrum model, which I recieved 7 weeks ago. This particular model and other recent brands allow CT Scans, and the Spectrum allows MRIs of the head only. So perhaps the one you have is an older model or not the "Spectrum?"

Glxpassat,

I have the Nevro and I just can get ct scans I just had one done a few weeks ago, and xrays with the MRI machines I can't go in cause of the battery I think or it could be both batteries and leads.

Best of luck

Cynthia (Cindy)

Sue02301,

I'm glad you are getting relief. I have Nevro I'm in the same situation as you failed fusion with stenosis and now I'm getting sclerosis I think is due to the hardware which I'm in pain constantly even with them trying the Nevro on pulsating, honestly it's not made for that and it made my muscles that didn't hurt hurt, so now I'm in alot of pain lower middle back legs and feet no relief at all. I'm hoping that they take it out or I give it one more go with the st Jude's if my dr thinks it might do something.

Just tired of being in pain and I hope you get some more relief too!!

Best of luck n pain free days

Cynthia ( cindy)

I heard you can with the Nevro. I knew I could do the CT scan, but also with my model of SCS, which is newer allowing head MRIs only. Ive also been told its dependent on the leads you have as-well. Technology of these is really coming along compared to earlier models.

Cindy - do you think the problem of the device not helping is because of past back surgerie, leaving scar tissue? From what I'm reading the people not having luck with the SCSs are people who've had many back surgeries? I know when I got mine they were telling me it would be much easier, as I'd never had a back surgery. My problem stems from nerve damage in my lower leg after being in a really bad ATV accident and almost losing the leg. It seems from all the reading I've been doing, that people with many past back surgeries aren't getting rhe needed relief?

Glxpassat,

Hi! I'm starting to think the same thing. With all the surgeries and procedures there has to be so much scar tissue damage, I also have no feeling in the left side of back buttocks leg and foot, bad damage was done to my nerves. I'm lucky to be walking.

I hope this works!!

Keep in touch

Cynthia( Cindy)

Cindy - i can feel for you! I however only experienced terrible pain since my accident 3 years ago. But during this time lost everything; house, job, toys, and lots of money to pay for all my deductibles. So you lose everything, but still have the pain... Its awful. I hope they can figure something out for you, and soon. My heart goes out to ya.

glxpassat,

Your sad story could almost mirror my own. I lost my beloved career, my home, many friends who I thought I could rely on, most of my savings and worst of all my health. I now live in my mothers garage. How life changes. I would happily remain in the circumstances I currently find myself if I could only reduce this incessant pain for just a while. I know poor Cindy has been through the mill as well bless her. I am convinced that scar tissue is our enemy. It certainly is mine. I have a decision to make now as to whether to try the Nevro Senza system but I am petrified that any more poking and prodding in my lower back might just paralyze me and Cindy has had a nightmare time with it. I had such high hopes for the Medtronic scs but unfortunately that didn't work. What to do, what to do? Once I thought the idea of being a bionic man was quite appealing. Now I'm not quite so convinced! I wish you well with your Boston Scientific. Sounds like it is helping you. Best wishes Graham

Graham,

How long do you have to make up your mind on putting it in or not? I'm pretty down myself these past couples of weeks , living with family got comfy and not one moved out putting more stress on what little I get from disability, when it rains it pours sometimes, and it sucks. Keep in touch my friend.

Cindy from across the pond

Hi C,

So sorry to hear of your family difficulties. That's all you need on top of everything else. How does your disability work there. Is it time limited, here we have to go back to be re-assessed pretty much every year and the powers that be are trying to take it away from those who really need it. So far I manage on my meagre ill health pension from work and my savings but they won't last for ever and then I have no idea what will happen. It's all a worry. I'd love to go back to work of some description but who would want me and until the hospital are finished with me what's the point? My wait could be upto a year!!!!! There is a discussion going on between my three consultants as to how they should proceed. Until now my scs and dorsal root ganglion stimulator were positioned via my lower back but as we know that's messed up big time. The idea now is to go into my thorasic spine up near the top, remove some bone (scary) and place the cord stimulator wires directly into the spinal cavity. The battery could be placed on my side or underneath my armpit, kind of in line with my my nipples. I'm not sure if that will be better than in my butt but it surely cannot be any worse? The wires will then be fed downward towards L4/L5/S1. Will it work? Who knows? Is it risky, I imagine it is. Am I worried? You bet. Do I go for it? I have no idea? Look after you and bestest wishes Graham x

Graham

With disability here we get a letter every once in awhile to go do the paperwork, once they hear what's been going on its pretty much you keep it, but some ppl do take advantage of it. I would do anything to be able to sleep .and to work again. We go by credits 40 to get disability if not it's SSI they give you maybe 700-800 dollars to live on, so your best bet is to do your 40 credits.

I hope everything works out for my friend

Thinking of you

Cindy xx

The only way I would even remotely consider any more prodding in my spine is if I was at end of my rope actually considering suicide to get out of daily pain!!!!!

Bless your heart Cindy and all of us. And Then, You, to have anxiety over other situations is really enough to throw you over the edge. Hang in there. Nobody but people HERE understands. Thanks to all for trying to help and get some truth out about what is really going on that doctos don't know ( or maybe not care) about. Money after all is the root of all evil.

Geez Graham..That sounds terribly risky. Putting wires directly into your spinal cavity? Will that then numb all of the nerves below where it is placed? Have they tried this particular procedure on anyone yet? Can you get more info on the success rate?

Yes it has been done before and apparently it has a greater success rate than placing the wires via a needle in the lower back. This is specialist surgery though and 'IF' we decide to go with it will be performed by a team of Orthopaedic and Neurosurgeons at either the Royal National Orthopaedic Hosiptal in Stanmore, or St Thomas's in London or the closest specialist centre to me The John Radcliffe in Oxford. It's a long drawn out process as they have to be sure that they can get to the area needing coverage. It involves lots of tests and could take a year. I can pull out at any time and likewise they can throw me out of the programme if they deem the surgery too risky or if they feel they won't get a good result. I swing between being really in favour and saying just go for it (life is unbearable in its current guise) and being petrified of ending up paralysed and STILL in pain. I said two operations back I wouldn't allow anyone else to tamper with me but here I am preparing to 'go' again. I speak to the guys next on 16th August. I know us lot on here have had limited success or indeed failure after failure BUT it does work for some people and ever the optimist I pray I might be one of the lucky ones eventually. What I really need (and what I truly think most of us need) is a permanent solution to the scar tissue issue. If we could overcome that I think so many more treatments would develop that would benefit us. Don't think anything like that is in the pipeline though. My psychology team have just been to a big symposium? and it doesn't sound as though there are many new 'pain management' advances or products on the horizon - sob!!!!! :-( 

Hi Graham, I think that surgeons seeing us as dollar signs, ,( in your case, English pounds), needs to change so that all of our failed surgeries stop occurring in the first place, and then we won't have all the damn scar tissue. Well, I feel much better about what you're about to embark upon now that you've given me the details. These people sound like they are doing everything possible to insure a successful outcome for a change, instead of the usual approach. You've been to your appointment, so please bring us along on your journey. Sending a prayer your way. ~kathy

I feel so fortunate after reading your and Cindy's post. My problems are nothing in conparison. My question is I have like knots on or in muscles going to chest and abodomen area which I think is causing my short of breath with stomach distension(like 9 months pregnant). Actually feels like right side has shrunk. Ever heard or had these symptons? God you you both strength each day..

Should say God give you strength!

Hi Daryl, I have muscles and what feel like pulses twitching and jumping all over my body. I can watch them jumping around sometimes. I get terrible spasms on both flanks on either side of my spine and when I have the last lot of leads in I got very peculiar sensations in my upper back and some undefinable but really 'hurting' pain that I definitely thought was associated with the wiring, it was at the same level. My specialists said no but seemed mighty funny to me that these pains went away when the leads were removed! Make of that what you will! I don't suffer particular bloating (although I sometimes look like I might be 9 months pregnant (wow I'd be rich - lol!)) but I find when I get constipated from the pain meds (sorry too much info) my back pain gets significantly worse and relieves slightly whenI get releived!!! Not sure if I get breathing problems. Sometimes I think maybe I do, Ibut I also think I  am turning into a hypocondriach. I'm almost convinced I have MS  as a result of all the spine interventions. Time and tests will determine that one! Hope you find some answers hon. Hang in there and God strencth to you too!

Hey Graham,

I feel your pain on the Consipation, I go weeks without eating cause I'm so full, they have me different meds to go and I wanted to die, bad stomach cramps aches and what not was about to get a pillow and sleep on the John lol it wasn't funny but omg I must of been backed up plumbing for months lmao I swear I was never so hungry after all that went away and feared for the next time I had to take a god awful pill again.

But I'm was looking up ms too with all this muscle aching in my upper region and arms omg I feel like I can't do nothing nomore and I'm moving to a smaller place just stressing. On everything it's crazy. But I'll let you know what the doctor says on Wednesday October 5th about all this new pain and not sleeping and what not I wish there was a cure for us being in pain constantly can get you down alot, I've been crying alot and hiding it. But when I go to the Drs I know I'm going to breakdown just can't do this nomore it's awful

Take care my friend miss our chats

Ttys

Cindy xx