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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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  • Nomeds
    Nomeds khi

    Posted

    I'm currently nearing the end of my trial period. The most annoying thing is the junction box being taped on my back. I've had chronic right side lower back and hip pain for six years now, seen every kind of dr possible, and do not tolerate opioids at all. This last chance effort has helped a lot . Tommrow I have it removed and plan to have a perinit one installed. Hopefully it works for a long time. Instead of my back slowing me down so bad, now it's the sore muscles in my legs from being able to use them. If nothing else works for you, I'd give one a try for sure.
    • khi
      khi Nomeds

      Posted

      Thatt sounds really positive.  I can imagine it was very annoying to have the box taped to you.  I am glad it has helped you and I just hope that my husband finds it as helpful.  Good luck for the future.
    • Nomeds
      Nomeds khi

      Posted

      Outside most of the day, not what I say working but pulling weeds, playing with the dog ect. Very little pain, more an acne than anthing.

      Hopefully the permit one works along time. It comes out tommrow, then back to the pain for a while. Like 5 weeks the lead time for the surgeon is.

      2khi, I sure hope your husband gets great results! Chronic pain effects so many facets of life, just to many to list. Hopefully in 2 months I'm back to average....

  • steffemz
    steffemz khi

    Posted

    I have the "Medtronics" SCS fitted. During my trial I had a long lead coming out of my side with the box at the end. Didn't have anything taped to me. It wasn't uncomfortable, just needed to watch when standing up, I didn't catch the lead around a chair arm, otherwise it would yank!

    Good luck!

    • Nomeds
      Nomeds steffemz

      Posted

      Hi steffemz, mines from Boston Sintific, the junction box is where the cable from the battery pack, Transmitter, changes down to a lead entering my back. My dr is all about keeping a germ out, hence everything but the Transmiter being all taped down. There was a field rep from the manufacture there when it was installed, calls me daily and will be there when it's removed. This company sure has keep up with my trial period.
    • fred92666
      fred92666 steffemz

      Posted

      I had medtronics also!! It has destroyed my life!! Ever time I turned it on it had bad burning sensation and after twenty minutes it would be so swollen I had to shut it off and stay in bed till next day!! Finally after eight weeks of this and constant complaining to Doctor it finally exploded!! Ended up in hospital for a week getting treated for infection part!! Now I live 24/7 in crippling pain!! Have no sex life no social life no life at all!! After three years they did mri only to tell me nothing can be done surgicly and no burn marks!! I am so lost and confused and now am suffering severe depression!! Trying to find someone with same conditions!! But I would be very careful!! The Doctor my pc sent me to has bad reputation with his patients!! He also won't tease my medical office records or the machine wich I bought and paid for!! Anybody else think there trying to hide something from me!! My statue of limitations for legal action conveinetly runs out in July!! And it seems these doctors protect each other!! Now they want to put new hf10 nevro system in me!! But they say no damage?? How can that be?? My life is or is going to be over soon I'm so confused sore and depressed now!!
  • USMCGySgt
    USMCGySgt khi

    Posted

    I am a 38 year old Male, with chronic back pain from degenerative Disk Disease, and a herniated disk and a tear inside of the spine which leaked out the fluid. (This is what the Dr. told me today in my best words possible) I've been in the United States Marine Corp for 18 years now and have put my back through hell while not really tending to it. I've done sports medicine, physical therapy, the chiropractor, back injections for over a year and a half, every pain med's they could throw at me... My new doctor has started the process for this and explained in great depth what all of this entails. I'm looking for feedback on how this has helped for others in the same pain. I am excited to see all of the positive feedback in this forum, and excited to have something final stop this ongoing pain from morning to night..... How much does this really take the pain away from what I have. The Dr. also recommend surgery, but that's the last step I want to take. I've seen other Marines with back surgery not recover very well at all and has made me decide to have the stimulator instead of the surgery... So my questions are as follows...

    1. On my 1-10 pain scale I'm at between 6-9 all day everyday(6 because of laying down and 9 when I'm on my feet... What relief should I expect my 9 to drop to after my stimulator implant is done.

    2. How long will I need to be out of work once it's put in (trial and permanent) / how long are both surgeries going to take while I'm in the operating room.

    3. How is the onset pain once you leave the hospital from the procedure. (1-10)

    4. Wil I beable to leave the hospital same day, or will they want to keep me in over night so that I can set up day care for them.

    5.

    • antony_86552
      antony_86552 USMCGySgt

      Posted

      Ihave just had my trial nearly four years after accident and like you i averaged 6-10 and amazingly i can say 80% pain reduction in trial, i had next to no pain on trial implant and cant wait for full implant , after

      trial came out i was back to old pain levels, good luck and i hope it works as good for you.

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly USMCGySgt

      Posted

      First, I want to sincerely thank you for your service.  Good luck with your NEVRO.  Keep in mind it is only COVERING UP the symptoms. You still have the injury, and by feeling better you can hurt yourself anyway, so you could hurt yourself worse.  Good luck! Linda Kelly
    • cynthia70714
      cynthia70714 USMCGySgt

      Posted

      USMCgysgt,

      I just read your questions first did you have any surgeries on your back? And if so what? I'm in the states, I live in CT I am 45 and I have had problems with my back since my 20's so I've been dealing with exploding disc discetomy and a fusion with in two years after that I was kind of just pushed into pain management after that with shots and everything under the sun to try and fix my problems, I just had my Nevro battery moved out of my back had no relief and it was pushing out of my skin so you could see the whole outline of the battery so they just went back in in put in my abdomen again I am starting to feel the battery pushing up against my skin and I ask my dr to put it under a little bit more cause I was going to start losing weight and for it to start again idk what I am going to do. I can't walk long because of the pain in my back from nerve damage I just want something to work.

      I hope yours goes better keep in touch.

      Cynthia ( Cindy) Connecticut USA

    • cynthia70714
      cynthia70714 USMCGySgt

      Posted

      Oh yes thank you for your services in the USMC!!

      Cynthia (Cindy) 😉

    • Trl
      Trl USMCGySgt

      Posted

      Have the same condition, although I'm a bit older. Pain levels were virtually the same. Trial procedure took less than 2 hours, with local anesthesia, trial period lasted about 2 weeks. A permanent Nervo-Senza HF10 implant was done on an outpatient basis, it took a a little over 5 hours from prep to discharge. I noticed immediate pain relief after recovery. It took about 24 hours to get over the post-surgical anesthesia, and post-surgical pain lasted about 3 days or so. I was able to drive after 3 weeks and when the staples were removed. I'm just over 5 weeks post procedure, and doing light duty, with minimal lifting. It takes from 8-10 weeks for the leads and implant to stabilize. I had to to scheduled a time for the daily recharge on the implant. For me, it's the best decision I could have made. -- Semper Fi

    • Sujett
      Sujett Trl

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply! I find, of course, because of your "name" (I'm 40 years as a medical professional...just not this area of practice) that I find your answer more complete and credible.  They didn't tell me I'd be unable to drive for 3 weeks!  Is that mandatory?  What would you say is the level of your pain relief?  I know it doesn't offer any healing or repair of the damaged area or prevent increased DDD. Another question for you...because it helps with the pain...I understand that a patient doesn't feel when they are increasing their back injury.  Have you had any increase in dysfunction?  Reassessment of actual injury?  Thanks so much for letting me pick your brain! Respectfully, Sujett

  • Nomeds
    Nomeds khi

    Posted

    If your Dr thinks it will work for you don't wait, get the trial done. One week from start to finish. Light duty work only. About a hour to have the temp one put in and you go home. You'll have full control, on or off and intensity level. 10 min. To remove.Mines actually connected to a nerve higher in the back were they generally don't work.  For me the trial period ended, and when the real pain was back in 24hrs, I knew it was for me to try the implant..

    im still 2 weeks out to have the permint one put in.. Surgery, so I've been told, a couple hrs, and a overnight in the hospital.. Light duty a couple months to heel and scare into place.  They do drill a hole in a bone to tie the lead and nerve off too.. This does not happen with the temp, or trial period as it floats in place for the week..

    hope it helps you out..

    • USMCGySgt
      USMCGySgt Nomeds

      Posted

      It definitely does. Thanks so much. I am going to go through with this. I'm excited and scared at the same time. I've seen a lot of fellow Marines that have gotten back surgery be really hurt and sore, but from all my discussions about this leads me to believe tjat this is will
    • USMCGySgt
      USMCGySgt

      Posted

      Believe that this will help a lot. Thanks for your input.
    • Nomeds
      Nomeds USMCGySgt

      Posted

      It's also the least evassive and drug free. Hate the wait till I get my permint one, like lost days in life.
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