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Spinal cord stimulator for knee pain anyone?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Chiefan58
Chiefan58

Hello, My pain management doctor has suggested that a spinal cord stimulator may be a good option to try and reduce my knee pain. I'm curious to see what others may have experienced with this.

I'm a 44 yo man that was healthy until my knee began hurting about 9 years ago with no injury. I've since had 6 arthroscopic surgeries. I've had 3 surgeries where they opened me up including an ACI, (carticel) bi-compartmental replacement and a total knee replacement in July of 2016. Following the tkr I had very limited range of motion. I developed arthrofibrosis where the scar tissue grew too rapidly to be corrected with therapy. I was unable to straighten my leg. I could only get it to about 20%. I had a scope to clear it out, and an impatient manipulation under therapy that still did not allow me to straighten it and continued to have a good deal of pain. I had a second manipulation around 8 months after the tkr that finally restored the ability to straighten my leg. I can only bend it to around 85% and still have constant pain. Last month I had a radio frequency ablation to burn the nerves. While the tests provided good pain relief, I'm about 6 weeks out and the pain is back to pretty much where it was prior. At my follow up last week he gave me the option of trying the spinal stimulator.

I've seen three specialists who have all said that there are no more surgical options. Due to the amount of surgeries I've had they say the risk is too great and that amputation could be a real possibility if they were to operate again.

My wife actually has a trial spinal stimulator put in last week due to multiple make surgeries. Afterwards I asked the doctor about the effectiveness they have for knee pain. Her doctor didn't feel that they were a very viable option for knee pain. My doctor who works at the same clinic suggested it as a viable option hours later.

Has anyone here had a spinal stimulator for knee pain, and what are your thoughts?

Thanks

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • denise62920
    denise62920 Chiefan58

    Posted

    Hi I went to pain management I like You have had several knee surgery 2008 my very first menicles surgery that my knee was scar tissue that he had to do a manipulation 3 m9nths later.  Continue problems my leg had now become weak not able to lift it with my muscles only hip could lift it. Then 2011 got a new doctor who now say 3 years later I have a media menicles tear which had arthroscopic surgery as well.  After 3 months I was in so much pain he decided to do another manipulation or for 2 half month it just wasn't  helping so the doctor orders and m r I  now he tells me I am bone I. Bone and at the time I was 41 he said you need a partial knee replacement and your going to be pain free and all this stuff well I went got second opinion and the doctor told me that It would be a waist of I got a partial done so he said let's try this let's try p t then if that doesn't releave the pain let's do a manipulation 2012 well that still did not work so now more p t for 2 years finally he said let's go ahead with the tie he sold me on how much strength and pain free I was going to be and that I will finally get my life back.  June 24 2014. The day in hospital 4 days then straight to p t. Could never straight my knee all the way and very painful after being in p t for nearly 3 months he decided to do another manipulation which failed so now he telling me he did all he could do and I have to live with it so I ask to be referred to another orthopedic for second opinion well he talk to the doctor ahead of me and the doctor is from Cleveland clinic who I was so happy to be seeing only to take 4 months to get into him for him to walk in the room and say I agree with your doctor that you have c r p S what where that come from then he tell me that basically I would have to live with it sorry there is nothing he can do.  Then I receive a letter that my orthopedic surgeon is leaving the practice that he was turning his patients over to either one of his 2 brothers who is also orthopedic so I choose the one with 28 years experience.  Again I had to do p t the he seen that was not working too much pain so he did manipulation under anesthesia. 2015 it failed the in 2016 I was referred over to a Cleveland clinic Dr.  Who said since my t K r  Dr did not take out my original patella that my old one is stuck and that's why I can't bend it and I had that surgery 2016. That failed can't bend still lot of pain he tells me I just have to live with it.  It 2018 March 19th I have a revision surgery because the sports orthopedic I am seeing found out that my prosthesis is loosen and I have and infection so no I have an antibiotic spacer in went home on an I v drip for 6 weeks before I am able to go back to have my knew t K r placed in I am praying this one finally work.  But to answer your question they tried to experiment on me with that so call thing they want to cut a pocket  like incision in the back of your hip or place it in your stomach.  So that it block the pain from going to your knee don't I repeat don't  do it keep looking to you find a sports orthopedic  doctor  who has good patient client ratio.  I will keep you all posted as to my knew knee as well I wish you all the best  God bless.

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 Chiefan58

    Posted

    Looks like We have another KC guy here. I'm in Olathe and go to a surgeonthat was at KU Med but moved on to Menorah a year ago. I have a good tens unit (one supplied by Medicare) and never felt it did as much for knee as spine. I'll send you an email with some other thoughts

  • nwf477
    nwf477 Chiefan58

    Posted

    I have one and yes it helps not perfect but it does help. I got mine 14 yrs. ago I had a weight loss surgery that went nuts and I developed nerve damage after months of pain meds patches etc. I found out about the stimulator I love it. When the battery died and I had to get it replaced I had a new one put it where they put a lead to a nerve in my back that sends a signal to my knee. Like I wrote its not perfect but life is much better with it then with out it. There are a few drawbacks first the battery at some point is going to die there is no avoiding that but they claim it should last 9 years. the 2nd you have to keep it charged if your smart  you hook the charger up ( its like a belt where the main piece fits over where the battery is inside you ) and you might have to watch TV read a book for 30 minutes or so and its fully charged if your like me and wait a couple of weeks well then it takes several hours to get fully charged. In case your wondering yes I would suggest it to anyone who has bad chronic pain.
    • Chiefan58
      Chiefan58 nwf477

      Posted

      Thank you for the information. I've not been able to find much to read up on about them being used for knee pain.

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 Chiefan58

      Posted

      My friend has had so many skeletal surgeries so I'm not sure what type control they are looking for but knee isn't one of them. I guess its placement that counts.

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