SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR SIDE EFFECTS
Posted , 114 users are following.
have had s c s. almost 1yr. have had 2 major infections 11 days hospitalisation & had to go into theatre to have wound opened and flushed out with antibiotics. also had to have first implant battery replaced as it was in wrong angle and wouldn't charge!! have had spinal fusion and failed back syndrome. SCS was only thing hadn't tried. got relief on back pain from beginning but find it really hard to walk now.....my legs seize up and i have to stop every few steps....always in pain when i try to walk. Have also felt pain and limitation in my arms especially when i try to lift arms up ie drying my hair etc. Have trawled internet to find anyone with similar experience no success....my surgeon & reps say my NEW symptoms have nothing to do with the stimulator i don't agree.....can anyone relate to what i'm going through....or am i just the only one...please help my partner who is lovely feels im not giving scs a proper go....he doesn't know how much pain my legs are in. Pat
10 likes, 311 replies
mary02640 patricia65203
Posted
Hello Patricia , I had a failed spinal fusion fifty three years ago, have suffered chronic pain since that time, I am 83 and have been trying to find someone who had a Spinal Cord Stimulation device implanted in their spine. A wonderful physician has been doing injections , but my last MRI showed a change for the worse. and to my surprise I was given a referral to a pain clinic to learn about SPINAL CORD STIMULATION.
It sounds like you have had a rocky path since you received the implant. I hope more will write to give you some sound advice.
Mary 02640
007Julie mary02640
Posted
Mary, be sure to do TONS of research! When they work, they are great BUT these devices are known to cause many serious problems. There's an in-depth investigative article on them done by the AP on 11/26/18, just google that.
I have an older MEDTRONIC . It's lasted 8.5 years and I never turn it off. After many adjustments in the beginning, it got rid of my sciatica 95%. It didn't touch my back pain, sadly. My battery died a few weeks ago and I've decided not to replace it.
Why? Amazingly, my sciatica is completely GONE. I don't know why but I'm happy about that.
I would also say don't trust the device company to give you accurate information as they are in the business of SELLING DEVICES.
Trust your gut. Best of luck to you!
007Julie patricia65203
Posted
I would urge each of y'all to file a report with the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch. If they get enough reports of so-called adverse affects, maybe they will actually do their jobs.
Probably not. Devices are allowed into the marketplace with little to no testing, so indeed, we, the patients, are the human guinea pigs. And when things go wrong, its at OUR EXPENSE. With so many kickbacks going on, I don't know how we change this.
mike87862 007Julie
Posted
I gave up and had mine removed.
casey2269 007Julie
Posted
I'm glad I decided to go through with it. Only did the trial one. Sorry for anyone that has to deal with the issues.
foxy32222 007Julie
Posted
I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, BECAUSE IT IS WORKING FOR ME. I LEARNED TO HAVE PATIENCE AND LEARNED WHAT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKED AND GAVE ME THE RELIEF I NEEDED. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAD IS THAT I STILL TAKE MY PAIN PILLS. SO FOR ME IT'S DOING WHAT MY DR. TOLD ME IT WOULD DO. AND THAT WAS TO RELIEVE ABOUT 50% OF MY PAIN. WHAT WORKS FOR SOME MAY NOT WORK FOR OTHERS. EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENCE. IJS BUT I HOPE YOU FIND THE HELP YOU NEED ON THE SERIOUS SIDE. THE PAIN IS NOTHING TO JOKE ABOUT, IT IS HORRIBLE.
BEST WISHES TO YOU.
foxy32222 casey2269
Posted
CASEY2269,
I'M GLAD IT WORKS FOR YOU. I HAVE IT ALSO, AND AFTER A YEAR, I AM DEALING WITH HALF THE PAIN. IT'S A BLESSING FOR ME.
IT'S STILL HARD TO DO SOME THINGS, BUT AFTER DOING CHORES I HURT. I TAKE A PILL TURN ON MY STIMULATOR AND LAY DOWN. SHORTLY AFTER, I AM OKAY. NOT BRAGGING, JUST STATING A FACT. SOME IT HELP, SOME IT DON'T. GOD BLESS THOSE THAT ARE HAVING ISSUES, I WISH THEM THE BEST.
casey2269 foxy32222
Posted
I don't have it. I only did the week trial and it was great but couldn't do any of the things that cause me pain. So that wasn't enough to let them cut me open in two spots.
foxy32222 casey2269
Posted
Oh okay, well I did the week trial also, but after my pain was worst, that's why I went through with it. Things are not 100% but better with it and my medicine. I just wish I was better so I could work, but it is what it is, still looking for a miracle...
I wish you well 😃
Macca57 patricia65203
Edited
Hi Pat, I too have had problems with my SCS, like you i had one put in that didn't need charged up, but I ran into problems after a few weeks ie back still sore, heavy limbs both arms and legs. So after a few visits to my surgeon we both decided that my machine should be changed to the charge up Nevro machine, so, I had the op to swap over machines and at the begining i thought it was the bee's knees ( better one) i had virtually no pain(well, nothing to write home about), but after a little while the pain started to return. After a few visits to my pain team(and multiple program changes) we got it set up to a point where i felt little pain. But like the pills my body grew to accept the machine so much that the machine became of little help, sometimes it helped and other times it didn't so back I went to the pain team and after talking with them we both came to the conclusion that some of my pills and the machine together where the cause of my problems (I'm so sorry as i forget what the symptoms are called) my arms, legs are feeling like pins and needles, heavy sometimes, very painful and my back soon lets me know that i shouldn't do this or that. I am going back to my doctor to get my medication sorted out, I was on a very high dose of opriots (240mg) now down to 60mgs. So, hopefully when my meds get sorted I'm hoping that the pain will be nothing to talk about. My wife has been a God send as she stands by me and understands what I'm going through, there are still nights where i can't sleep but i hope to get this sorted soon. I hope this is some help to you! Partners in pain, God bless you, and get better soon. x
jason13220 patricia65203
Posted
Being a patient of lower back pain I have been to mostly all the doctors.
and there medicines seemed to help me temporarily. Currently my doctor is of
<a href= "http://comprehensivepainmanagement.us/">pain management doctor rockland county ny</a> and he has recommended me thermotherapy. Which has been quite helpful for me. The icing might help
in injuries but I believe it would cause more pain if applied for joint pain.
Macca57 patricia65203
Posted
hi i have found that after about a year i find walking any distance painfull also i find i cant hold my arms up any longer than a minute. Also after my wife bought me an electric orthopedic bed there are nights i still cant sleep because of the pain, i have also had my left hip replaced twice and have a twist at the bottom of my spine. I have recently notice swelling around and under my Nevro implant. i hope this helps you. God bless you my friend, i hope your pain leaves you soon. Mike.
tom77958 patricia65203
Posted
i just had a spinal cord stimulator put in yesterday and right after surgery my right knee was swollen and could t be touched at all because of the pain in it. When they got me up from the bed to get in the chair i couldnt stand for just that few sexonds i felt like i was seixed up and going down they put me in a wheel chair my doctor who did my surgery ams who has seen me for many years told my wife that she was afraid nerves got damaged in the proceedure. i tried to sleep in the bed bur i couldnt the sheet and blankets caused to much pain when touching that area i am very concerned i have alot of bleeding from my back and leaked spinal fluid but my right knee is driving me crazy even the stimulation is irratating the trial went great but i was afraid of rhe surgery
Vickihope tom77958
Posted
Tom, what happened? I had this happen to me as well. pain a year later.
Vickihope patricia65203
Posted
if anyone knows of a class action suit please let me know.
I had a drg implant put in a year ago and it caused a huge pain problem. I had it taken out in July but this pain has only worsened
I just had peripheral nerve decompression surgery 3 weeks ago and praying I see some lessening of my nerve pain.
do not get this implant. its a nightmare.