St. Jude spinal cord stimulator, no pain relief

Posted , 39 users are following.

hi,

i had the st. Jude spinal cord stimulator implanted on May 16th, it is the newer one where you don't feel the vibration. I have gotten no pain relief, maby 5%.  It has helped with my siatic leg pain, but no relief for my lower back. I am in severe pain and the reps have pretty much chalked me off after only seeing them 3 times. The last one said there is nothing more he can do. 

Has anyone else had this problem, and what do you do about the pain. How high can you put the program up too? 

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  • Posted

    hi everyone i would like to start by saying, thank god i found this group

    i thought i was alone in my situation actually, i thought i was the one responsible for my spine stimulator not performing the was i expected it to do my implant happened this past may 2019reps are a waste of time and energy i am on my second one just about done with him i will not ask for a new one i am told.less energy is more, totally incorrect i go from less to more it all sucks i really dont know what to do i take one vicodin daily, along with two advil

    it allows me to be on my feet for longer periods of time my back is complicated i had one fusion about two and a half years ago no more surgery my pain in my left thigh when i get out of bed in the morning is horrific the pain in my lower brings me to my knees i will go for epidural will take anyway i can get it, even if its short lived i have had pt, water therapy and occupational therapy thank you for taking the time to read my story

    sincerely,

    gloria

  • Posted

    Hi don:

    I am glad that I have somebody who I can talk about my St. Jude stimulator. I have had it for almost 10 years and ever since I had it, it did not do what it was supposed to do. Yes, it worked but just my legs but not my lower back. I talked with my rep and he reprogrammed at first. Still, it never worked on my lower back where I had most of the pain. Some time went by and I was supposed to have an MRI done but I couldn't shut off the control unit so I could have the MRI. Even when my rep tried, it could not be done. He said it could be that one of the leads broke or loosened and that might have messed it all up. I just did not pursue it any further. Now, my doctor wants me to have the MRI, and in order to do so, the nerve stimulator will have to be removed. I have to get access to all the doctors and hospitals where it was first done. The problem is when I made my move to WA from Las Vegas, all of my medical records were with the mover and they lost it all. So, that is where it all stands. I now, have to search for the doctors who did the procedure.

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