Spinal Cord Stimulator - Patient Experience

What Are Spinal Cord Stimulators?
A spinal cord stimulator uses low voltage stimulation of the spinal nerves to block the feeling of pain. The mild electric current is delivered through a pulse generating device that is surgically implanted under the skin. The stimulation feels like a mild tingling in the area where the current is placed. Pain is reduced because the electrical current interrupts the pain signal from reaching the brain.
Spinal cord stimulation may be an option for patients with chronic pain associated with sciatica, failed back surgery, or nerve pain, who have not benefited from more conservative therapies.
Learn more here: www.soundpainalliance.com/int...

[@deankay4434]

Wow! I am so glad for you, as my injury came at work outside my job description. I fix cars, period. But the boss, in 1986, who spent 3-4 months trying to hire me away from a shop 3 blocks away, lead to the is farm boy, age 28 operating a rented earth compaction machine that looked dry, but turned to mud. 5hrs latter after pulling this "Jumping Jack" out of mud, to a new location my back was sore. Shut it off drove home, told my wife and drank a beer with a Tylenol and went to sleep. Waking in the AM what felt like the worst sunburn ever. But not a sunburn as it was torn muscle tissue turned to scar tissue. 3 surgeries later, ending in a bone fusion of S1-L4, my Dr. pulled a chair and told me I could expect pain when older as arthritis starts to set in. Boy he was right in 1987. Now RFA, epidural injections, two more fusions, I was burning at 6'3" just to get tools from top drawer. Run to chair and sit. So SCS from Medtronics! Trail was great with 60-70% pain relief. Only epidural's lasted 1 1/2 days, then burning came back. Permanent implant came quick and once on, it went down both legs into my heels. Whoops! The Rep. called, I told him and things got quiet. A third attempt came 5 months later, nothing on the left, 2" away on the right and still use a cane to walk bent. The had an engineer move the stimulus but no go. Sending an email to say they could no longer be of help! Have a good life! What? I have seen 4-5 videos where the wake the patient in O.R. and the rep tries generic signals letting them reply for location. Everyone is different but they couldn't understand why I wanted this. God it was painful to lay there awake while sewing me up. No one understood! The Dr. won't even return calls. Then 20hrs of Ketamine I.V. drip out of pocket, nothing. Then todays current opioid scare, took mine away while still in pain & my GP dropped me after 27yrs. with a new pain center. Now I call in Rx and see them once every 3 months. I am put on the North 40, expected to shut up and go away! No help... I am stunned. Can mow, garden, cook, drive, work on cars, showers are hard and no opioids. This sucks.

[@sandyhughes1520]

I just had the temporary one put in Friday and get it taken out tomorrow. I knew when I left the hospital that it was going to work….

[@jackattack9799]

Any updates ?

[@charlesmclaughlin7235]

Tomorrow is my big day for this procedure! I had two back surgeries and neck surgeries in 2000 through 2007. In 2014 I had a left knee replacement that went bad! I ended up with nerve damage in my leg and now I have it in both legs! It has been unbearable so my pain specialist recommend this procedure! Well I am putting myself in god hands and praying this works!

[@Cat_herders]

Update?

[@laurabeattie3628]

I sneezed seven weeks after my stimulator was implanted and the leads blew out and migrated up to the next vertebrae. That caused being electrocuted in my left shoulder pain. Doctor reset leads but I never regained coverage in my lower back area. Glorious day the day they took it out

[@rachelscott5412]

I love my scs. I have had mine in for 2 years now.

[@TheEDNC]

My Medtronic electrode shifted and then moved away from its original position… thus began my complete nightmare. I had it removed and I have never looked back.

[@samuelc6787]

What were you doing ???

[@TheEDNC]

@@samuelc6787 When it shifted positions?… In bed sleeping

[@tinahale9252]

Wish I could ask that to ​@@samuelc6787

[@scottghost1]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. How do you control your pain now? I have been recommended to have one but I am very nervous to get it installed due to hearing about problems experienced by people such as yourself.

[@TheEDNC]

@@samuelc6787 What do you mean?… please clarify? You mean when the electrode shifted? Who knows… it took months for it to slowly shift the surgeon said. In fact he said it happens quite often… removing it created such scarring I’m now told my life will NEVER be the same again! I live in level 10 pain 24/7…

[@bigbadjohnpesek9894]

I have the nevro hfx in my back. Had it for two weeks and I never could get it set right. My wife got fed up watching me trying to work the settings. She took it from me , made an adjustment to it and now I'm pain free. Go figure.

[@kellythomas3848]

Yall need to all ask yourselves. What's the chances of ppl saying these positive things about the stimulator Being paid ?$?$? 😮 i wld say pretty good wouldnt you?

[@Steelers4life68]

I found one of a medtronic 97745 spinal cord stimulator in the snow, its worth $15-20,000. I'm interested in selling it, but I'm not going to let anybody rip me off.

[@oldgoat50]

You just happened to find a $15000 medical stimulator in the snow? I tried to report your post but it wouldn't let me.🤬

[@TCREGAN1]

They are Registered, so best to just turn it in! You can't just sell it...

[@LisaT57]

What could someone do with it? It isn't like they can just "plug it in" themselves. And there is a serial number, you know. If it's a felony to sell your prescription meds, what do you think this crime would be?

[@loveusa56]

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM. You should be ashamed of yourself!

[@ericabamforth6528]

Uh, does it not have to be implanted in the vertebral column with tiny leads, microscopic sized attached to it? On top of being registered to someone’s body what surgeon would buy it? Where do you plan to sell it, eBay? What if it belongs to a missing person?