Problems with Neurostimulator

I'm sorry that you are having to deal with that. My understanding was that with the paddle leads they have to do a laminectomy to place the paddle leads and secure them properly.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you a lot of good luck and skilled hands doing the procedure if you decide to go through with it.

Do you get enough relief to justify going through with that type of surgery to keep the stimulator?

Sandi

johnk

  Hello Everyone,

Just thought I would chime in on the scs debate...........

I had one put in 7 months ago, the surgery is tough and the leads have to be kinda perfect. 4 and a half hours later I was done with my first so called trial and as soon as I was in the recovery room they tried the unit out and all the wires had shifted and the scs unit was zapping my ass big time where we had to shut it off. I lived without using it for the next friday there was another 4 and a half hour sergury all over again. They put 4 wires up my back, and put 8 wires down my back and to make a long story short, none of the socalled programs worked well enough were you would say I'll use that one . Very uncomfortable unit after a while. I could'nt get it removed fast enough. I only got rid of it 2 months ago and it's a real relief its out.

I am only one person with my own opinion, this definatly should not make anyone not at least look into this procedure. I'm sure there are many positive cases as well.

                                         Best of luck everyone

                                                        mike

I know what yu mean. Some times I have to keep that particular leg out from under any covers at night. Dr.'s jsut say I have a lot of nerve damage, they don't say how this could affect you.

I do know that stuff like lyrica don't treat it very well. At least in my case anyways.

Good morning all,

This is a report of a scs trial completion as of today.

I am on the last hours of the trial and this is what I have to report to all that are concerned.

I began my trial and for the first 24 to 36 hours, I completely observed all of the pm docs recs. and found that the scs did reduce pain levels about 30% to 40%. The drawbacks at this point are severe muscle spasms in my mid back and migraine headaches which I consevatively medicate. This was while lying in bed, resting and sitting in a lounger. Since this behavior is less likely to be conducive to actually "living", I chose to get up and do some light moving around. You know, going to the grocery store and walking around. The scs did assist and still does assist in mobility. It alone has extended my standing and walking time 3 fold. After about the 36 hours mark, I began to notice areas as high as my rib cage were being stimulated whereas the areas of pain in my low back and hips, the back of my left leg all the way to my foot and the back of my right leg to my knee were being were not being adequately addressed. Coughing and sneezing bring anohter issue. In my particular case, I was extremely fortunate to be holding on to a shopping basket when a small series of dry coughs hit. People looked at me as if I were falling down drunk. Hell, I don't even drink. Point is, I nearly fell several times because my legs became over stimulated and I could not control them. Lying flat also increases stimulation for whatever reason. On top of that, I am a long time migraine sufferer with migraine frequency one to two times a month "maybe". I have had two migraine headaches this week

The Advanced Bionics representative who calls me daily states that the migraines will eventually stop as I become acclaimated and that the leads have obviously migrated. But that the fix for that is the paddle leads which I found out requires a laminectomy to place and are only less likely to migrate.

My concerns are simply this:

I have a previously diagnosed scar tissue problem. Scar tissue from 2 laminectomies and 3 fusion surgeries have obvioulsy left some unwanted results. Does it make any since at all to have yet another laminectomy that will mosy likely scar and cause additional problems.

I am not sure if the issues I have faced in this trial are contraindications of scs use or normal growing pains in utilizing something new.

I am not an anxious person by any means, but I do find myself with anxiety over future pain management. Additionally the rep advised that with the permanenet implant it may take 12 to 14 weeks to ensure no additional lead migration takes place and for the body to become completely acclaimated to scs therapy.

Is it just me or does this sound like I have been speaking to a car salesman?

I just returned from my pm doc. While there the reps initially re-programmed the stim unit and actually it worked better than it did the day they put it in. When the topic came up about the introduction of the paddle lead. the pm doc advised that he does not allow his surgeons to perform the laminectomy which removes a large portion of the lamina. He advised that he has the surgeon only shave the underside f the lamina to allow him to insert the paddle and stitch it to liigaments in the area to keep it in place. In addition with a total implant, he says there is more give in the lead lines for movement. When I advised him that I had no intentions of allowing  a surgeon open yet another 5 to 6 incision for what he is calling a laminotomy. My pm doc laughed and stated the incision was only 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length. My doc asked if I would consider having the implant and make a decission 3 months down the road as to it effectiveness. I told him that I would consider it. My pm docs reasoning was this. Although, I did not get 50% or better on all pain relief, I did improve considerably in functionality. And I will say that even when the trial stim was not working at it's best, it did make it easier to be mobile. My doc also stated that we may have to look at either the addition of a pump if my hips continue hurting or the stim is not effective enough for functional purposes. I was impressed at his concern and willingness to continue trying to give me as much relief as possible. I was also impressed at the reps ability to determine exactly how much one of the trial leads had moved. It became apparent as the leads were being removed and oneof the leads had fallen down exactly the distance his program advised. More importantly, even when the leads were off target, he was able to re-program the unit to actually perform better than originally. So, I think I will try it for a few months. What's a few months compared to the last 15 years anyway? I hope I don't need this, but wish me luck anyway.

Glad to hear things are at least moving at some speed and direction. I am also waiting the paddle surgery which should be in the next xouple of weeks. Chronic pain is one of the odities that most people don't understand and truly can't identify with. It's hard for them to believe that the reason chronic pain is so bad is because we endure it for so long. Me for instance; it's not that I feel the worst pain I have ever felt in my life, it's the fact that I have been feeling this pain for such a long time. Good luck my friend and I hope we are both the better for it.