Any using the Boston Scientific Precision Plus SCS?

I have it & absolutely love it. It has been life-changing for me. That said, it does not completely eliminate my pain. Then again, neither did pain meds. I don't think that expecting it to completely eliminate all pain is reasonable & even with the SCS you may still need some pain meds some of the time just to deal with flare-ups. I'll put my story briefly & you can let me know if you have any other questions. I personally think that the BS model is better than the Medtronic models, but there are others who believe differently. It is smaller & able to do more things. I've heard that there are pre-programmed levels on the Medtronic SCS's whereas with the BS models the programmers can set it for whatever maximum strength is tolerable. There are also multiple programs with the BS SCS that help to address the fluctuations that naturally occur whenever someone changes positions.

Pre-Implant:
I had a Craniotomy & C1 Laminectomy to treat a neurological condition. Post-op I was in a lot of pain & it seemed to be the result of scar tissue growing around the occipital nerve & also b/c I had DDD and my C-spine was not stable. I was on 15 meds just to be able to function at all. I was having a lot of side effects from the medications & would end up taking medications to treat the side effects of medications I was taking to treat the side effects of other medications. The trial of the SCS was moderately successful, reducing my pain by about 50%, so we decided to proceed with the permanent implant (8 leads at C2).

Post-Implant:
It was nightmarishly painful for me in the months immediately after the implant surgery. We had to up most of my meds to help me deal with the horrific pain. But after about 3 months I was much better & started coming off the medications. I have now had the implant for 4 years & couldn't be happier. I am currently on 2 meds: Lyrica (I am on 1/12 of the dose I was on pre-implant) and Actiq (I am on less than 1/2 the dose I was on pre-implant).
Comparing pre-implant with meds to post-implant with SCS & reduced meds my pain level was decreased from a 7/8 with weekly spikes to a 9, to a 4/5 with occasional spikes up to an 8.

The stimulator definitely helps quite a bit, but I'm not sure how realistic it is to say that nobody would ever need pain meds again post-implant. I've met many, many people who have one, but while most of them have had significant reductions in their pain meds, I've yet to meet someone whose pain was well-controlled all the time by the SCS with no pain meds at all. That's not to say that you couldn't be okay without pain meds, just that I would be a little wary about a doctor who claims that he would NEVER consider prescribinh ANY patient with an SCS narcotic pain meds. Also, you really need to make sure that at a minimum he is willing to prescribe meds to control the post-op pain. I thought immediately post-op they have to use narcotics b/c you can't take anti-inflammatories for at least a few days to a week, but perhaps your surgeon has experience using something else. I don't know what the research says, but it seems to be that especially in skinny people that the battery pack can be very irritating & difficult to get used to. Depending on where your pack is implanted & where your leads are located, they sometimes have to tunnel through a lot of connective tissue. That can be immensely painful & I would hope that the surgeon would take that into consideration for at least the first month.

I would guess that whatever meds worked pre-implant would be the best choices post-implant, but I'm not a doctor.

Negatives: post-op pain, took BS 12 months of re-programming the battery 1x/month to find a set of 4 programs that gave me the maximum benefits, there is a nerve trapped between my pelvic bone & the battery pack that gets really irritated when I put any pressure on it (sitting back in a chair, lying on my back a floor or a yoga mat, etc.), disrupts my sleep so I have to turn it off at night, can't drive with it turned on so driving's still painful, cost of unit

Well, hopefully that helps some. Like I said, I would do it again in a heartbeat. It got me off the vast majority of my pain meds & significantly reduced those I still take. That was my main goal with the SCS. Good luck with everything. Hopefully it will work for you as well as it is working for me!

blessings,
frances

Was your post-implant pain due to your specific condition or is that just to be expected in most implant situations?
It was a combination. Lots of people have post-op pain for a week or so. I am a slow healer due to elevated SED rate, so it takes me longer than most.

Do you have the model with the wireless recharger that is placed outside over the implanted pulse generator? If so, how well does that work?
Yes. Works perfectly. They just did a voluntary recall & swapped out the older chargers for new ones that can't burn your skin even if you sleep with it on (though I still don't recommend sleeping with in on if you use the double-sided tape. They also give you a cloth pouch & that's much more comfortable to sleep in. Of course, BS has always & continues to recommend that patients never, ever sleep with the charger on. I don't always follow the rules. :)

How long will the implanted unit work before it needs a recharge?
Depends on how much of the time you have it on & how high you have it turned up. Mine usually last at least a few weeks, but some people's last longer or shorter.

How long do you have to wear the external charger for each recharge?
Depends on how far run down it was when you started charging. Usually 6-8 hours. Sometimes when I run it down to nothing, I need to repeat 2-3 times (i.e. 8 hours on body, 6 hours in cradle, 8 hours on body, 6 hours in cradle, 8 hours on body -- for a total of 36 hours)

Are the pain meds you are on now narcotic?
One is. Lyrica is an anti-convulsant prescribed for nerve pain. Actiq is a narcotic. I was on both before the implant. I am on lower doses now, but still needed something. I tried non-narcotic options, but either they didn't work or they had severe side effects.

Do you think they provide adequate pain relief in conjunction with the SCS?
Yes. I am not pain-free, but I am able to participate in all the major life activities necessary to go to work, care for myself, and participate in some social activities.

Do you think the trial was indicative of the final implant? Was the trial pain relief less than what you actually experienced post-implant?
Trial was less relief than the final implant, but it was clearly helpful. I was expecting it to be more helpful during the trial period than it was, but my PM insisted that it was more that good enough results from the trial to proceed with the implant. I was slightly better during the trial, but hardly decreased my pain meds at all during that time. I wasn't sure it was a success, but it turned out my PM was right! So I guess the moral is to find a PM whose done a lot of these & then trust him as much as possible. :)

Hi Alan:

I'm not sure if my posting will help you because I have a stimulator but it isn't a Boston Scientific model. I have a Medtronic RestoreUltra. I have a blog about my experience, if you are interested, with pics. of my incisions and all sorts of discussions about SCS-related issues. Some of the issues are the same, regardless of the company.

Come visit if you are interested...

http://www.chronicstimulation.blogspot.com/

PS- I had my stim. put in on 1/16 so I'm in the recovery period. Still have to take my pain meds. I would not advise the procedure if your hope is to be 100% without pain meds. However, it may be worth it to you to at least give the trial a go if you understand that taking pain meds will prob. still be a part of your treatment.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Danimal

Hi danimal and new,

Thanks for your responses on SCS units. Danimal, I took a look at your blog and found some very useful, firsthand experience which is what I am looking for.

I have been through 4 complete open back surgeries with long incisions so I am familiar with post-op pain and recovery. I guess my issue now is this: I have chronic pain but I am not sure it is of the level of intensity that took you and others to a stimulator. It's bad enough that I do need opiate pain meds. If I could get enough relief to get off the opiates using the SCS I would be happy. I don't know yet whether that's possible. I know it is not complete pain relief but rather an improvement. Are there non-opiate pain meds that you have found adequately effective post-implant?

You mentioned you can't sleep or drive with your unit on. Why is that? Does the tingling sensation keep you awake? Is it so distracting that driving is a problem?

I am curious as to placement of the pulse generator in the front or lower abdomen. How did they run the wires from there back to the leads? Did they tunnel around the waist area? I hope these questions are not getting too personal but as a potential candidate I would like to know how it works.

Thanks for your help.
Modelmaker

(yes I do make models when my pain level permits. I make R/C boats and planes for my grandson)

Hi Model-

Let's see..as for driving..it's a safety issue. You can get a surge in stimulation when you turn your head quickly so they like you to have it off so as not to surprise you and cause an accident.

I actually sleep with my stimulator on every night. The stimulation does increase when you lay down because the leads are closer to your spinal cord. I end up turning it down a little bit but it helps me sleep and does not keep me awake.

I chose to have the generator implanted in my abdomen because I have very little fat on my flank area and I also was weary of having another scar in my back. I also had an appendix scar in my belly so they were able to open that up and use that. My medtronic rep told me that medtronic did a study of load weight on the generator in the back vs. the abdomen and the study showed that the generator and cable absorbs a lighter load when implanted in the belly than when in the back/buttock. Something to consider..but, of course, it's a personal decision.

They tunneled the cable from my paddle around T9-T10 area, over my ribs and around my waist. I can see it over my ribs in the back (picture of this on my blog) but cannot see it in my waist area. It just felt bruised there and I wouldn't want anyone pinching that side of my waist!

I think if you're in enough pain to be on long-term opiates, you are def. in enough pain to do the trial procedure. Making a decision about this surgery really comes in 2 steps. First, decide whether you want to go forward with the trial implant (temporary leads for 3-7 days to trial the stimulator). If you do the temporary implant and notice a big enough difference for you, then maybe you will want to do the permanent implant. If not..well then, you have your answer! (the trial stimulator is implanted via an epidural needle. it's a fairly low risk procedure).

Let me know if you have other questions, ok?

Best,
Danmal

Just as a side note Bionic woman, the BSC system is the latest on the market and the only company able to steer current. The other companies cannot do that making the stimulation less comfortable and more chopping feeling. Many people are actually removing the Medtronic system and replacing it with the Boston Scientific one. I am glad you have good results with the MDT system, but I think the information is not really accurate.

SCS#1,

Is there a way we could take this conversation private? Phone, email?

Modelmaker

I had my Precision Plus stimulator implanted 8 weeks ago. First off, let me say that JUST LIKE medication, this is a PAIN MANAGEMENT TOOL. That said, NOTHING will COMPLETELY RELIEVE YOUR PAIN. My unit takes me from an 8 to a 4 on the pain scale, which is considered a success. I would advise you to research your options, as there can be problems or complications with any surgery, and your insurance and/or doctors may require you to consult a pain psychologist (I know my insurance, Aetna, did) for their approval before proceeding with the trial. I wish you much luck whatever your decision may be!

Ed

Krista, I have the Boston Scientific and will be glad to share my experience. The Trial is not that dificult physically. There is a small incision that they use to insert a tube. Once the tube is in place, they feed the wires through the tube and plave the lead(s) on the nerves. Then they remove the tube. The most uncomfortable part of the trial was not being able to shower for the week. They told me that they did not want to take a chance on infection. I still found a way without getting the area wet. The trial for me was not as accurate as the actual implant. The recovery from the trial, I went back to work the same day. After the implant, I went back to work the second day. Big mistake and because I did not have a good PMS, my recovery was set back by weeks. I ended up with an infection that the PMS did not treat. Some say they were off work as long as 6 weeks after the implant. It took me several months before the pain was low enough that I decided the implant was worth it. This was due to the Doctors lack of care and professionalism. You get to chose where the battery implant will be placed. I choose to have mine in my lower back (towards my right side. I normally sleep on my left side so having it on the right side does not interfere. I am so glad I did not have it placed in my buttock or hip as my belt or sitting would not be comfortable. Just my experience. The incision for my implant was about 3 to 4 inches where they implanted the battery. Then the incision where they placed the paddles was about 3 inches. They were not too bad until I ended up with an infection. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more information.

Hi - just found this site and signed on.

Two days ago i received my trial stimulator.. After may years of back pain, 2 back fusion surgeries, injections rhizotomies, etc etc. and then intense leg pain, I had to do something.

Guess I was hoping for a quick fix. It seems to "mask" the pain while still feeling the pain just not as intense - is this "normal"?? I guess I was hoping it would take the pain away. Don't know whether it is better to have it turned up higher so I won't feel it as bad or higher makes it worse??

This site also seems to be more positive about the procedure than other sites. I feel so "alone" so reading all of this has been very helpful.

Good Luck Dyanna - I too am trying the Boston Scientific Precision Plus.

Thanks Frances~

I know what I was going to ask also - is it better to turn on before the pain begins or wait until it starts??? or is it a personal preference. I know the doctor was also hoping to get this to cover my lower back, but it's like I have this black hole back there - just my legs are covered.. ..

Thank you again.....I'll be back I am sure with more comments and/or questions. Also if I decide on the permanent one, i have to wait 3 weeks or so until it is done - dr wants me to heal thoroughly from the trial.

Thahks again Francis. I go see the rep of the comoany today as she said she would like to reprogram what she could to see if she could get better coverage and a better program without having to go into the site again.'

Is your back covered by this or just your legs??

Thanks and have a great day.