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NeuroStimulator Spinal Stimulator

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Posted 8/18/2012 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Last week I tested a neuralstimulator, that has two leads inserted stratigically into the spine that sends a gentle current into the painful area. For me it is the lower back (discectomyL2L3, Fusion L4L5) and leg neuropathy. It felt like my leg was laying on a massage pad. Shortly, I will have it permanently istalled by my pain doctor so I can use therapy pool and live as normally as possible. The temporary installation aggrevated my fibromyalgia in spine for first couple days, but when that quit flaring, everything felt pretty good. They can always be turned off or even removed according to my Pain Specialist. My brother-in-law has one and does not like it as he gets a "jolt" now and then, and he wishes the sensation would go deeper into his foot, but I have talked to other people who are satisfied with the results. What say ye?
Posted 8/18/2012 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mermaiden, we have some people here with them and its a mixed bag, some say they wish they had not had the unit implanted and some that says it helps. So good to hear you are getting some relief. From what I have read here at the forum people that want the units remove all they remove is the battery pack. They leave the leads in because of all the scar tissue i this area.

Whe is your surgery schedule? If you will use the search feature here an type in SCS units you will be able to pull up quite a bit of info.

Keep us posted about your surgery date. Take care....Susie
Posted 8/19/2012 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hello!…and Welcome to the forum!….I'm glad to see that you made it over here from the fibro forum. The only thing I will caution you on,…. is that when you have yours implanted,…"Be Patient" …it can take several months for the paddles to scar in, so don't become discouraged if you can not get the settings stable for a while. How long has your brother-in-law had his?

In all fairness, you must realize that most members who join this forum to comment on the SCS units,….are usually experiencing problems and are looking for answers. It is rare that a visitor will join and brag that their pain had been reduced to a level that they can live some sort of quality of life. However, we do have a couple of members that seem somewhat satisfied with the device, and it seems to have proved effective in masking their pain.

Make sure you ask the rep plenty of questions, and again, ...please make sure that you understand that in most cases,... that at least the leads are left in place if the final outcome is less than desirable, ...to the point that the unit is turned off and abandoned.

For some encouragement!…I do have a friend where I work, and he said his wife had one implanted…and he reports that she is extremely pleased with it, and says she could not live without it.

Good luck!…and we would appreciate progress reports from you after the unit has been implanted and adjusted. Again Welcome!... and enjoy the forum, and it's members!

SE wink
Posted 8/19/2012 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
I tried a stimulator trial and it did help but only around 40%. The doctor said he could make it better with the permanent but after talking to several of his patients (in his waiting room) I decided against the stimulator since he told them the same thing but they didn't get any better with the permanent system.
Posted 8/19/2012 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, and welcome. I did the one week trial. I was doing it to see if it changed my neuropathy in my feet and lower legs. I could feel nothing in my feet, but the surges of the stimulator that made me scream and shake all over. I chose not to have it implanted. The nerves in my feet are so damaged after so many years of neuropathy it just couldnt help. I was so sorry it wasnt right for me. I hear both good and bad. My pain doctor told me that he actually didnt think I would feel any relief, not after having neuropathy for so long. Every person is different and some are helped. I hope you can find a way to find some relief. Again, welcome and regards....Cathy
Posted 8/20/2012 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, mermaiden. I had my permanent SCS implanted just 4 weeks ago. As I am healing everyday things change.

I have varying pain from the waist down to my toes. Its never the same each day. For me to measure if its working is very difficult. I need to measure different areas. For my feet and lower legs its great, another program is good for when my typical RSD sites are acting up, another is effective for my lower back. So far we havent found a way to cover all of theses areas at the same time effectively. Its very rare that I only have pain in one area,lol. As things settle in and we go thru reprogramming, things will hopefully change.

I wish you luck in whatever you decide.
Posted 10/19/2012 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Checking back in on my post with an update.  Had SCS installed yesterday. the current gently going down legs is extremely comforting. Releif at different percentages from hips into toes, so happy to have my knee back on board. My only complaint is pain at incision sites on the back and upper hip, which has my fibromyalgia wishing to punish me. The pain is not as bad as were my discectomies or spinal fusion surgery. I am excited to see how this plays out the next several weeks.
Posted 10/19/2012 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Mermaiden I am very happy to hear that you are doing well. I do hope as time goes on things keep getting better & better for you. Like I said before, its a real hit or miss with those things, people either love them or hate them. Each person is different as to how they can tolerate the unit.

I do hope you will continue to update us with your success. Take care...Susie
Posted 10/19/2012 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
I hope things get better for you soon and that you keep us posted as my doctor is think an SCS unit trial for me, just don't think I'm ready for it...
Many Prayers and well wishes to you on this and I hope you can get improvements in how it distracts you from the pain....
Posted 11/27/2012 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
I did my 7 day trial in February of this year,I had good results & was scheduled for the implant surgery on Feb 25th 2012. The surgery went great, with minimal pain. I've been in to my pain Dr every 3 months or so for check ups & getting new settings programed in,other than that I have had no problems with the implant, I take less than half the pain killers I used to take, I charge the internal battery twice a month (I do it more often to extend overall life of the battery ) and I have a reduction in pain by 50 to 80%. That's saying a lot compared to the pain I've been going through for the past 14 years,from nerve damage & spinal injuries to my lower back. I tried every thing before getting the implant including, muscle manipulation, chiropractors, tens units,many different pain drugs,years of steroid facets & epidurals,burning the nerve endings & other treatments. None of them worked well or for very long,but my neuro stimulator from St.Jude Medical was my answer.
Posted 11/27/2012 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Thor and welcome to the chronic pain forum. I am so glad to read that the stimulator is working for you. It is always wonderful to read a post where someone is doing well, very refreshing, plus it gives hope to others. From what you have written here the stim is actually working and doing what it was designed to do. You hear of so many that it ranges from the final implant not working at all to wishing they did not go through with the implant. Like I said, its awesome that yours is working and I hope it continues to help you for as long as possible.

Since you have posted on another person's thread and you are new to the forum I am going to ask you to start your own intro thread. That way more members will see it and be able to give you a proper hello and welcome aboard. We ask all new members to do this. You can copy and paste what you have written above and that would be fine.

Take care.......Susie
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