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Spinal Cord Stimulator, SCS

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 5/17/2023 6:43 AM (GMT 0)
Who do I turn to?
Posted 5/17/2023 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
Who do I turn to when the Spinal Cord Stimulator doesn't work? It worked 100% in my trail period, but it didn't work after my implant. Who do I turn to? Should I have it taken out? They have tried many different programs, nothing works. Do I have a legal case here? Should I turn to another company that provides stimulators? Please help
Posted 5/17/2023 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi dustyfield, sorry to read about your experience with the SCS unit. Unfortunately, this happens to people & it's devastating for the patient. You can ask to have the battery pack removed but they do not remove the leads. I doubt a different unit would be compatible with the leads & you are still at risk of it not working either.

Personally I would opt to having the unit removed & still ask if the leads can be removed.

Again, sorry this happened to you.
Posted 5/18/2023 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you straydog for responding, I need all the help I can get. They changed stimulators when they did the implant, that's what changed, they know what the problem is, they won't fix it because of the cost to make it right, thanks again for your help, I wish you well
Posted 5/18/2023 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Did anybody have the SCS work in the trail period, but not with implant?
Posted 5/19/2023 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
The forum is not as active as it used to be. Back when the forum was really active we had members that had a variety of issues with the SCS units. Everything from the permanent unit not working, infections, leads breaking & getting too hot.

How long have you had yours?
Posted 5/20/2023 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi stray dog, i’ve had it for three months, but they have never been able to program it right, they told me they changed stimulator’s when they went from trial to implant. I had 100% relief of pain in the trail, it was like a miracle, but when they implanted a new stimulator in my back, I could never get pain relief, and now they tell me they gave up.
Posted 6/7/2023 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi stray dog, this dustyfield here, we have talked before, I am still having problems with my scs not working. I saw the rep yesterday from medtronic and I showed her how the leads were installed wrong with the implant, the leads were installed with the tops in the T7 area, and in the trail, which worked 100%, the leads were in the T8 area. She kept changing the subject and gave me two more programs to try, I have pictures of the trail, implant, and present of the positions of the leads. I can understand why they can't program the stimulator, the leads are too far off compared to the trail which worked 100%. We only have one surgeon here in my county located in Florida, no where to go to for a second opinion. My pain management doctor referred me to her, she is the only doctor here that does the scs implants. Guess what, she is my pain management doctors wife!!! Who do I turn to? Do I contact the company Medtronics? Do I file legal action? Do you know, or anybody know a good attorney that would consider talking to me about this? Any help you could give me would be appreciated, thank you stay dog or anybody that can help
Posted 6/21/2023 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
As far as I know, my Abbott proclaim stimulator is working as they said it would however, none of the programs that my rep sets seem to do anything worth a flip. I am afraid we were all tricked into believing. I have been on pain pills for so long that my oxycodone 5 only lasts one hour, which is my breakthrough for the Butrans 20 patch which DOES work pretty well thank goodness. The best med I take for my pain is my Mobic 15. But I got the stimulator because I was at a “whats next” crying state two years ago. Well I ignore my back pain and just pace myself, use brace, sit and lay down when I need. I have had a knee replaced to help that pain but the other knee just as bad, I cannot get replaced until my mother passes because I am a major caretaker. So I tried to figure out what I could do to help and what I did is I knuckled down and lost 45 pounds. I want to lose another 20 but I’m at a plateau that my body just doesn’t want to move from. That has helped ALL of my pain quite a bit people! Except my battery pack is now sticking out of my boney glute muscle because no fat over it anymore and scoliosis bones showing in my back make it harder to sit comfortably.
Posted 6/21/2023 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
I think I went off topic here, I am sorry. I just started out to let you know that I am disappointed in my stimulator also and to say that I’m really sorry that yours is this bad, that is awful that we can’t get the help we need. I kind of do think in my case at least I was Pushed into making the decision to get mine a little too quickly and maybe you were too. Hope you are finding resources here to help but boy I don’t trust the judicial system to be fair to the right anymore either sigh.
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