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Not a condidate for SCS

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Posted 6/22/2009 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
My new pain doc tells me that I am not a candidate for a spinal cord stim. He says they don't work well with midback axial spinal pain. He wouldn't put one in. I'm not forcing the issue. Got to drive the oxy down before he will try anything else but it will not be a stim. Has anybody else who has non-radiating T12-L1-L2 degeneration and facet joint arthritis been told this? What are the options?

Modelmaker
Posted 6/22/2009 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
 

 

 

     Modelmaker,

    

"'Has anybody else who has non-radiating T12-L1-L2 degeneration and facet joint arthritis been told this? What are the options?  "

 

      I have degenerative changes, and so far the board of doctors have denied me a few things due to degeneration. I once waited a week for them to have thier meetings just to find out that they decided I was not a candate for nerve burns. WHich was silly! why ask me, then have a meeting, just to deny me?.. *sigh* I am told that it is due to degeneration and stability of the spine. I have something they call Levoscoliosis, but only bottom half of my back hurts from it, not while spine. I get the distinct impression that degenerative changes , thou common, make it hard to seek other pain management options. All about the great inflammation reace. Sorry I can add helpful input at all.

*huggs*

dani
Posted 6/22/2009 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
 Dear Modelmaker,

 

What "board" are you talking about?
I dont know about everyone else, but my doctors all communicate and discuss my options with one another. All work increadibly well with one another.  Make the very best decisions they can reguarding my care as I am young, and have no family outside of my husband / daughters.

 

       I was told due to size of the area and the risk for partial burns I was not a canidate for Nerve burns. That is only thing I have been denyed so far due to degeneration. I dont know if the same risks are taken into consideration for SCS. But made differance for me in my minimal case.

 

     I am a 29yr old woman who had a previously straight and mature spine is now levoscoliosis. And to think it only took a few years too*sigh* the curve is through most of my back, though I only "hurt" from the bottom part (where the degeneration and rotation are) not all the upper part of the curve.  They dont know why it is happing in a already skelatally mature spine. They are keeping a very close eye on me, and keep re testing and or testing new stuff. So far everything is negative. ... Until recently.. but thats another story, for another day and I dont know all of the specifics of that latest batch of testing till tomorrow.

 

   Instead of giving an increadibly long list of things Ive tried how about things I am doing now that help? Bi-Lateral injections nerve block halfspine, all lower half, sometimes in my hipps aswell (differant type), always every 3 to 4mos. It helps to keep inflammation down. Next I use a medacine for inflammation around the joints called nabumetone 1,500. For the "itching" between my shoulder blades and my hipps I use arnica gel. I also use an external stimulator 3x per day 40m ea. Medacine before I go to bed called amitryptaline 50. (6.0 biofeedback x2 per day)

  

      Again, im a young mother. And theres only me. No one to turn to for help. No one to "call in" when I dont feel good. Which presents quite a unique challenge for my doctors.

 

    In any case before I ramble too much, I wanted to say I too have degenerative changes though mine have only presented with small issues in my care plann. Yours sound very serious confused

   *huggs*

dani

Posted 6/22/2009 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Modelmaker,
They won't do the spinal cord stimulator because those are used to treat nerve pain, not mechanical pain. It wouldn't help your pain levels to put one in at all. I wish that it would for you, but it wouldn't.
I am not sure what other options there are, but I'm sure that your doctor will come up with something else for you to try.
Sandi
Posted 6/23/2009 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Modelmaker,

I'm so sorry to hear that you are not a candidate for the SCS. I know that you were looking forward to a potential trial & doing a lot of research. However, I suppose that it is better to find out now, than to go through with the trial (and possibly even the implant!) just to find out that it doesn't help! I can't help you at all as for other options, but I do hope that there are still some things out there for you to try (and that will help you)! Hang in there! Best of luck with your taper!

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 6/23/2009 3:29 AM (GMT 0)

Modlemaker, I too am sorry that the SCS won't work for you. I also agree that it is better to find out now than afterwards. When I had my fusion I underestimated the recovery time. For some reason I don't learn very fast. After the SCS implant, I did not think it that difficult but I have found that this old body does not heal as fast as it did once. I would hate the thought of going through all this for nothing. First the failed back surgery and then if the SCS did not work I would be a candidate for the funny farm. I know it is partially my fault as I have tore the leads loose by doing a very simple thing but I still can't stand to be in the car for long and sitting in a chair relaxing is difficult for a length of time. Since the transmitter is on my right back side just above the belt line and I get tiured of laying on my left side for hours before I can finally get to sleep. I say all this just to reinforce it is not worth it if it would not work.

Have they tried nerve blocks or a pain pump. I know that they have never discussed a nerve block with me but the pain pump has been a discussion. I hope that they find something besides just pumping you full of pills. I will be keeping you in my prayers.

Posted 6/23/2009 3:46 AM (GMT 0)

Modelmaker,

I am so sorry that the SCS won't work for you!  ((((((((((((modelmaker))))))))))))

I was NOT a candidate for the SCS either.  I bypassed the trial and went directly to the NS who in the end would be putting the permanent unit in.  I went for 2 opinions and advised to have an MRI and CT Scan and was told the same thing by both Drs that I was not a candidate. I was told there are 3 types of people, the definite NO, the definite YES and the other 50% are in a maybe group, by that I was told the trial may work and then when the permanent unit is put in it chances are it would not.  I was in the Maybe group and felt the cost and iffy outcome was not worth the risk!

My PMD was as disappointed as I was!

XXOO
Patti

Posted 6/23/2009 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Modelmaker,
I agree with John that it is better to find out before the implant than afterward. I can't really even blame my healing on old age (well, heck, I did that anyways, but I'm pretty sure that 29 isn't old age by any standard).

I was helped a lot by Radio Frequency. Maybe it's an option for you? Otherwise, you might try getting a second opinion about the SCS. The NS I talked to said I would not be helped by the SCS b/c I had a congenital condition. My current PM who implanted the SCS (which I love) told me that all pain travels over nerves -- it doesn't matter where it originates from. The only reason why he won't recommend an SCS as a treatment of last resort is if the pain is spread out over a bunch of levels. It was still a risk to get it implanted & it is surgery even if it can be done without sedation or anything. There is a lengthy recovery & permanent life changes that are needed if you get one implanted. But some doctors have different levels of experience implanting the SCS & also they have different levels of tolerance for risking implanting the SCS units. I'm not suggesting that you keep changing docs until you find one that will do the implant, but sometimes it is worth getting a second opinion -- though if the second opinion disagrees with the first it will mean having to ask a whole lot more questions to figure out which one is right.

take care,
frances
Posted 6/23/2009 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
     Dear Modelmaker,

 

     Argh, argh argh! I dont understand "lifestyle" stuff, what was that supposed to mean? Perfectly normal lifestyle to me, I dont get it? Did he suggest a differant option atleast?

 

*huggs*

dani

 

 

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