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Posted 2/18/2012 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
just found this site while looking for more info on the Plus after my PM doc brought it up as an option. Would love to hear y'all experience. Little about me I have a Antior Lubar Fusion at L5 S1 that was quite successful with the exception of a wicked batch of sciatica post op working both legs over good and a constant pain in and around the fusion. Everything was great after a 2 year recovery from the sugery and rehab finally got things to where Ibuprofen and Lyrica were keeping things in check 3 or 4 most days with a bad day be a 5. last May(sady a couple days before my Bday) my leg gave out and i took a hard fall down our stairs and caused immediate flares. since its been back to the lortab and soma and the lyrica to keep things in check so i'm functional for work at a stiff 7 when i roll out of bed and to a 9 or a 10 by the time i'm done with a 5 hour shift.

hopefully y'all can share some insights. and like i told my doc I'm willing to try anything to reduce and hopefully get off the narcs again and have a bit more of a normal again.
Posted 2/18/2012 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi RG, and welcome.

Can I suggest that you do a search on the SCS units as this will turn up a lot of past discussions on them. I myself have had one - ANS/St Jude, not Boston Scientific - since 2006 to help with my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

I don't regret having mine done, but I have had a lot of troubles with it - back pain, leaf migration & revision surgery and so on. If you've got any particular questions, please feel free to ask.

Laura
Posted 2/18/2012 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi RG and welcome to the chronic pain forum. I am glad that you found us but sorry that you have to be here. We do have a couple of members here with SCS Units. I have a pain pump no SCS Unit. From what I have read here at the forum from various people that have been here with these units the trend has not been so favorable for many and if they got any relief it was very short lived. From what I have seen here I would have to really think long and hard before making a final decision. Just my thoughts only.

Take care.
Posted 2/18/2012 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the welcome. He had also mentioned a pain pump but would prefer to try the SCS before taking that leap. personally so long as I'm not laid up for 2 yrs again I'm game to try anything
Posted 2/28/2012 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi RG,

 Sorry you are having such a hard time. I have 2 St. Jude's SCSs. One at C3 and the other at T5. I have them for a long list of pain related issues, including CRPS. I have had them for over 3 years and have had to replace both once because the units malfunctioned. I am needing to have both batteries reset because they have come out of the pocket. I too had high hopes of coming off pain meds when I had them implanted but it has not happened. Instead my PM is now recommending a pain pump in addition to the SCSs. While I know of a few people who had good results with the implants, they are few in number. Think long and hard about having the surgery before you have it done. It is a big step to take and you need to make sure you are able to handle it if the implants don't work for you. Any questions you might have I will willing answer.

SM 

Posted 2/28/2012 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SM and welcome. Can I ask you to make another post introducing yourself, just so that everyone can welcome you properly.

Thanks, Laura
Posted 2/28/2012 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
At this point failure doesn't bother me near as much as pondering the what ifs. even a reduction in meds at this point I would consider a success and if it doesn't work at least i can say i tried. smilewinkgrin
Posted 2/28/2012 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
RG welcome to the chronic pain forum. I have a pain pump from Medtronics and they also make the SCS units. I just got my monthly news letter from them and they now have a new unit that will automatically change the programs when you move, say if you are laying down and get up it changes so you don't have to make the change. This is soemthing I have seen a lot of complaints about is changing of positions and suddenly getting zapped hard because of this. This may be something you want to discuss with your dr. If you are interested go to Medtronic.com and check it out. At least you would have something to discuss with your dr.

I do hope you will use the search feature here at the forum and read up on the SCS units, there is a lot of good information there.

Just so you know if for some reason your unit were to fail the only thing drs will remove is the unit, they do not remove the leads. They claim they cannot remove the leads because of the scar tissue involved.

I know of no one that has been able to get totally off of medication with the SCS units. At best they have been able to reduce their meds a bit. Make sure your dr is not one of those that says you don't need pain meds because you have the unit too, because you will need something. This has happened to several people and their drs refused medication and then they had to find a new dr who understood the units do not take the pain away, instead it creates a new sensation that is suppose to over ride the pain but it does not always happen that way.

Good luck.
Posted 4/9/2012 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm in a similar position and contemplating going forward with an SCS trial.
My back accident happened in 2004, and it's been good and bad on and off.
Lately, both my legs are making me crazy. I need to lie down, preferably on the floor, for at least 50% of the day.
Looking for any advice and feedback, either on my own issue or that of others here - just to get the gist.
Good luck to us all.
Posted 4/9/2012 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
I go for my Trail implant next Wednesday. Will let you know how it goes. Have they tried Lyrica or neurontin to help with some of the pain??
Posted 4/9/2012 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi WaitTillWhen and welcome to the chronic pain forum. If you don't mind please start your own intro post here at the forum so that all the members will see it and be able to give you a proper hello and welcome aboard. By doing this it will also give you better exposure for people to see and respond to your post.

I do not have a unit but I do know Medtronics just came out with a new unit that adjusts the settings automatically when changing positions rather than it having to be done manually. I have read on here about people getting zapped pretty hard when changing positions and they did not think to adjust the unit before doing so. If you have not visited their website before, just go to Medtronics.com and check out the units. They have one of the best most informative websites around and it is user friendly too.

If you will use the search feature here at the forum at the top right, type in SCS Units, you will find a lot of info about the SCS units. Personally speaking I would try other avenues and not have one of these units just from the experiences I have seen here. There seems to be too much of a real hit or miss involved to suit me. But it is also your own personal choice.

Again welcome aboard and please make your own intro post. Take care....Susie
Posted 4/9/2012 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome, I have a SCS unit in my right lower back that has been sitting there completely useless since it was installed in May 2010, it was found to be installed to deep, so after another surgery to correct the first one, it was again useless due to the scar tissue.  Along with that, I thought it should not be my responsibility to pay for the second surgery, not so says medicare, after the doctor get approval to do the surgery, it is up to me to pay for it.  Which brings me to another subject, this is very expensive surgery, if you dont have a secondary insurance, please think a long time before you get it done.

Good luck,

Kathy

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