OT: Spinal cord stimulator experiences anyone?

[Pugsy]

I've thought about trying one of those, if you do keep us posted on how it works. If you use a ten's unit you don't put your patches in such a way that it crosses the spinal cord, that is a no,no.

When I used the TENS device it was across the SI joint area of my pelvis which is where the majority of my problem is.
It's been a while though...don't remember exactly the placement other than I had pictures of where it was okay to place and pictures of where it wasn't okay...and I tried to follow the directions.

I will let you know how it goes. Slow process getting all the hurdles jumped though. If I can get things done by the end of the year I will be surprised. Next hurdle is insurance pre authorization. Rumor control has reported a VERY slow process in that area.

[Pugsy]

I'm sure you know by now that Medtronics makes/made the Pisces...?

Your above link is broken. All I got was google hits for Pisces tattoos.

interesting. it worked for me. showed at least five hits for "Pisces spinal" before it devolved to the tattoos.

I think she tried to fix it....my first attempt showed nothing but tattoos.
Now I see at least a website for spinal cord injury products but that really isn't my problem at this time.

Main problem now is just really bad old age degenerative stuff in the spine and joints.

[Julie]

I removed the link hrs ago - read my edited note.

[Pugsy]

I removed the link hrs ago - read my edited note.

Yes, I saw the link pretty much after you posted it and it was broken...didn't say anything because I figured you would fix it and you did. I just haven't had a chance to go back and try the link or see that you edited things until now.

At any rate it's not the procedure that I wanted information on...it was people's personal experiences and thoughts that I was wondering about.

I have tried all sorts of stuff to mitigate the pain...from braces to TENS to RFA procedure all the way down my lumbar spine on both sides as well as joint injections. Even tried marijuana during a trip to Vegas a couple of years ago.
Pain meds take the edge off slightly but if I take more then I puke my toenails up.
I wouldn't make a good drug addict.

My sleep quality has suffered greatly as well. So don't sleep well and can't walk very far and when I do walk I waddle like a pregnant duck. The walking thing now...that's what really annoys me now. I learned how to compensate with the spine stuff but I have yet to figure out a way to let me walk without knives shooting through my hip joints.
I am just a friggin mess. 6 hours of sleep is now a "good" night for me and it sure isn't enough rest. I wake up hurting and just can't lay in bed anymore.
Can't take NSAIDs because of what they do to my stomach and they don't really help much anyway.

I don't expect miracles or to be pain free but I would like to be able to walk normally and get a little more sleep.
If I can get more sleep then I can better handle the other pain stuff better.

[Julie]

WIsh I had a magic wand!

[mets123]

I had a trial of a spinal cord stimulator and it was successful. So we went with the permanent implant. It has been six months and I am only getting about 30% relief and still need to take pain medication. The trial was about 80% pain relief. They say that isn’t unusual. I got the stimulator from a company named Nevro. There are people who get an immediate relief and there are others who can take a long time. The reps who work with you say there are endless programs they can run to try and get you pain relief. I am patient but I had no other options as I have exhausted all possible treatments. My problem is not back issues but neck and shoulder pain.

[mvosborn]

Hi Pugsy,
I haven’t been on here for about 5 months or so, but when I was, you gave me such great guidance on my APAP usage, I’d like to try and give back a little…
As you recall, I am a back pain sufferer as well as my wife. My wife had the Medtronic stimulator implanted about 9 years back.
In a nutshell, she too jumped through all the hoops, multiple doctors, etc. She had the trial stimulator done, which gave her about 80% relief. It was great! So she and the docs decided to go forward with the permanent device.
The surgery for implant is much more involved than the reps for Medtronics lead you to believe, and our spinal surgeon is (was) brilliant.
From that point on, it became a total uphill battle! Because it would take probably hours to type out her journey, suffice to say she STILL has the implant in her back, and has not used it for at least 6 years. She can no longer have MRI’s done, due to the leads next to her spine. Most surgeons will not touch removal, due to all the scar tissue that has formed.
If you would like to, please send me a PM, and I will be glad to facilitate either email or a phone call with my spouse, so that you can pick her brain, and she can give you first hand specifics on any and all your questions.

Regards,
Mike

[chunkyfrog]

If the trial device is removable, why couldn't it be used long term?
I guess I don't know Jack . . .

[mvosborn]

It’s because the leads used in the trial are much closer to the skin surface, as opposed to the long term leads being implanted way deeper and closer to the spine….

[Pugsy]

If the trial device is removable, why couldn't it be used long term?
I guess I don't know Jack . . .

Too many limitations with activities of daily living with the trial placement.
Can't shower or bathe or lift much of anything. Just trading one limitation for others.
The idea of the permanent implant is to normalize the activities of daily living and hopefully reduce pain.

[Pugsy]

Thanks Mike. I will keep your offer on the back burner.
Things have changed a lot in 9 years with things. The implants are now MRI compatible for one thing.
And I haven't even had the trial yet to see if it even gives me any relief or not.

[mvosborn]

No problem. Just let me know

Mike

[chunkyfrog]

Still rooting for Pugsy . . .

[Deborah K.]

Still rooting for Pugsy . . .

Me too! Pugsy, you have given so very much help to those on this list. I pray that you will find a good solution that will eliminate your pain.

[Pugsy]

Minor update.
Finally got insurance approval for the trial of the stimulator and it is now scheduled to be implanted Dec 30.
I wear it 5 days and then the leads are removed in the doctor's office and I decide if it helped enough to make me want to do the permanent implant or not.
For the trial implant I get light sedation and the "I don't care what you do to me drugs"..

Side note...about the wrist/hand surgery. I can now go without the splint but the thumb is going to require more PT.
It's not very strong at all and while I can use it "gently" I am still not supposed to grip hard....like I could anyway.
I can't even turn a door knob yet.

But I will get there. I knew going in the recovery time was prolonged....most likely another 3 months before any semblance of normal use can be expected.

Good news though...no more constant pain and itch in the wrist which is why I had the surgery in the first place.
Only minor discomfort with PT which is to be expected and the doc told me to "use common sense and if you do something and it really hurts....back off"