Spinal Stimulator

[mike bauer]

Thinking of testing a stimulator. Any thoughts appreciated? Im not very comfortable with the thought of wires going into my spine... but at this point... I might try it? Thanks, Mike Bauer

[y2kwilsonhk]

Hi, I have that simulator (Medtronic) for my SCI pain 4 years ago, it is help me more, untill now, I will change a new one on 11/2005, because the battery was end of life.
:-)


Thinking of testing a stimulator. Any thoughts appreciated? Im not very comfortable with the thought of wires going into my spine... but at this point... I might try it? Thanks, Mike Bauer

[Lainy]

Last month I had the trial for the spinal cord stimulator. The central pain is growing quickly in my right leg, but mainly in my knee area. After the stimulator was in, I had to turn up the 'vibes' on the stimulator so high to cover the pain in my knee, that it made my feet burn. For a week I alternated between my knee being in pain or my feet. One morning I fell (thanks to gabapentin) backwards and hit the wall. Quite by luck the stimulater moved into a better position and the 'vibes' were more evenly distributed throughout my leg. I decided I'd go for the permanent scs. Two unsuccessful attempts at the surgery (both times there was fluid in the column) and my pain has increased to the point I've probably outgrown the scs before it's even had a chance to be implanted. The scs does hold some promise though, but I have my doubts about it working in cases where the pain is severe.

[metronycguy]

i had problems with mine had it implanted feb and they have gone into the spine area twice to explore and see why it was a big bump that never went down, it looks like the sutures didnt dissolve and abscess formed around them.
going in nov 21 to probably have the whole thing yanked, my incision from the procure never healed and is still open.


its not working very well on my pain anymore anyhow, it doesnt reach the toes which is my most painful area.

[mike]

I had the Medtronic's trial for about two weeks. My burning pain is from my pelvic area to my toes with most of the pain in my feet. The first time the trial was done I got some relief in my legs but not in my feet. After rearranging the electrodes I got more relief in my feet. Unfortunately I had to have the unit turned up so high that it created a problem with my walking. I did not find even with the optimum adjustments made that it was worth the surgery of a permanent replacement.

[alan]

I had one from 1986-1987. The position of the catheter was revised three times during those 12 months, but I never got any relief. The doc wanted to place it above my injury site (which makes sense, since we were seeking to control pain all over my body below level of injury), but scar tissue didn't allow it to be pushed past C-6 (my injury's C-5, but the damage extends from C-4 to C-6.) We wound up removing the stimulator, and I'm still looking for pain relief 18 years later. :(

[metronycguy]

mine came out 2 days ago. seems i was spitting sutures and getting granules in my t zone electrode implant. fortunately they were able to leave the generator in my hip inside me, once this heals, try and put in a new lead and electrode lower in my spinal roots.
it actually want doing a thing for me, had it off for the last month, it only gave me coverage to the top of my ankle, however that pain comes and goes, i think it may have something to do with footwear or AFO strap..
majority of my neuropain is now in my toes mainly big toe, fortunately ultram and oxycodone at night take care of that. i also notice that when i wear a closed shoe (roomy ,not tight) i seem to get a lot more pain at night, i went back to sandals for as long as i can this winter.

[LBUSH49]

Mike in Dec, 2003 I had my trial the Dr. told me it would only help with the pain in one leg , then thee trial it took the pain away in both legs but the Dr. had to take it out as he was going away till the first week of Feb.2004 , mine too was medtronics so I went for the final operation and he was able to get it in the same place so it took away the pain in both legs ,I am still on pain meds. and he sais I will the rest of my life and living in New Hampshire and this weather changing ,for me it has worked wonders they programed it to shut off at 11:00 PM and turns back on at 7:00 AM and then during the day they have it programed to shut off every half hour and turns on every half hour this is to save battery life Now I have had 7 back operations it started at L5-S1 and is going bad right up my spine I had it fused there then L5 -L4 and had that fused after 2 operations before they fused it I think that was just to make money , but now L3-L2 are buldging no another operation yet I have pain in the middle of my back by my kidneys both sides . All the operations thave caused a lot of other problems I now have a over sized bladder that doen't empty all the way ,that I ended up having a mitro soma put in ,and still problems with that,tuesday Jan.3rd, I am so happy with my spinal stimulator my uroligist said they have a Bladder Stimulator so they are doing the trial on this date ,I'm really hoping and praying this works , if it doesn't work I either have a bag or have my bladder removed , but if I didn't like the spinal stimulator I wouldn't be going through this. Now everyone is different the only pain I have in my legs has nothing to do with my bach , it's athritis and I've had reconstrucive knee surgery on both knees and that didn't work ,I need total knee replacement ,I got hurt in May ,1985 I've had a total of 20 operations .my body is in rough shape ,I'm49 but feel 70 good luck Mike and happy new year Just remember everyones body or injury is different