Spinal Cord Stimulator

[Kjun54321]

I am waiting to begin a trial for the Spinal Cord Stimulator. The doctor will put an external wire going up my spinal cord and have a battery pack on my back for a few days. The Stimulator is supposed to stop the lumbar pain from reaching the brain. If it works, the doctor will install an internal stimulator and battery pack under my skin and onto the spinal cord.

Has anyone have this performed and did it help in your experience? Hoping for a good outcome, so any advice is appreciated.

[Patient007]

Sounds fantastic! Please let me know how you get on and if it helps. Ive got multiple levels of stenosis mainly lumbar spine region and have had injections and nerve blocks but nothing has helped with the pain . Good luck.

[Kjun54321 in reply to Patient007]

Same here. I’ll keep you updated.

[Kjun54321 in reply to Kjun54321]

I got to Park Place Hospital for 5:30am. They put me in the stall around 6. I was out of there by 8:30. The doctors fit the leads/Leeds into my back up to my T6 spine, then found it was too high and the leads weren’t working on the left side of my body. So they moved the leads and stopped at T8 spine.

I am sore and hurting like the Dickens. Hopefully surgery pain will go away and I won’t have lower back pain either. Ugh…so much pain. I can’t “BLT” bend, lift, twist and no showers or baths.

At 7 days, they will remove it. If it works, a few weeks later, a specialist will put in a new system of leads that fit into the spine with the battery pack. Everything will be controlled by a remote.

[Ilmoran]

Hi there, I have had a spinal cord stimulator fitted, back in 2015 at Guys in London.

Simple answer is YES it worked for me, as you say its fitted externally first, this is to make sure your happy it works.

Since i had it fitted I am now able to walk further, be more comfortable in a car and go away on holiday.

I had to see a Psychiatrist as well, this is to make sure all is ok in your general life, if there is other problems (i.e. traumatic shock ) is might not work

My stimulator has a exercise programme as well, this helps build up weaken muscles around injury site.

I wish you all the best mate, stay positive and I am sure it will work for you.

[Patient007 in reply to Ilmoran]

Glad it has helped you. I will mention it to my Doctor in Pain Management Team.

[Kjun54321]

Thank you for your reply and I’m happy it has worked for you. I had to answer questions regarding my mentality. Woohoo!

[Susan1942]

I have had a neuro spinal stimulater since 1991.. Like you say I had the trials. Initially it looked as though it was not going to be implanted the second stage. It was a neurosurgeon who did mine. He thought it was very near when I said I had to turn it off so I could pass urine. He said he was trying a tiny area like the point of a ballpoint pen.He made a decision to move it by 1 mm. At that time he was confident that it was going to work and implanted the battery at the same time

It has reduced my pain by about 50-60%. I had a magnet initially to turn it on and off. Then I had a remote control

I had the generator replaced last April and I now have a rechargeable battery.

I have got neuropathic pain Not sure where and what your pain is caused by. I had a lot of tearing when my son was delivered by Kieland's forceps in 1971 so.52 years ago. I take a cocktail of medication with the aim of making me pain tolerable.

You have nothing to lose by having the trial.

If you can tell me more about why you are having this. Sue

[Kjun54321 in reply to Susan1942]

I had an L4-5 and C5-6-7 fusions. I have Degenerative disc disease, an annular tear, and foraminal stenosis. I am hurting right where I had my fusions, and gradually above and below my Fusions.

[Susan1942]

So a lot going on for you. You have nothing to lose by giving this a go . Is it Neurosurgeon or Orthopaedic surgeon or even an Anaesthetist a pain clinic consultant who is doing it. As others have said they will ask a psychologist to see you too. Chronic pain is so debilitating and soul destroying.When I have a flare up sometimes it takes me a couple of days to engage like altering my medication or turning up.the stimulater. I will never be pain free but the idea is for me to be as pain tolerable

I am 81 now was 29 when this started..

If I were you I would give it a go..Good luck Sue

[Kjun54321 in reply to Susan1942]

I had a psychological Skype session. I was asked questions to gauge my thinking skills. Now I can verify to my coworkers that I’m sane. 🤓

Fingers crossed it’ll work. A seven day trial and can’t get the external part wet. No baths, but can sponge where needed.

[jonboys-back]

Hi, yes I’ve had one for a couple of years now. It was transformative in life generally but especially work and my social life. I am not pain free but can usually put that in the box. My post op was painful I’m sorry to say, but that is just a memory now. The implant isn’t without complications, some people have pain and discomfort for example. Good luck

[Kjun54321 in reply to jonboys-back]

I’m very itchy where the tape is around my back. Taking Benedryl but not easy when I have to work. The dressing pulls too. The vibration setting feels good, but can’t sleep with it and when I turn it off, I itch. At least my lower back pain is subsiding. That’s what really matters.

[Kjun54321 in reply to Kjun54321]

I had the trial and the SCS worked well. I will be having the permanent stimulated put in my back on 6/5/23. Fingers crossed that it continues to work. 🤞

[Susan1942]

I am just reading back and see that you have had the implant. Yes area where tape is used can be itchy but you will only have that for a very short time. I am glad that your lower back pain has improved and hope that is continuing. It is all a bit of a nuisance but once it is set at the correct level for you it will be fine. I do hope that things continue to improve Sue