I wanted to know has anyone experienced itching skin ( mine is on my shoulder blades) following having a spinal cord stimulator fitted.
I had mine fitted in 2018 and for some years now both my shoulder blades itch nearly all the time and drive me crazy, there is no rash or sign of anything on the skin apart from when I scratch it which I know probably shouldn’t but sometimes I can’t help myself, so I would be interested to hear from anyone who has experienced the same or similar problem.
I am assuming that the itch is where the battery/generator is sized. My implant is just at the top of my hip. Really just at waist level. I have had itching over the years First had it in 1991 20 years after the damage done at difficult forceps delivery. The original was fine Over the years the generator has been changed usually at 5-7 years. The latest one was implanted last June. It is rechargeable and I am not as happy with it. I find it a bind having to sit in one position with the recharger in an exact position. It takes several hours. It is smaller and more compact.
I have no itching whatsoever currently. If it is well healed are you using any product to deal with the itching. Most of all I hope that you have a reduction in pain.level.
My pain is reasonably controlled but I take Meptid and amitriptyline 75 mgms at night. I use ice packs intermittently over the pain area. I know I will never be pain free but it has made my pain more tolerable which is worthwhile.
I would speak to your consultant or ask at your pain clinic specialist. People do present with problems and they could well suggest a product that you could try
Good luck Sue
Hi sorry i didn't reply sooner i have been in hospital, my itching is on my shoulder blades but does sound like it could be to do with it. I only had mine fitted in 2018 and have always had the rechargeable battery it is a bit of a pain (no pun intended) but you do get used to it i try to charge when I'm standing if i can, It has made a big difference in my pain levels i still have to take a lot of pain medication Pregablin, Co-codamol and Amitriptyline but even so.
Take care Vivien
Thanks Vivien Good to hear from you. The fact that your pain has improved makes it well worthwhile..I have had a problem where even if the unit is off I am still getting buzzing particularly in.my feet. The rep from Medtronic and the pain clinic seem to thing that is not possible. They have given me a new recharging as it was taking 7-8 hours to recharge from empty to 100%> I received it last week and the time to recharge is much shorter. I still prefer my old implant.
Despite what they say I am still getting buzzing in my feet when it is all switched off. She said the only way to check if there is a fault is to remove it.
I have now got 2 programmes. A where they say I should not experience any power and B which is like what I have always had for all those years. My pain control is reasonable. They are to ring me on 1st November and find out how I am. Despite the situation I don't really want to have the battery removed and replaced.
I plod on as there is really not much option.
Stay safe and well.
She
We do have to plod on Susan don’t we, I have three programs my device is from Boston Scientific one program the buzzing one I never use as I can’t stand the feeling but the other two programs are with no feeling at all and work well.
Take care and look after yourself.
Vivien
Mine is Medtronic and I have always had a strong current which I needed to keep my pain under control. I am very used to it but I don't like the fact that if I need a bit of a break from it I can't have it any longer. When it is switched off the current is a lot less but nevertheless it is there. They deny that this is possible but I have had mine since 1991 so over 30 years so I know what it feels like. The only way to do anything about it is to remove the unit and check it. I have charged mine up tonight and from 50 % it took just 2 hours so much better, I have got a telephone consultation on the 1st of Nov so will see how I get on, I hope that you continue to have good pain relief, Sue X
Hi Susan im glad the charging was better. I was thinking about that you can still feel the current when it is switched off and wondered if has anything to do with the brain and what i mean by that is that my Pain Consultant explained to me that when you have chronic pain which i had to start with in my left leg but after time the brain then mirror images it to the other limb which technically shouldn't have pain and then it kind of memorises the pain and the example of this was when someone loses a limb they still feel pain which i think is called phantom pain which is where the stimulator comes into play as it blocks the signal to the brain that tells you that you are in pain, you may already know all this but where i was going with it is that where you have had yours for so long could it be that when you have it turned off the brain has done the same thing by memorising the current, might be worth asking your consultant if this could be the case, it sounds plausible to me. Good luck with your appointment. x
I'm curious about your stimulator. My pain management doctor had offered it to me. It is marketed under the name Proclaim XR. Personally, I refuse to have anything embedded in my body unless absolutely necessary. I just get steroid shots and nerve blocks.
About the itch. When I was doing PD dialysis, I would get what is called "referred pain". When the dialysate fluid was draining from me through the abdominal catheter, I would get pain in my shoulders. Pressure or stimulation of nerves in certain parts of your body will affect someplace else on your body. Think of acupuncture.
Thank you for your reply sorry it has taken me so long to reply. If your pain is under control with what you are having then I wouldn’t either unfortunately mine wasn’t, my device is Boston scientific. Again thank you for your help.
Hi allReading all your comments my sympathies go out to you with long charge times.... buzzing sensations etc.
I was part of the clinical trials for Nevro's SCS in 2010 at Guys St Thomas...London.
My recharge time used to be between 45-60mins but since a new battery upgrade last year it is down to 20-30mins...I do this every night as I get in bed.
The itching for me is generally at its peak 40-80mins after taking my drugs (Longtec) and I experience it all over my face and scalp..(how I would expect having ants all over my head).
To all my SCS friends out there I'm sure this sentiment is true to us all......whatever the charge time....whatever the itch.....it's way ******* better than the chronic pain we all endured before SCS relief.
Stay safe
Be lucky
Spinal cord stimulator experiences
Trial spinal nerve stimulator 
