Implanted spinal cord stimululator

[Jeaniem130]

Has anyone found an implanted spinal cord stimulator helpful for failed back surgery?

[Debs-000]

Hi there,,, i have had my SCS implant since 2013 and it has been great for back pain ,, i will admit its not 100% pain free with it in but it does take away alot of the pain and makes it bearable ,,, my first one last 10yrs and i just got a new battery implanted last sept and it was a easy op for that done ,, good luck

[Hunter1963 in reply to Debs-000]

Hi,I have had my scs for about 5 years,it helps with the every day pain but does little for the extra pain we all feel sometimes...I was originally on a lot of pain medication but as part of having it I have come off a lot,so I feel more human

[StaticNomad]

Hello to you.I had my SCS fitted in August 2017 after having had 3 previous spinal operations and numerous spinal injections and being on high levels of assorted pain relief including Fentanyl (Durogesic) patches.

My spinal injury is disc injuries to the L4, L5, S1 and S2 discs with now S3 starting to be problematic too .

The SCS has been fantastic for alleviating the level of referred pain, especially the chronic Sciatica I used to experience which was the main aim of my SCS. Since having it implanted my levels of medication needed for pain relief has fallen drastically and most is on a purely for needs basis and in the 7 years since I had the implant, I have only had to go back on Fentanyl twice, for a week each time for breakthrough pain relief.

The surgery is very much specifically targeted so for example the main emphasis with my surgery was a reduction in referred pain relief whereas a friend's SCS was for pain relief in her spine itself.

If you have the surgery, you will be offered a choice of a finite life battery or one that's chargeable through the skin. I opted for the finite life battery after advice and finally had the battery replaced in December 2023. It's a very simple 45 mins or so procedure and I was offered a much shorter wait for the replacement surgery if I was prepared to have it done under just local anaesthetic (long NHS post Covid waiting lists) . So I had the battery change under local anaesthetic, and was able to leave the hospital 5 hours later.

Obviously everyone is different and people's individual outcomes will be different as regards the overall effect but for me it has been excellent and has enabled me to get back to more exercise, especially with my legs, and to reduce the amount of pain meds I take on a daily basis.

Best wishes and keep smiling 😊

[Southerngirl2787]

I have a Nevro implant, and we are not liking each other. I'm rejecting it. I have 10+ spinal fractures, four fusions, cervical, lumbar to tailbone, 6 discs bone on bone, thoracic to lumbar, with a recent 4 level decompression, removal of numerous bone spurs, and release of nerve impingements, add in extensive nerve damage, four other surgeries for those. I have AS and Lupus, and a nasty Parathyroid tumor started this mess with the spine. The pain is constant and unrelenting, surgeon suggested the stimulator to bridge me to the next surgery, help relieve the 24/7 pain. It's implanted in my lumbar right hip area, and it has been painful since day one, getting worse after two months. A few days ago they put in numerous Kenalog injections to try to loosen the scar tissue around the implant, relieve the tightening pain caused from it. I could bend again for 24 hours, frozen back up again. It will have to come out very soon. It was worked it's way up to the top of the skin and has stayed bruised since the implant. To bump it, touch it can cause me to pass out from pain. Apparently if I had more fat, it may be easier, but I've not place for it really. I had high hopes this would offer relief, instead, it is pain, and in the last few weeks, hot spasms come with it all day and night as well.

[Brutus72 in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Hi Southerngirl2787,

I am so very sorry of what you are going through. I hope and pray to the universe that your Doctors come up with more solutions to help you. I have Sciatica that I have dealt with for the past 4 years and have had multiple epidural shots with minimal relief. I don’t know if I will ever be brave enough for surgery or just deal with this pain indefinitely.

All the best to you.

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to Brutus72]

Sciatica is awful pain too! I don't know how you walk or get around. The spasms stop me in my tracks as well, similar to sciatica...so the pain I understand, takes the breathe away. I'm 16 surgeries now, and each one takes more out of me...but I'm upright, can walk, and refuse to give up. Dealing with the pain wears on us too, I pray they find some answers for you!

[Brutus72 in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Thank you. Please keep me updated with your upcoming surgeries