There has been a lot written here (mostly negative) about SCS, and I thought I would just share my experience with it. On Friday 10/2 I had a, WC approved (finally), Medtronics SCS trial unit installed with 2 leads, one high and one low for CRPS of my lower left leg. This was done by my PM at a local outpatient surgery center here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. BTW, my PM did his residency, some yrs ago, in Neurology under Dr Schwartsman, so I do not question his credentials. I was lucky to find him especially since he is WC approved. The Medtronics rep spent at least an hour with me, after the install, to go over settings and adjustments until we arrived at a good setting. Except for some low back post procedure pain (mostly from my arthritic old back) I immediately noticed that I had no pain in my leg or foot. On Saturday I took it pretty easy as my back pain was up there at an 8 and 9. On Sunday I felt really good. Today, again feeling great had to go and have the trial removed. Following are my results.
1.Friday nite went for an after dinner walk with my wife for the first time in 29 months.
2.Sunday, wore shorts (it's still in the 90's here) to the store with their low a/c. Haven't done this since the allodynia began about six months ago.
3.Wore shorts out by my pool and had a fan blowing directly on my left side. Same as above.
4.Took less oxycodone.
5.Put on and could wear a pair of leather soled shoes without the ¼” thick silicone orthotic, instead of sneakers for the past 29 months.
6.Had a constant and equal temperature of 90 degrees (normal) with my right foot.
7.Probably more that I have forgotten.
I have decided to have the permanent one implanted pending WC approval
BTW, by the time I drove home from the PM the pain was back. Oh well, jeans for a little longer.