I have CRPS and I am a Spinal Cord Stimulator surviver. I say surviver because I unfortunately had a stimulator implanted before I knew of the dangers and risks of SCS with CRPS. Even more unfortunate my doctor suggested a second stimulator to control the spread to my wrist that occurred as a result of a revision surgery of the first SCS, which worked great for 20 months and then just stopped working.

I decided that one spread and one limb with dystonia as a result of a SCS was enough. My doc responded by telling me there was nothing more he could do for me.

I was very lucky to discover the posts on Neurotalk regarding tDCS. The SCS left me in a wheelchair. Although skeptical about tDCS, I read every clinical trial I could find, (unlike what I did with the SCS, that research was basically reading posts on forums of SCS "success stories" which consisted of a few people with CRPS who had not had their SCS for more than months or a few years, in addition to my doctor and the Boston Scientific rep who assured me that the procedure was effective and safe for CRPS patients.)

I have been using tDCS since the first week in January and I have regained full use of my hand and the alodynia in the wrist is gone. I am now on a walker and the dystonia on my foot as well as the spasms are greatly improved. My physical therapist believes we can now make some real progress. Also, the constant headaches and irritability have greatly lessened.

I am now of all narcotics!!!! The atrophy in my legs is improving.

I so much hope that other's who have found failure with every other treatment try tDCS-especially consider this treatment before ever risking greatly worsening your condition with a SCS.

I was telling a friend how my life would have been different if I had taken the Spinal Cord Stimulator checklist mentioned in the prior post to my doctor. She informed me that given my state of desperation I probably would have been too threatened to do that. Sadly, she is correct.

In truth the failure of the Spinal Cord Stimulator which caused the spread and put me in a wheelchair is not the issue. I was my own worst enemy and failed to advocate for myself. I Listened to what I wanted to hear. When the unit worked I decided that it was a God-given miracle.

Spinal Cord Stimulators for CRPS are not driven by divine intervention but rather driven by greed.

If you are considering a SCS and can't take the checklist to your doctor you, like me, do not really want to know the truth.

Please protect yourselves so you don't risk having my experience. Remember, short term relief (months to years) is the best you can hope for with CRPS/SCS. The procedure will do nothing to stop the progression of the disease and the chances are real good that you could end up like me and others who failed to ask the right questions.