Good evening..

I am new to this forum.

I come to this forum because I have just recently been told that a Spinal Cord Simulator is needed to help with my pain.

I have a L5-S1 fusion and a C3-C6 fusion. I do have diagnosed Degenerative Disc Disease, as does my Father.

What I have found that makes my story a little unique is that I take no prescription pain medication at all. I never have and refuse to.

However, I am both scared and anxious about a Spinal Cord Simulator. I am hoping to find other people who have both good and bad experiences with SCS.

Thank you so much!!

Hi ~ I've had a spinal cord stimulator implanted due to severe spinal pain. I had it implanted for 6 months. The stimulator works BEST if you have peripheral pain, i.e. pain in the legs (or arms, depending where they put the stimulator). It doesn't work well for JUST back pain. I had it for just 6 months because unfortunately I was too small, and the "generator" tried to work itself OUT of me. I just didn't have enough body fat to hold it in. So it had to be removed. It really didn't work as good as I had hoped tho. Most people that I've talked to online (which has been HUNDREDS) have had better luck with theirs than I did. So I imagine that you would have great luck!

The surgery is a cinch! I doesn't take long at all, and there's very LITTLE discomfort afterwards. I was up and about the same day, after just a couple of hours. The ONLY discomfort was where the "generator" was put in and that was MINOR pain. Where the leads were put in in the back wasn't sore at all, as I remember. You'll have lots of restrictions after the implant, while you're healing, so the leads don't move. Other than that, you can do what you want.

I encourage you do try it if you have lots of pain. I hope you have great luck too. PLEASE keep us posted on how you do, ok??? God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

Hi! Welcome to our community! Here is a forum where you might find some help regarding spinal issues:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

Good Morning,

I am quite thin myself. The doctor's comment about me was exactly this, "You are skinny, really skinny." At the time, I thought it was just a very nice compliment, now I feel like maybe he was "sizing me up" for where he would put the "power source."

This is all happening all very fast. I saw my orthopedic surgeon and he said there was nothing he could do for me surgically. While I was in his office, he actually texted to Pain Management doctor. Before I was even leaving one doctor's office, the other doctor's office was calling to make my appointment. I was able to get into the Pain Management doctor's office the very next day.

I only saw him for like 20 minutes before he ordered my Psychological Evaluation and MRI. It will kinda like a tornado, over quickly but lots to clean up after the appointment.

I have to say, I am just not sure what to do??? I need to be cognitively alert to do my job, so any kind of narcotic is really not an option. I do not like to be in pain and I do not like to live in fear.

What I hate the most, it this feels like it is completely taking over my entire life.. And no one around me understands how I feel.

I am sorry for just spilling my story here and now. My follow up appointment with Pain Management doctor on July 5, 2012. The Psych Eval and MRI are complete..

Hi Shelly and welcome to NeuroTalk. I see that Blessings2You has given you the link to the Spinal Disorders Forum...just click on the link and you'll be there.

You'll find a lot of good information there and support. I'm glad you have joined us.

We also have a SCS & Pain Pumps (subforum)
here is the link to it -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum118.html

Shelly, just because you're on a narcotic medication does NOT mean you won't be alert! They don't put you on a dosage that makes you loopy. They make sure that you can still function. If it's too much, they'll reduce it. They can't put you on something that makes you a moron all day. LOL They want to reduce your pain, but they want to make sure you can still function too! So don't be afraid to try medication.

If you're really small/skinny, I'm afraid that the SCS will do the same thing to you as it did to me. It just wouldn't stay IN me. And that's pretty scary. I'd be sure to ask them about this. It is pretty heavy for the skin to hold, and if you don't have adequate fat content, it just won't stay put. You HAVE to ask them about the fat content in your body -- ask them if they think yours is enough to hold the SCS!!! Make sure they answer you to your satisfaction, and they don't give you an "iffy" answer!!

Your pain mgt. doc should have told you whether he thought you were physically able to have this, as he is the one who will be supervising your SCS visits. I'm surprised he didn't say something about this. Very curious. HMMMM

At your followup appt. with the pain mgt. doc on July 5th, make SURE you bring this up. You've got to find out before you have it put in, obviously! I wish you the very best. Keep us posted, ok? God bless and I'll be waiting to hear from you. Hugs, Lee

Hi
I am looking at having a trial of the SCS as i have chronic lower back pain but i am now questioning if it will be suitable for me.
I do get peripheral pain in my legs but the main pain is in my back.

I would love to get by without medication as i feel like a junky with the amount of medication i am on, but i cannot function without pain relief as it is so debilitating.

i would love to hear how you get on with an SCS if you have it fitted before me.

(i have no idea of the etiquette on these threads so sorry if ive just popped onto your thread and waffled)