I would like some input on a decision I have to make. I have used the 25 microgram Fentaly patch for pain for 8 years. It literally hs saved my life, as my pain was so intense before that I was contemplating suicide. A year or so ago I added Lyrica which has also helped a lot. I am now able to be out of bed for about 5 hours a day. If I boost my meds by adding Darvon to my regimen, I can extend that another 3 or 4 hours, but I have to take a big dose. I can't increase the fentanyl as I have side effects of tiredness and daytime sleepiness. It also make me a little depressed.

My family doctor sent me to a new pain doc to see if he had any ideas for getting better pain control with less side effects and not take so much Darvon. He tried me on methadone as an alternative to fentanyl, but it made me even sleepier. So now he is recommending that I consider a spinal cord stimulater. I am very apprehensive. I would love to get off drugs that make me sleepy and tired, but.... Surgery of any kind carries some risks, and it sounds like you have a lot of precautions with the stimulator, like not bending or twisting and it might be a big hassle. And,,,,,I haven't found any good research studies on how effective it might be for neuropathy -- like what percentage of neuropathy suferrers get significant relief. And... i am afraid that they will make me go off all my pain meds at some point in the process. I am not a drug seeker, but I am very afraid of suffering terrible pain without medication, even for a short time. I don't think any doctor believes how severe my pain is. It is hard for me to believe it, since I look normal.

Here is my question for you guys: What should I do? Ha. See, it's an easy question! Should I be satisfied with the current medication status (for which I am very grateful), or should I try the stimulator? Help!

Hi Dakota:

Did you know you can give this spinal cord stimulator thing a trial run??

Click on this. It expains everything.

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/s...inestim02.html

who know with any of this stuff-
one doc was ready to put one in for me next week
the other doc said dont do it-too many problems.
i am not on the pain meds you are-i wish i was-i wish i could tolerate them.
you can have a trial, then it is permanent. some people get relief.
i read on another forum that it works, and on another it doesnt.
i would talk to other people who have your same diagnosis and symtoms and have the scs and see what they say.
my doc said he would try to get in to cover both legs and feet but wasnt sure -what kind of an answer is that?
do these docs have them in their backs?
never the less, it must be working for some, or they wouldnt be prescribing them left and right.
best-
steff

I do know that Jerry Lewis wore the Medtronic device. He had it implanted. He said "I have never felt such relief in all my life".

So he found SOMETHING that worked!!!!

Thank goodness for that!!

Melody, thanks so much for that website. I had looked at a couple of others, but the information on them wasn't that good. Steff, I wish you could tolerate some pain drugs, too. Sounds like you might be a candidate for the stimulator, too. I go back to my doctor next Friday. I guess I will at least talk to him about it.

Hi Dakota:

Years ago, when Alan and I were on a journey to find out why he had neuropathy, we went to back doctor after back doctor. No one would help us. They did try the epidural on him. Didn't do anything for his pain (because the problem is auto-immune) and not his back.

But one doctor tried to talk to us about the Medtronic device and gave us some brochures. Alan didn't want to do it.

Don't know who is using it now, but hey, if it helps with the pain, why the heck not.

I will never understand one thing. Alan has his pn between certain toes. Not any other part of his body. Oh, he gets the burning feet sometimes, but mostly it's the stabbing, burning, buzzing, between his toes.

I cannot understand why they can't give him trigger point injections between his toes. I did ask his podiatrist and we were told "no, it does not apply to him". Now why not?? I've never gotten a good answer.

Oh, we are going to a meeting in September. I'm starting a new thread. Looks very interesting.

Melody

I dodn't know anything about trigger point injections. Wish I did.

HI There's a book called Pain Erasure by Bonnie Prudden. It's all about Trigger Point therapy. My husband did Trigger point therapy for my back and it helped tremendously with my low back spasms and bladder spasms.
As far as the spinal cord stimulator......I say go for it! If it doesn't work take it out. But I'd give it a try.....at least the trial and see if it works at all.
I do know what you mean about relying on pain meds and not wanting to be without them. I have a sleep disorder and I panic if I'm low on my sleep meds. I've had the problem for 40 yrs and taken meds for it for 30 yrs....
Let us know what you decide to do.......we're with ya, with what ever you decide!

Thanks, Roxie. I am really frightened of the intensity of my pain. Not only is it unpleasant (to say the least), but I don't think it is healthy to have that level of pain for more than a few minutes. I think that it is bad for the heart and brain and that it worsens future pain. And it affects my mood long term, I think. I think that it changes "things" in the brain, I'm just not sure what.

I agree. I'm having bad pain tonight and it affects my mood and everything about 'me'.....it's just the pits!
I would think that if you tried the spinal cord they would slowly lower your pain meds to make sure you weren't in pain. That would be something to talk to the dr. about ahead of time!