L-4 Nerve root damage
 

I don't think my nerve pain is considered peripheral. My doctor told me that I stretched and damaged the nerve when I fractured my L-3 in an ATV accident. I have tried multiple steroid injections, a nerve root block, and two different types of medications. I currently just take pain pills all day. The next step is the testing before they do a dorsal column stimulator.
I don't believe the dorsal column stimulator is an option for me because of my type of work. We have a ranch and the work is strenuous and we drive a lot of machinery.
I was wondering if anyone else has had this type of injury, and if a second opinion from a hospital like John Hopkins, or the Mayo Clinic would be helpful?
Thanks for the help.

If the pain you have is the burning/tingling/hot-type nerve pain, then the stimulator WILL probably help you. Do you have pain down the leg?? If so, like I said it will probably help. If the majority of the pain is in the back, it's not likely to help as much. The stimulators help the MOST if the pain is mostly peripheral & if it's nerve related.

You should have a trial before they implant it. Has he mentioned a trial? It could last anywhere from a day or two to a week. That way you can assess the relief before they permanently implant it.

I hope for your sake that it DOES help. I wish you the very best! Let us know what happens, ok? God bless. Hugs, Lee

Hi Mike, Welcome to NT.

The Central Nervous System consists of the brain and the spinal cord; everything else is considered the Peripheral Nervous System.

I generally only speak for myself, but I don't think I would be out of line saying that many/most of us on this forum believe that second/multiple opinions are always a good idea, especially in contemplation of any kind/type of invasive procedure, and even moreso when the procedure involves the nervous system.

Is it safe to assume you've been through, or are in, Pain Management?

I would suggest/recommend that, in addition to multiple medical opinions, you become proactive and learn as much as you can about your specific condition/diagnosis, dorsal column stimulators (a.k.a. Spinal Cord Stimulator, SCS) in general and the one being proposed, the specific procedure(s), risks and complications of spinal surgery in general and those related to stimulators and the proposed procedure & unit, etc. (There are some folks here who can attest that some surgeons have been known to dismiss/skim/gloss over the "risks and complications" and "post-surgery/recovery" parts of procedures.) You have a right to have any questions and/or concerns addressed to your satisfaction and/but you may have to be assertive. I believe this is all important to the success and recovery of any procedure.

We all want physicians we can trust, and to trust in our physicians, but experience has taught me that even very experienced specialists - the best people in their fields - can sometimes be like the proverbial guy with a hammer who sees every problem as a nail (which itself is a good reason for getting multiple opinions).

I see that you found the SCS/Pain Pump forum. It has excellent resources, and is one in its own right.

Best Wishes and :Good-Luck:,

Doc

Thank you for your help. I will keep you posted on what the doctor tells me about this specific procedure. They are trying to get the trial approved through work comp. I should hear back in the next couple days if it is approved, and get an appt. I am currently not seeing a pain management specialist. I have to call the flakey nurse at the doctors office and have them mail me a prescription for pain meds. It would be so much easier if I didn't have to deal with doctors office anymore.

If you think that having a pain pump is going to save you from that, I'd ask that question in the pain pump group.

Doc