External Electrodes?
 

Howdy friends!

A new member is inquiring about external leads being hooked up to his existing Boston Scientific SCS for shoulder pain. Evidentally his Rep told him this could be done. He wants to know if anybody here knows anything about this.

He posted up in the 'Stickies' at the top of the forum.
Here's his post if you'd like to respond to him:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post939781-43.html

Thanks!
Rae
:grouphug:

Oh My
 

External Leads sounds rather Borgish..... I know resistance may not be futile, BUT, the notion of having external wires seems like an accident waiting to happen, as it was for me with the external interferential stimulator and wires I was continually hooking on everything in sight.:eek:

Thank you Mark! :hug:
I knew you'd be the first to the rescue! :D

I didn't even think they would exist. I'm with Mark on this one too. I would imagine they would be a bi of a nuisance!!!!

I have a feeling I would get "caught up" on everything. As a patient, it sounds like an open door to additional problems. Of course, the doctors seem to be able to justify almost anything they want to. :mad: Excuse the fould mood. :rolleyes:

I'm confused how the leads would be external- wouldn't that be more of a TENS unit? The leads would need to be inside of the spinal cord for it truly to be a spinal cord stimulator is my understanding- am I wrong? Or maybe it would be the battery would be external? Either way, I'm with everyone else that this doesn't sound convenient at all.

Infection!?
 

Wouldn't external leads also be a huge infection risk? Hence our beloved trial stims being taken away around 7 day mark - any longer and the risk of infection goes way up (or so said my doctor when I asked why the 7-day stamp is put on trials). So that would be my biggest concern...

~Colleen

Or maybe I'm picturing this concept all wrong... if so please forgive me.

Indeed
 

You are spot-on with your way of thinking, Yellow. As a matter of fact, I asked the guy if it is a TENS unit.
I don't know if he'll even reply or post again. Lots of folks just seem to pass right on thru.

I think we're all kind of sittin here scratching our heads on this one.
I say we 'File 13' this one :D