There has been a lot written here (mostly negative) about SCS, and I thought I would just share my experience with it. On Friday 10/2 I had a, WC approved (finally), Medtronics SCS trial unit installed with 2 leads, one high and one low for CRPS of my lower left leg. This was done by my PM at a local outpatient surgery center here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. BTW, my PM did his residency, some yrs ago, in Neurology under Dr Schwartsman, so I do not question his credentials. I was lucky to find him especially since he is WC approved. The Medtronics rep spent at least an hour with me, after the install, to go over settings and adjustments until we arrived at a good setting. Except for some low back post procedure pain (mostly from my arthritic old back) I immediately noticed that I had no pain in my leg or foot. On Saturday I took it pretty easy as my back pain was up there at an 8 and 9. On Sunday I felt really good. Today, again feeling great had to go and have the trial removed. Following are my results.
1.Friday nite went for an after dinner walk with my wife for the first time in 29 months.
2.Sunday, wore shorts (it's still in the 90's here) to the store with their low a/c. Haven't done this since the allodynia began about six months ago.
3.Wore shorts out by my pool and had a fan blowing directly on my left side. Same as above.
4.Took less oxycodone.
5.Put on and could wear a pair of leather soled shoes without the ¼” thick silicone orthotic, instead of sneakers for the past 29 months.
6.Had a constant and equal temperature of 90 degrees (normal) with my right foot.
7.Probably more that I have forgotten.
I have decided to have the permanent one implanted pending WC approval
BTW, by the time I drove home from the PM the pain was back. Oh well, jeans for a little longer.

Thatts great news! Wishing you the best of luck with the permanent scs

Debbie

looks like you got good trial results. did the scs cut your pain by at least half?

the true test will come in one year. and there is only one way to find that out.

good luck,


mike

Hi Albie and Welcome to Neurotalk,
Thanks for sharing your experience with us on the SCS. I truly hope it all goes well. what about the pain in back when you drove home. Did that calm down, get worse? will be thinking of you.Let us know how you are doing.
Thanks again, loretta soft hugs

Albie,

I am glad you got such good results.

You are correct that there are a lot of negative comments about the SCS. There have been many people who had a very good outcome and they have written about it, but it seems that unhappy people are more vocal.

The same thing happens in business. Managers will hear a lot more complaints and comments from unhappy customers than from those who were satisfied. If we get what we expect, either a good meal at a restaurant, a product, or a medical procedure, we just go on our way and don’t say anything. After all, that is what we thought we should get.

Please let us know how things go with your permanent SCS. It is good to hear a success story once and a while.

Mike

Hey Al,

Welcome, to NT. I'm glad your SCS has been successful thus far and I hope it continues to work for you!
They work like medication when your body gets use to the stimulation you will need adjustments by the medtronics rep.
Take care,
Sherrie