OK, I have been scheduled to go for a psych evaluation to determine if I am a candadate for a Spinal Cord Stimulator. I am not sure I understand why I need a psych eval for the trial. If anyone out there can clear this up for me, I would appreciate it. I don't know too much about he SCS, and so I do not know if it will be helpful or not. I am experiencing SO much electrical shocking pain...I do wonder if an SCS will be appropriate. Any input out there?
Thanks!

Hi there.

My neighbor had signifigant nerve damage in her left leg... she now has a spinal cord stimulator. She mentioned that for her to get a SCS she had to have a psych evaluation. She said that they basically had to make sure she could mentally cope with the surgery and then the ongoing surgeries to replace batteries (though at this point in time I know that they have rechargable ones, that weren't available approx. 10 years ago). She said that she had to answer lots of questions- some quite dumb ones too- and afterwards the psychologist felt that she was a good canidate for the SCS, she had her head screwed on right and she could get the SCS.

I don't know if I have helped any, but if you have any more questions, please ask- because I can ask my neighbor more about it!

Hope your evening is going well!

My daughter had hers, the doctors want to make sure the patient is a good canidate. Thre are certain personalities that are not good canidates. Those that put all the apples in the basket to be the perfect answer to their pain to reslove...from what psych told daughter.

IT is a two part, that 500 question MMPI, and then interview.
It was really nothing....
I would be relaxed, open and and don;t worry.
Dianne

Hello,

It is standard procedure to complete a psych evaluation before being approved for a pain pump or an SCS. Don't be alarmed.

EJ

Hi and I agree with the others.
I had an extensive psych. evaluation before my pump was inserted. It is just as has been said, there are some people who are definitely not good candidates for having a foreign body implanted in them.
Good luck with it all.
Tayla

Tayla said basically what the shrink told me. There are some people (you wouldn't necessarily know if you are one of them) who would "freak" at having an electronic device inside them at all times. How the psych would be able to tell is beyond me, but that's what they claim.

Another thing they are screening for is someone with an unrealistic idea of a SCS as a magic cure. The SCS will probably reduce, but not eliminate, the pain and is only going to work on the area targeted. They want to make sure you won't spiral into a depression when you discover this, having thought you were going to feel perfect.

As DiMarie and kejbrew said, it is a standard test -- no big deal. Relax and be yourself.

Good luck.

Mike

I was talking with my neighbor last night about this subject, and that is what she was saying! So many people started freaking out because of the electonic device in their bodies (and their body fights it), and so the Medtronic company started making anyone who wanted one go get a psych eval to see if they could handle it.

She also was saying that it took a while for her to handle it after it was placed, as she couldn't bear the thought that "all this stuff" was inside her body! She told everyone not ask her about her SCS/ surgery until she was ready to talk about it. In her head she told herself that she had gotten her gall bladder removed, and she tried not to think of what really had happened. She had a rough time, but she is a strong woman and got through it!