I think it's about 10.000 euro (AFAIK) under our health care system, and it's not refunded at all for CRPS type 1. It is completely refunded for CRPS type 2. So unfair! You have to be at a stage where there is no longer a thing that works or it's not even considered.

I agree with Bassman, and dealing w/tos.
Although these things are lots of money, it gets spread around.
And, that IS the way the medical community does it. But, that's our system in this country.
And, it's not gonna change drastically, anytime soon.

So on one hand, you can think the doctor, a "salesman" and looking for extra income.
Or, you can think he just wants to get you to a more normal life, because he's seen this over and over,
and knows the eventual trail it will take.
Stop the pain now.


It was said here and I agree, everyone needs to have a good relationship with their doctor, (My doctor, I could invite to dinner), and do the best for YOU.

RSD/TOS or any of these pain maladies are not cut and dried.

Get tight with your doctor, and make your decision!

Asking here is a good idea too, of course!

Good luck!
And, Good Feelings,

Pete

September 27, 2007

Medtronic, Again Questioned Over Payments to Doctors, Is Subject of Senator’s Inquiry

By REED ABELSON

An influential senator is raising new questions about payments made to spine surgeons by Medtronic, one of the nation’s largest makers of medical devices.

Medtronic, which reached a $40 million settlement last year with the federal government over accusations that the company had paid illegal kickbacks to doctors for using its spinal devices, has continued to pay doctors millions of dollars in consulting fees, according to a lawyer representing a whistle-blower involved in the case.

Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, has written to Medtronic, asking the company to explain, among other things, any payments made since the period covered by the settlement. The letter is part of a broad inquiry by Mr. Grassley into the financial ties that often exist between doctors and the companies that make medical devices and drugs.

Medtronic defended the continuing payments as legitimate compensation for work the doctors have done. Medtronic said it welcomed the opportunity to speak with Mr. Grassley and his staff. . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/bu...onic&st=Search

No comment, other than to acknowledge that this involved a product line separate and apart from its SCS products, although according to its last SEC Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q) the two lines are curently in the same division of the corporation, and Medtronic is, I am informed, at least one of if not the dominant player in the SCS industry. And although the suit was subsequently dismissed on the grounds that the plaintiff was not a ture "whistle blower," where the court found that it had copied the allegations of two other lawsuits filed within the preceding 18 months, which the government subsequently settled with Medtronic, see, also:

January 24, 2006

Whistle-Blower Suit Says Device Maker Generously Rewards Doctors

By REED ABELSON

A prominent surgeon in Wisconsin was paid $400,000 a year by Medtronic for a consulting contract requiring him to work just eight days. Another doctor in Virginia received nearly $700,000 in consulting fees from Medtronic for the first nine months of 2005.

These doctors work in a growing field, complex back surgery, and this makes them particularly valuable to the spinal-implant division of Medtronic. In recent years, the company has spent tens of millions of dollars on consulting contracts and other types of payments to them and numerous other prominent surgeons, according to papers filed as part of a whistle-blower lawsuit. The suit contends that some of these payments were made to attract or retain the doctors' business.

Medtronic, based in Minneapolis, is one of the country's largest medical device makers, with $10 billion in annual sales.

The documents shed new light on a matter that has troubled the medical device industry for years: the assertion that companies employ a variety of financial ruses to pay doctors who use their devices, a practice that medical and legal experts say is unethical and possibly illegal. But despite industry efforts to clean up such practices, the documents and accusations made by former Medtronic employees suggest that the problem persists and may have gotten worse.

In a written response, a spokesman, Rob Clark, said, "We take these allegations very seriously and we do not tolerate conduct that is illegal or unethical." Consulting arrangements with doctors to improve devices, he said, "are critical, in our view, to the delivery of state-of-the-art health care and are perfectly legal."

Medical device makers, with billions in sales at stake, have for years actively courted physicians who prescribe their products and recommend them to other doctors. Companies frequently compensate doctors through generous consulting fees and speaking honorariums, or by underwriting their trips to attend medical conferences, former employees and industry consultants say.

The internal Medtronic documents filed as part of the suit offer an unusually detailed glimpse of the intense campaign that device makers wage to win doctors' loyalty. They show that Medtronic spent at least $50 million on payments to doctors over some four years, through June or later in 2005.

* * *

In addition to consulting fees and other payments, the lawsuit said, Medtronic played host at medical conferences where the "principal objective" was to "induce the physician, through any financial means necessary" to use its devices. According to the Medtronic documents, the company closely tracked the use of its devices by the doctors who attended the conferences, choosing some for "special attention."

* * *

Medtronic's overtures to doctors often began when the surgeons were still in training, Ms. Poteet said. The company commonly paid for doctors to attend any of 200 professional meetings a year. If the doctors wanted to go snorkeling or play golf, the sales representatives or Medtronic employees almost invariably paid for the expense, she said.

When the doctors visited Memphis, she said, Medtronic employees would take them to a local strip club, PlatinumPlus, disguising the expenses as an evening at the ballet. . . . [Emphasis added.]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/bu...gewanted=print

Hi SunshineGirl,

I knew that the SCS was a LOT of money after speaking to some of my other online RSD friends as some had had to take out a loan etc to be able to fund it.

I agree with what the others have said about it probably being too soon to consider the SCS. It sounds like your doctor is trying to push you for it rather than try any other treatment options that are less invasive first. I know most doctors get so much money back for implanting an SCS so that is probably why you doctor is wanting to try it so soon.

My mum and I have spoken to my doctor about the SCS before and he said that he wouldn't even consider it unless I was over the age of 16 (i'm only 14 at the moment) as it is far too invasive. He also said that in my case, he didn't think it would work and could possibly make me worse (I had a HORRIBLE time with the nerve blocks so my doctors thinking is that I would probably have a similar reaction to the SCS). Over here in the UK, they will only do an SCS if you have tried every other procedure.

I wish you the best of luck with your decision. Don't let anyone force you into doing something you don't want to - it's YOUR body and only YOU can make the decisions!

Take care!

my husband and i both have rsd...........mine is in remission so to speak............ my pain is very tolerable.....................

he has an scs which was $64,000.00 but he is very glad to have it........it has only relieved a small amount of the pain, but it has given him the use of his left arm...........he was unable to lift a coffee cup, take a shower, wear his ring, and the color changes were awesome................but with the scs he is able to use his arm................he still has pain, but says he is grateful for the scs..............................he is now going for more leads, to cover the right arm now too......................

do lots of research, and don't allow anyone to talk you into something YOU are not comfortable with............

I had my SCS put in 1 yr. ago this month. I tried everything and was a hair away from a wheelchair. i had bc/BS and it paid most of it. Mine was done by a neurosurgeon,and is not the same type that pain DRs put in. In short-i have had much relief-can put on a shoe and go for short walks now. I still have sensitivity and other issues that still pop up. Hope this helps

Thanks everybody for the advice//

i just came back from my pain med clinic 2day,,They called the surgeons office in albuguequer,,at first they said if i wanted a consultation on a scs,,i was given a date to see them in 1 week,,then they called my dr office back saying im out of net work and the surgeon would need the whole amount of front in cash to do the scs, and wouldnt take my insurance ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i guess that God just gave me my answer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

We're all in sad shape.
And, to have these predatory drug/medical equipment/insurance companies, all add their
nickel's worth to our problems, contorts the facts.

We should be able and allowed, to make decisions, based on our own best interests!
Of course, that's in lala land.
But, if our own doctors won't lead us in the correct direction, what hope do we have?


Pete
asb

Pete
Thats why my hope is in God alone,,,,read what he says about trusting in man isaiah 2:22
your friend in Jesus christ our Lord,,,,,bobber,,,,,,,,,,,P.S ,,,,,,, pete do you remember the lyrics to the song "War pigs" [black sabath]