Meant to say earlier when I was telling you all about my visit to my Consultant that I mentioned to him that I needed more stimulation in my back. Now he did say to me that the stim is great for neuropathetic pain especially down the legs, we were only discussing my back btw because I know that some have the Cervical stim and different levels of back pain than me. Anyway he said that its hard to get it to work exactly how your back would need it, as backs are very complicated. I mentioned the heaviness, pains etc he said he was hopeful that some of the areas would be covered and I would get some relief, but that it can happen that it might not work either. But as regards my legs I should see a huge improvement, which I can report I have So let the fun begin with this programming

I know that, Rae.. I wasn't asking for medical advice.. I was just asking for locations where people have covered by their implants.. period.
I do plan to ask my doctor... and he hasn't said it wasn't FDA approved--several websites have.
I don't know if I have looked at that site or not.. I've looked at so many... I am in the middle of several things, but will check it out later. I know better than to think that total strangers (friends, yet strangers...) would be able to give me advice better than my doctor. I feel like people are calling me stupid... and I wasn't asking anyone to tell me anything about my specific case.
I don't have time to reread my post, but as far as I know, the only questions I asked are "Where does your implant cover pain in your body" and "has the FDA approved the SCS for back pain"... as far as I know, I didn't ask if it would work for my back pain or what anyone thought about my specific situation.

Thanks, those are the kinds of things I was trying to find out--what others have had experience with and if it has helped. Obviously I will be talking to my doctor about it. I guess I'm learning to not ask questions here and just wait to talk to my doctor.. it's not worth it anymore. Thank you for answering my questions! I'm glad you are getting relief in your legs!

Ok, I have included a quote from your first post for the sake of clarity.
I have highlighted the parts of your post that pertain to where we don't seem to see on the same page here....
First part >>> YES alot of people have it set up to cover their back.
In the same section you mention that you have 5 different things wrong with your back. By not knowing WHAT these 5 things are, there is no way to answer your question. There are certain types of failed back surgeries, etc that don't have high success rates, but we are not pro's. We have NO IDEA if your 5 conditions fall under this catagory. Talk this over with your spine doctor.
Second part of highlighted quote>>> you have read over and over that FDA has not approved the SCS for back pain.
Please provide us with links to back up this statement, at least for the sake of not further confusing people coming here looking for feedback.

Third part of highlight: YES! if you will READ thru posts you will see that it is very common to get coverage in lower back pain. BUT, since your case seems to be unique to most, I do not know if this pertains to you. Nor does anyone else on this board.

I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just asking for you to PLEASE read thru posts and information BEFORE you ask questions that have already been discussed.
No one is implying you are 'stupid'.
I am trying to help you locate posts that may be of help.
Have you read down the list of threads on topics that people have been asking:
Here is one I found regarding coverage:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread119290.html

You still haven't anwered whether or not you've read the link that has been offered to you, which is written from a bonified website talking about these units. This may be a good one to print out and take to your Dr to talk regarding your SCS appointment.

Regarding the multiple issues wrong with your back, you may get better feedback on the Spinal Forum?

We have done our best to help you in any way we can.

There is a lot you've got to learn about getting this implant.
Most people who have come to this forum either have already received the implant OR they have been online getting facts from the manufacturers and have received much teaching from their doctors.

I would gladly send you the hundreds of pages of notes and printouts I have made while I was searching out this unit and whether or not I felt it could help me....THEN i turned to patient forums for help and support, once I had the facts.
Not trying to bum you out here, just trying to keep the confusion down.
If a new person were to come to this forum see you saying that FDA hasn't approved for back pain opitions, it would confuse. And, according to your post (where i have highlighted) you said you've read over and over this is the case. PLEASE share the DOCUMENTION to back up this claim.

We care, we want to support you, we pray for answers foy you......but to be quite frank,....you need to have more informative details from your doctor and you need to study up as much as you can on the SCS implant. Or even the pain Pump for that matter.

If you have further debate on this, send me a PM, as i am not going to argue on a public form.
Caring
Rae

All I have to say is that I did not ask ONCE if this implant would work for my back pain. Period. I explained my situation, but did not ask for advice or whether or not this was right for me.

Everything that was highlighted backs up what I just said.

I have read several times that it is not FDA approved, and I am trying to find where I read that, but haven't found them again. I didn't bookmark those pages because they had no information that would pertain to me. Again, I asked if this had changed and if it was FDA approved--not if it would work for me. The replies I got said that yes, it was FDA approved for back pain. Wonderful! Now I know that it MAY be able to help me (obviously I will consult my doctor about it) and that it IS FDA approved.

I am not misleading anyone or claiming it is not approved. I'm just stating what I have read and asking questions. I didn't think there was harm in that. I have started to read the links in the sticky, but have not gotten all the way through. I will find another forum to discuss this, not with those who already have them, but with others who are seeking out information like I am. I definitely do not feel my questions are wanted here, and I can take a hint. I will not be back to this forum, and if a moderator or whoever has the ability, feel free to remove my posts from here. I'll stick to my regular forums or find another website to talk to people on.

Goodbye and take care.. I'll see you all around on the other forums.. thanks for all the information you've all given me. I greatly appreciate the answers and prayers. Take care.

I was reading the site Rae told me to look at, and found this:

"The FDA has not cleared SCS as a therapy for degenerative disk disease, herniated disks, peripheral vascular disease, and intractable angina; however, some doctors use SCS to treat the pain associated with these conditions."

That is exactly what I was talking about!!!! I must have read it and thought it wasn't approved for back pain in general, but I have degenerative disc disease and a herniated disc, so that's why I was asking.... I have 3 other things wrong with my back as well, but I'm guessing it won't help for my specific back problems. Obviously I will talk to my doctor/surgeon/rep/whoever as it gets closer--but I wanted to come back and show that I wasn't just being clueless and stupid... I knew I read this somewhere. In fact, I'm sure I've already seen this website and this is one of the many sites that said this.

This was from a post earlier in your thread

Glad you finally found what i was desperately trying to get to you!!
YES! THis is the piece of info that i was referring to that 'might' be what you were talking about.......

Since you've brought up several times the frustrations shared in this thread and have seemed to have a hard time just 'letting it go'......I'm hoping this puts you to EASE my dear friend!!

Please understand, I was trying to keep the confusion down......as you were making a generalized statement that FDA had not approved this for back Tx in general, which was completely not true.... many of us here are getting wonderful back relief from these units.

That's all.
Let it go, my friend.
No one ever thought you were 'stupid'......

We just have to sometimes be careful of what we say on here and claim it to be fact, without having links to back up what we are saying.

So, I'm glad it finally connected - that piece of info within that sight that I wanted you to read, as it did mention the FDA to some degree

You've never been perceived to be 'clueless and out of your head....'

We are all learning together!

Rae

Rae
While I appreciate that, and have already let it go, I do still stand by what I said when I read over and over and over that it wasn't FDA approved. And while I may have been generalizing, and that was my mistake--I still feel that I never made a claim, but was simply asking if the information I was finding was correct.

Maybe I am alone in my thinking, but to me, asking "Is it true that this is not FDA approved" does not equal a claim that it is absolutely not approved. And that's all I've been trying to get across this whole time.. I was asking a question and looking for an answer--not condemnation and accusations for something that I never stated to be fact--I did indeed read it several places, but I have a feeling it was very old information and that is why I was asking.

It wasn't just one website I found it on... that's all I'm saying.

Anyway.. it doesn't really matter because I have found my answer... but just felt it was important to point out that information and show where I made the mistake.

Whether a governmental agency has spoken on the issue was and became moot. I had overwhelming pain uncontrolled in all truth despite a large amount of prescribed meds. Life had become my prison cell bedroom. Prone-ness was my lot in life. I wondered whether God had nothing more for me. I had begun to despair. Crying was frequent. I was then allowed due to my neuropathic presentation to consider the use of the Boston Scientific stim unit.... well, that is, once I knew it was what was the flavor of the day on my stim trial date.... and I ultimately leapt at the opportunity.

I have shouted to God for joy and gratitude that this is now part of my restorative life. Through this, I have hope renewed.

Glad am I that Rae and Sarah Mae are communicating on this. That point of soreness now may wither into the past as a lost memory fades to nothingness and we can move forward reconciled to the question whether the docs believe in reviewing Sarah's case that this SCS article might maybe provide significant relief from life long pain. If so, Hallelujah!

Praying,
Mark56 PJ

My two cents is that when I was last programmed, my rep. said he had to make sure that he was getting the settings working on the right nerves because if he hit the sciatic nerve it could be very painful and the SCS would cause more pain than it would help. He said he has to be careful when figuring out what nerves to target for pain relief. If he tries to get it more into my legs/feet, then I lose some relief in my lower back. Thus, they can sometimes only get us "good" relief rather than "wonderful" relief.