Hello,

My name is Julie. I am 52, and have suffered for about 15 years with absolutely debilitating back pain. I have a couple of ruptured disks around L4 and 5, and loads of nerve pain. After being dependent on opiods (oxy, roxy, vic, diladud, you name it), walking with a cane since I was 35, and have procedure after procedure (over 30) trying to fox the problem, My pain management specialist suggested that I try a SCS made by Boston Scientific. My trial period was absolutly wonderful. I saw a 60 to 70% reduction in both my pain, and the drugs I had to take on a daily basis. I was able to do things that I havent in years...... (you all know the benifits)...... I then had the permenent SCS by Boston Scientific put in about a year ago. From the start, the permenent wasn't as effective as the trial. Still, I was living a much better life than before. I found that although I was offered "endless" programs before I had the implant, Once I had it put in i was told "Oh, I'm sorry it's not working well, but there are some things we just cant do". Then.... The lead slipped. During the revision, I contracted Spinal mennengitus. I was in the hospital for over a month, and really was, very very close, by all accounts, to losing my life. Because the SCS was a forign body, and my infection was so bad (my doc said it was the worst he had ever seen in a patient that surived, <and this is a big city "infection" hospital BTW>) My SCS had to be removed! This left me in a much worse spot than I had ever been in before, with even more pain. Now I have been infection free for 6 months, and I am seeing my pain managment doctor (who did the first SCS) as well as the surgeon who took it out when it was messed up. My pain management doc is suggesting that I try another Boston Scientific SCS, and says that he doesnt know anything about the Medtronics brand. BUT, my surgeon, (who my pain managment doc has GREAT respect for), says that I should go with the Medtronics one which requires that a peice of bone be taken out and the unit "fused" to my bone. This makes me very nervous as I have seen the effects of having one removed that WASN'T fused to my bone, but only sewn. So, a few questions,

1. Does anyone prefer Medtronics or Boston Scientific?

2. Does Medtronics offer any kind of "Trial" like Bost. Sci did?

3. My PM Doc says that while Bos Sci had the "Vibration" sensation that seemed to work for me during the trial, The Medtronics one (which he isn't familiar with) doesn't vibrate but instead uses some "different sensation" which he couldnt describe. Any Experience??

4. Do both companies offer "sewn in" leads like I had OR the kind "fused to my bone" (I'm kind of scared of the "fusing" part. It just seems so permenent)?

I lead a pretty active lifestyle (gardening, walking, playing with grandkids, decorating, So maybe the fused one is the way to go for me. I'm just scared, that if this one had to come out, I'd be completely bed bound for life!

My Doctor has an appt available to do a surgury for Dec 3rd. So I have to make a decision very soon. I'm sorry this is a long post, but you guys seem so experienced and helpful, and I'm a little bit scared of going through all this again. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you so much for reading all of this, and I hope you are all doing OK with your pain today. I know that just living a life, can be a day to day battle.

-Julie

I wish I could provide in a single human the comparison you seek, but I am not your Medtronic/Boston Sci compare slate. Instead, I have been a poster kid [most unofficially] for the success of the Boston route with the paddles installed via laminectomy at T8-9. In two plus years I have not had any issue with movement, twinge of desparation, or draw back from the lami, and through it I have managed to recognize the blessings of life restoration.

On your part, I feel tremendous empathy regarding the horrible pain you have known, and friends here, Saffy, Sinead, Pooh, and Tchr012, among others would surely be able to share thoughts regarding the removal of your stim.

Medtronic? Rrae, our benefactress who was able to secure the opening of this forum is a Medtronic user, and has dealt with migration of lead and such. While her unit does provide help, it is not complete help, as she suffers spasms. She will most assuredly be along to chime in and offer thoughts because that is what she does!

The great upside of this place is we are populated with a good many folks who join hands, arms and shoulders to lift one another up through thick and thin, hard times and experiences and joys. I am thrilled you are part of us now, and welcome you with a big being aware you need to be treated gently. Look for others to come along and share the wealth of caring and thoughts from experience. It is well worth your while.

Agape,
Prayin,
Mark56

Julie, so sorry about all you have been through. You sound like quite a fighter. I Did have L4-5 fusion and laminectomy about 6 years ago. Still was left with quite a bit of pain. Am on Oxy every 6 hrs and percocet for breakthru pain. Had a trial SCS a few years ago; but did not help so never had the permanent implanted. Also, knew I was going to have future surgery and would not be a good candidate to try again.

Just want to wish you the best and let you know my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Gerry

Welcome Aboard!

So glad you found us! There's plenty of support here, and we're a friendly crew who've all been at this important crossroads you now face. I'm so sorry for what you've been thru! You've fought quite a battle, all in the name of simply wanting a better quality of life. Hopefully this is exactly what you'll be getting this time around.

From reading your post, I'm assuming you initially had the percutaneous (under the skin) leads, 'sewn in', as you worded it, which is what I've got....and like Mark mentioned I ended up with a migrated lead. Lead migration is pretty common with the simple percutaneous lead placement.
NOW tho, it appears your Dr wants to secure the leads in better by doing the laminectomy, which will certainly be better for you in the long run, especially that you are pretty active. This surgery is a bit more involved and will have very strict 'restrictions' while recovering.

Several folks here have Medtronic SCS's (including moi). I'm very happy with mine. Others have Boston Scientifics, St Jude's, etc and are happy with them as well, tho each person here has a unique story to tell. Lots of us have had revisions and tweaks, which is pretty standard in terms of maintenance.

To answer your Q's the best I can....

Yes, Medtronic offers the trial procedure just as Boston Sci does. (all of the manufacturers do as far as I know).
The stimulation sensation will be similar to Boston Sci. However, you can obtain the different sensations depending on how you utilize the pulse rate/amplitude (slower will be more of a 'thump thump thump' and faster will be more of a constant 'buzz')

So, as Dec 3rd approaches, is this going to be a trial?

As far as advice, I'm sure you'll get plenty of great input from all our friends here.
The most important thing IMO is having a very good and trusting relationship with your Dr. Keeping good communication is also very important.
December 3rd isn't that far away. Do you feel as tho you are being rushed into this?

However this ends up coming together for you, you've got 'experience' on your side, so you pretty much know what to expect in the OR when your Rep is present with the rest of the medical team. Please keep us posted on this!
We truly care!

Rae

I used to sit in front of the black and white Television and watch Walter Cronkite religiously impart the news.... kinda like Rae bringing in her report on Medtronic "just as I knew we could hope!" She is such a wonderful bundle of energy and joy while sharing boatloads of information. It is helpful too that hers is Medtronic, now we just need someone to fess up and remind us whether they have experienced BOTH Med and Bost!

Calling all comers!! Belly up and report!
Thank you much,
Mark56

Mark, I'll have you know....
My head has swelled the size of a very large WATERMELON! The accolades you bestow upon me has me so top-heavy that I'm sitting at a 90-degree angle unable to lift my head off the desk!
.....people are starting to give me strange looks!

Could be a case of Sponge Rae Square Lowriders.......

but then I only know about the Sponge Bob phenom because we have a 5 year old house guest.

I will stop.....

Oh, and has anyone read the one about Rae coming alongside and aiding pretty much ANYONE who lifts finger to computer key around here? Yup, it happened to me. It is the reason I am here abouts....
Yup,
Mark56

thanks for the belly laugh
have a great Thanksgiving

someone who cares

Ahhh yes! We all need a good belly-laugh from time to time.

Eva, you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!
May our pain levels be low and our spirits stay high!

Rae

And our prayers are ever with the group that life, love, peace, diminished pain may be part of the blessing this season.
Mark56