Is it normal for my SCS to not help with major pain at times?

Thanks
Ashley

There have been times when a pain flare would be SO bad I had to turn my unit up to HIGH signal strength, and I found doing so would help even so. Of course, the side effect I had not counted on was my inability to use my legs at all in such a state of energy, so I would have to be in bed pretty much until things were back under control.

If you have nerve specific pain which the unit will not help even thus used, you probably need to speak with your pain doc office to ask for direction. Best plan I can contemplate.

Prayin,

I have a Boston Scientific SCS that was implanted Nov 30 last year. I realize that everyone's problems are different and therefore everyone's level of relief will be different, but the whole reason I joined this site was to see if anyone was sharing any of the same symptoms and side effects that I am. I happened to meet a few people in the waiting room of my surgeon last time I went in, and we had all had implants within weeks of each other. None of us were feeling much relief and still weren't even feeling as good as we did before the surgery. We also realized that the SCS did not help any of us with the major pain.

The nerve pain in the legs was better, we all agreed, but the major pain in our backs, especially those of us who have shooting pain going up the back as well as down the legs, did not get any relief. So, you are definitely, and unfortunately, not alone. All I can say is that I share your pain, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The simple fact that I knew I was not alone did help a little. Not much, but a little. I only hope that my sharing helps make you feel a little better too. I'm sorry for what you are going through.

Yes,I am going through an extreme flare where my scs does not even seem to touch the pain.