NeuroTalk Support Groups - Looking to speak with someone that has had a medtronics scs put in recently.

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- SCS & Pain Pumps (https://www.neurotalk.org/scs-and-pain-pumps/)

- - Looking to speak with someone that has had a medtronics scs put in recently. (https://www.neurotalk.org/scs-and-pain-pumps/192919-looking-speak-medtronics-scs-recently.html)

Mark I have paddles with 20 contacts. Two of the contacts were down in the thoracic. I'm not sure that that means. They programmed around them.

It is my understanding that paddles take longer to recover, but are better in the long run.

TK

lets see if I can post links now

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rrae (Post 1009957)

Wow! You're getting one that allows you to get an MRI, how wonderful! Boy, technology really does move right along.
You brought up a good question regarding replacing the battery and whether or not it will be compatible with the older generation electrodes.

Rae
:grouphug: BTW, I bet you have enuf posts to be able to post that link. If not, you soon will be.

Hopefully this works for you http://professional.medtronic.com/mr...m#.UhrPCSGJBgo also here is another interesting page .
http://professional.medtronic.com/mr...index.htm#xray

Hi MessyMark,

I do hope the SCS offers you some pain relief!! I am now 7 weeks post implant of the Medtronic RestoreSensor w/Adaptive Stim. My trial lasted 5 days and honestly, I knew within minutes of the trial placement that I would go forward with the permanent. During the trial my pain went from a 9/10 down to a 4/5 which was amazing! The trial isn't IMO exactly a true test, since you are limited with movements due to the fragility of the leads as they aren't really very secure in the test phase and naturally we tend to limit ourselves during this time. The procedure itself wasn't a big deal compared to other surgeries/procedures I had been through. Just be sure to check the site daily for signs of infection and keep a pillow or another cushion handy to pad yourself when leaning against things. The trial SCS doesn't give you all the programming possibilities that you will have if you do go forward with the permanent - I was pleasantly surprised to have the additional programming once my permanent was installed.

After my trial the permanent was placed about 2 weeks later. I discussed at length the pros/cons of both types of leads. What I was told is that the paddle leads leave you with a more difficult and sometimes impossible surgical revision should one ever become necessary. They explained that it would be much better to risk migration using the standard leads than to start with paddle.. leaving me a plan "B" and "C" should they migrate. My concern was that if the SCS worked as intended that I would get back to the many things I enjoy like snow skiing, running, mt. biking and mountaineering & bow hunting all of which seemed like they could cause early migration. My surgeon said that as long as I allowed 3-4 months of healing that I could return to these activities with standard leads and that the risk for migration is essentially the same anytime you put repetitive stress on them, so I went with the standard type... lol.. I like having a plan "B"!

The recovery for the permanent wasn't a big deal either as far as pain compared to other surgical procedures. My only post op issues were fluid/swelling around the leads and battery for about 4 weeks. This was monitored closely for infection and additional antibiotics were given and eventually this subsided. I have 2 leads placed and they did cause pain in my back at that area of the spine for a good 4-5 weeks. Not grueling pain but, more of an annoyance. I think much of that pain comes from trying so hard to keep our backs straight during the healing process and once I was able to stretch a little more this has mostly gone away. A cushion or some type of padding will be your friend!!

I am so happy for this technology as it allows me to live much more comfortably than without it. I still have breakthrough high pain levels sometimes but, at least I'm not at a 10 all day any longer. I praise God everyday for the benefit of the SCS!!

My only complaint is the issue I am having with the early battery discharge as I am having to charge it daily. Doable sure.. but annoying.

Regarding MRI's with this device: The only MRI that will be allowed will be a HEAD MRI and even so, a certain MRI machine must be used and a specific protocol followed. This wasn't explained to me properly when I was first informed of the ability to have an MRI. They made it sound like any MRI was okay.. this was later explained (after the implant) in more detail and honestly kind of ****** me off. Ask many questions and read your precautions thoroughly before making your decision.

I do hope it works well for your pain!!
Tessa

Wow, Tessa, daily?! I have a different kind so I can't say for sure, but that seems like a lot.

I charge my thoracic, which I use at a much higher frequency about once a week and my cervical about once a month.

I will say before my revision I was charging my thoracic two to three times a week. I just had it cranked super high to feel relief. Sems like the battery might have a problem, though. I had a battery surgery. It was pretty easy compared to all the other surgeries I've had.

I agree that they work so great in bringing pain down. My scs usually cover my arm and leg pain. Unfortunately, my rsd is systemic. :( I'm just glad that some pain is covered which is better than none. I hope your battery issue resolves itself soon!

My daughter's name is Tess, so I love your name!!

TK

:hug:

I am glad you are getting some relief from it. I know what its like to struggle with the pain everyday I did it without any meds for 2 years until my disability insurance kicked in I know how much pain can reek havoc on ones mental stability and family life. Hopefully something is figured out with the battery for you Tessa . The unit I have discussed with my doc is actually able to have a full body mri it was just introduced aug 7th or 8th I believe by medtronics. Here is one of them we discussed http://professional.medtronic.com/mr...m#.UhrPCSGJBgo this next link goes into a little bit more detail I think.
http://professional.medtronic.com/mr...index.htm#xray

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkayewade (Post 1010165)

Thanks TK! I have been working with my reps on the battery issue and it does seem that my battery IPG is depleting way to quickly. The question that remains is whether or not it is because I use it at a higher amplitude & hertz or because it is malfunctioning either way it is annoying and if I need to increase settings any further this will become even more problematic. Hopefully soon they will figure things out!

Sorry to hear your RSD is systemic but, glad to know that the SCS is also working for you.

Your daughter must be amazing.. lol.. ;)

Praying for all who suffer!
Tessa

MessyMark,

Forgive me, I hadn't realized they came out with a newer battery just yet. That is pretty cool.. wishn' I had gotten that one!

Wishing you the very best.. and slightly jealous of your new way cool technology!
Tessa

Quote:

Originally Posted by zookester (Post 1010334)

I hope your reps come up with something that doesn't require another surgery .

I have a Medtronics SCS since March 1, 2011. It works amazingly well and has taken 50-70% of my pain away (depending on the day). Yes, there are still days that are difficult but before I felt useless, couldn't work, concentrate etc. Now I am back in college full time, work as a substitute teacher and have been gaining pieces of my old life back. It's hard, I am a middle aged woman with 3 teens and a husband that just does not "get" my struggles. I would go for the trial first and go from there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MessyMark (Post 1007861)

I'm looking for those of you that have had a scs by medtronics installed recently I would like to pick your brain if you don't mind.

Here is a little background on myself.
More than 20 years ago I fell 40 feet from a rooftop hit the ground and bounced about 2 or 3 feet in the air I was told. After about 45 minutes or so I was able to get up with some help of course taken to the hospital x rayed for broken bones and they found nothing supposedly.
Fast forward 20 years.
I had enough of the pain and back problems such as back would go out and would take about a week to 10 days before I was able to move properly again.In May of 2009 I went to see a nuero doc told him everything that happened 20 years ago and all the problems I had been dealing with since. He immediately set an MRI up that day for me it was on a Friday and Monday at lunch time while I was at work he had called and said he found my problem and needed to see me as soon as possible told him I could see him after work today. I was working in a factory here in western pennsylvania and the job required a lot of heavy lifting it was working with large sheets of steel this was in 2009 and layoffs were very prevalent at the time and I had been informed I was going to be laid off this was right after I had met with my doctor. I went into the office at work and told them I would take an early layoff because I needed to have surgery anyway. I was laid off at the end of the week and had surgery the following week.
When the surgeon went into my back it was worse than he thought I had been living with a ruptured disc for 20 yrs at L4-L5 and it had been like that for so long that calcification had formed on one of the nerves my to left leg which he had to cut away. Surgery went well and a couple of months went by and I went back to work but this time I decided to put my CDL back into use and found a small trucking company privately owned and was doing really well.
Then the morning of December 28th 2010 I was getting ready to go back out on the road after being home for Christmas Vacation My wife had taken me and my luggage to the truck and I was on the top step of my tractor trailer and my wife was passing me my last duffel bag of clothes and I slipped on some ice that had formed on the top platform where I was standing and fell to the ground onto my right side. Instantly I knew I had re injured myself I had pain in and around the surgery site radiating down my left leg. My wife helped me up off the ground she reached in and shut the truck off dialed my dispatcher from my phone told him what happened and that she was taking me to the hospital were my surgeon worked so he could take a look at me. She then called my doctors office who paged him and he met us at the emergency room he had already arranged for me to have another MRI as soon as I got there. After reviewing it he came in told me I was going to need another surgery I had reinjured the same area but this time it was pinching some nerves. Post op 2010 I did not fair so well. Was still having a lot of pain in my lower back at L4-L5 and down both legs at times .
I have tried facet injections,water therapy,regular therapy,nerve blocks,steroid injections the whole gambit of things that doctors want you to try before they tell you that there is nothing else they can do for you and send you to a pain management office . Since then I also have been told I will never drive truck again and had to turn in my CDL . I was put on disability. Then I met Dr. Zimmerman of the pain clinic we had been over all kinds of different drug's and most of them do not work if they do I look and feel like heroin addict and told him I will do without. So he finally suggested a medtronics scs device but up till now I was not able to do anything about it because my disability insurance had not kicked in because I had not been on disability for 2 years at the time. As of June my insurance kicked in and he brought up the scs device again for me . So in September I am scheduled to see doctor down in Pittsburgh at upmc to set up a trial. I would like to know how your trial went ? and if you decided to have the implant down permanently? if so how has it been compared to the trial ? I'm sure I will have many questions if you don't mind ?

Thank you for taking the time to read all this.

Percs vs paddles

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressedout (Post 1010529)

Yes paddles are a bigger deal! But my
Paddle is stuck down. I had percs originally but they were misplaced. Then mega scar. Then paddle rescue. Plus to paddle is they are bulky and if done right aren't going anywhere. If paddles are done right off the bat it's usually easier too.

My opinion is if you are highly active- paddles. If not try percs. A recent article showed that the 20 lead 5x4 has best results - most options. Bs has a 32 lead ipg. I have a medtronics 565 - one very good program.

I bend, have lerched hiking, etc. etc. etc. They have been in 2 + months. I have no fear of dislocation. Pain is down >50%. Walking range doubled. Biking range up 500%+. I sleep better. Life isn't perfect but it's not bad. It was bad before.

If the trial leaves you with a WOW feeling, get it in! If not, be Leary.