I'm looking for anybody who has had a spinal cord stimulater inplanted, or anyone who has heard of it.
I am in a lot of nerve pain and my doctor has suggested this for me. I've done all the other steps in pain management.The next thing is to get the spinal cord stimulator or surgery for disc replacements.
[B]I would love to speak to anyone concerning these topics[/B].

Hi Stacey ~ I had the SCS implanted for 6 months, but then had to have it removed.

I went thru the trial period, but the dopes (pardon) gave me so many restrictions on what I could and couldn't do that I didn't get a good assessment of pain relief. During the trial, of course I thought I was getting good pain coverage, cause they didn't let me really DO anything! So I went ahead and had it implanted. After the healing period, I went about my normal routine and WOW ~ it hurt like the devil!!! The SCS just irritated things instead of covering the pain. I had it reprogrammed many times, but no soap. Also, since I wasn't a very big person, the stupid generator tried to work itself out!!! UGH. I had to hold it in with an ace bandage! LOL. So obviously, it had to come out, and believe me that's work taking it out than it is putting it in cause scar tissue has formed around the leads in the upper back and around the generator. I still have a very sensitive spot in my upper back and I imagine I always will.

Sorry, but my stupid computer posted this before I was done. Anyway, they never told me you had to be a certain 'weight' or have a certain amount of 'fat content.' They should have LOOKED at me before implanting it! They would have been able to see that I was too thin. Then the idiots wanted to try the morphine pump on me, so not knowing anything, I said sure! It was WONDERFUL and I got TOTAL pain relief!!! Then they said i couldn't have it cause it's 3 times HEAVIER than the SCS! What idiots! It's almost laughable!

Anyway, that's my story. If you have further questions, let me know. The surgery is a cinch. No problem. God bless and take care. Peace, Lee

A new forum specific to SCS Implants was just created last month
Here is the direct link to the SCS and Pain Pumps forum
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum118.html

I just had my stimulator implanted a week ago and it helps alot with the nerve pain in both legs. They also programmed it to cover my lower back as well, even tho the pain there was minimal. But the constant burning leg pain is what has taken 5 years of my livelihood.
It is a big decision and must be weighed very carefully, but it has helped many people get their lives back.
Do alot of research B4 making a decision. But the good thing is, you can do the trial implant to see for yourself if it will target your particular areas. I would encourage you to at least do the trial.
Feel free to pm me with questions.
Best wishes
Rae

Hi Leesa,

Please tell me more about your surgery to remove your SCS. I have been told that I should have mine removed. Mine caused a whole new set of pain. I too am very thin. Were they able to remove the leads totally?
Thank you.
Suzanne8

Hi Suzanne ~ Yes, the leads were removed -- everything was removed. LOL

Taking the SCS out was a little more difficult than putting it in, because scar tissue had developed around the leads and the "generator." So it took a little longer, and I was a little more "sore" afterwards, but it was nothing serious. I didn't have any big problems afterwards, although I STILL have a sensitive spot in my upper back where the leads were --- if it's touched, I get a "zing." LOL It's undoubtedly from scar tissue.

So don't worry about the removal. It's really no big deal. You'll just want to rest up for a couple of days, and after that you'll be okay except you'll have the PAIN to deal with from the original injury -- but I'm sure you expected that, right? I sure wish they could come up with SOMETHING for this darned pain! Best of luck to you Suzanne! God bless. Hugs, Lee

sounds aweful..... i am seriously reconsidering..... I have not done trial or anything yet....

I had the SCS Implanted also, and it took a year and a half to try to keep that thing in my Body!!! before my body rejected! Up on my left side of my back I developed a goose Egg, about the size of a golf Ball!! it stayed there for about 6 months, then the skin kind of peeled off like a Sunburn if you will, and then another layer, and another layer, and another until there was a whole about the size of a q-tip. it drained fluid liquid 24/7 clear, no smell we had tested several times for infection but nope it just kept draining, I could stick a Q-tip in it all the way to the end of the q-tip???? Dang! and then where the power/Battery was it turned black???? yeah you guessed it, it started to peel, and then one morning I woke up and I could see the battery silver thingy! my skin had torn open and was a hot mess! Yes can you say emergency Surgery????

Hey there,

I got the trial stimulator put in yesterday, so maybe I could fill you in on how it has worked for me so far. Again, this is only day two, but so far I am happy with it. It is true that the limitations are pretty strict during the trial. No lifting, no bending or twisting. Basicaly, they want to keep the lead stable because it hasn't been firmly attached yet.

Anyway, I just wanted to know that I could walk and stand for more than a few minutes. I have lower back and hip pain that is high level and chronic. I have been almost bed-riden for a long time. I am pleased to tell you that so far I have been able to back off my meds a little bit on only day two, and if it weren't for the surgery site pain, I would be backing off the meds even more.

I actually went outside and walked down the sidewalk just to the next house, but that was something I would not have been able to do before the implant. I am scared to believe this is working, cause everything else has failed, but I told the implant rep to start the paperwork for thr permanent implant.

I'll keep you posted if you want, and if you have any questions let me know

I had my SCS implanted in April 09. It does work for the nerve pain in my legs. I am not a light person and my generator still sticks out to the point of uncomfortable. I have had two surgerirs since the implant on it. I just fell and ripped the internal stiches and will be undergoing one more to repair them. I dont know if I had it to do over with if I would implant it but, I hate since going through the surgeries and it does work for the pain to take it out. I guess I'll just have it repaired. Do lots of research before making a decision. I had never had back pain before the surgery and know it hurts worse than the RSD did. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you have to make this difficult decision for yourself.