Chronic Pain

[sb1234]

Hi I'm new to this site, but not new to chronic pain. I was in a couple of car accidents the last couple of years and have not fully recovered (among other issues). My pain management doctor suggested that I try a spinal cord stimulator since I don't like taking pills or their affects and chiropratic work isn't really helping. I currently have a referal for physical therapy and I'm waiting to hear back from the insurance. My doctor told me to check out www. controlyourpain. com in order to find out more about SCS implants. Does anyone have any experience with them? I'm trying to avoid surgery, but if this really works then I'll consider it.

[crazypain]

Hi, I'm new here too. I saw your question so here's my experience.
I had spinal chord stimulation done back in 99.It is a simple surgery,"that is to try".
To have the unit perminently placed in your body is a big surgery, but in order to see
if this is right for you, you don't have the big surgery done. When you go to have this done,
the Doc will have you lay on your stomach,while he gives you a drug that has somewhat of an
amnesia effect to it, so that your awake while this is going on but not really aware of anything
unless they get your attention. It's not as bad as it sounds at all. They need you to be awake at different points during the procedure so you can tell them when there hiting the nerves of the
affected area.They basically nudge ya & wake you out of it at different points and you just tell
them "your on it" or not.It is really simple, and there's not much pain associated with the procedure
itself. They make a little incision in your back, but it's really small and it heals up quick. That's really
the extent of the surgery. When I had mine done, they sent me home with a little unit that I just clamp to my pants, "like a tens unit" for 3 weeks. It wasn't the thing for me and my specific pain.
Although for some people, this works miracles, but I would encourage you to try it, it just might be
what's right for you, and if it isn't, it didn't cause a lot of pain anyway and you move on to the next thing. Good luck to you!

[sb1234]

Thanks crazypain for all your information! I still want to do more research about it until I decide to do a trial. Am I right that you said your trial was 3 weeks? I thought that they only did it for 1 week. Sorry it did not work for you. If anyone else has any personal experiences with it, good or bad, I would like to know so it can help me make a decision. There aren't many if any places to go to find out success or failure rates of the unit (I know I tried :-). Thanks again everyone!

[patwhite101]

I am sure by now you have tried the stimulator.
I have one and do not like it at all. I hate the constant pulsing/tingling that you feel while the stimulator is on. A pain pump would have been a better choice for me.
It does not help all the pain but Doctors are pushing the stimulator.
A 4 day trial is not like living with the stimulator.
When we are in constant savage pain as I am you do not always make good choices. All you want is to be free of the pain. I still have savage foot pain.
Now that I have it i must live with it but I do not like it.
Please think long and hard before you have the implant.

[Eruvae]

My pain management clinic periodically tries to pressure me to have a SCS implanted.
It would make them more money than continuing to control my pain with medication.

I would never have the implant regardless of my pain level. I am uncomfortable with
the infection risks etc.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[meglaser]

I have one and it does help but it does not take all of the pain away. Your doctory should be doing a trial to be sure that you are a candidate. I would be sure that you are a cadidate first. My doctor's office usualy makes me speak to people who have questions.

MEG