Spinal Cord Stimulator

[Guest guest]

Just wondering if anyone here has ever had a spinal cord stimulator?

I went to the pain clinc yesterday and the doctor recommends me giving it a try

for pain.

Deronda

[Guest guest]

I don't have a Spinal Cord Stimulator, but I'm on my 2nd Medtronix Implantable Infusion pump which delivers pain medication (in mine is Morphine and Bupivicaine), the dose being delivered over a 24 hr. period. Depending on the concentration of the drug and the amount delivered daily determines how often it's filled. Medtronix has a really good web site with great information. I had the first one put in in early 2000 and the second was put in Oct., 2006 (they have to be replaced every 6-8 yrs. because the batteries run out).

The pump is was enabled me to return to work full-time. I do not determine the dose, nor am I able to administer "extra" doses, so I feel it's much safer than oral opiates. They say that when Morphine is delivered via the intrathecal space, the dose is actually much, much stronger than when taken by mouth. I receive a total of 10mg/day of Morphine and 5mg/day of Bupivicaine, which is one of the higher doses I've been on. (I'm having some serious problems right now). I'm hoping and praying that it won't have to be put back in after revision surgery...that's my wish.

Take a look at the web site. It has info on the spinal cord stimulators and implantable pumps.

Good luck,

Janet Bellware

From: Deronda <derondaharmon@...>Subject: [ ] Spinal Cord Stimulator Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 1:38 PM

Just wondering if anyone here has ever had a spinal cord stimulator?I went to the pain clinc yesterday and the doctor recommends me giving it a try for pain. Deronda

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I havent any experience with the stimulator, but be sure to use the search

feature on the group, using those key words, and you will find several old

conversations about them.

One I came across was from Janet Bellaware, message # 28483 (which you can also

bring up in the message box) and she speaks of her positive experience with an

intraethcal pain pump and it permitting her to return to work. She later went on

to have revision with DrBridwell. Perhaps you can contact her directly to find

out more about that.

The decision to proceed with a revision is always a very difficult choice.

Perhaps if things have progressed again it would be worth another trip to

StLouis to see if DrBridwells opinion has changed regarding your potential

outcomes. It seems each year that more and more reliable information regarding

our population, and management of our condiiton, is available...at least to

those on the front lines. You dont say who your surgeon is, and I am casting no

aspersions on his abilitities, but certainly DrBridwell, and Lenke, at STL would

have to be considered on the forefront of what is possible for you.

I loved my work, and wanted to finish out my career, but I knew I couldnt do it

without chancing revision. My work would not permit any opiates...so that helped

me make up my mind. I dont think my case was anywhere near as challenging as

yours. I would consider, however, what your long term plan is. Can you

realistically wait indefinitely to attempt a revision...considering age and the

current rate of progression? Would that in itself be career limiting? And then

consider what will happen if your medical insurance, and perhaps sick

time/pay/FMLA type of assistance would not then be available.

I am sure you are worrying about all of these things, and I dont mean to be in

your face about it, just pointing out that just because its difficult to hear

the answers doesnt mean you shouldnt ask the questions. Naturally the

stimulator, if it works, would be a great way to permit you time for your

decisions without making them under the horrific pressure of terrible pain.

Thats my $.02 from the cheap seats.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

I wish i could be more of a positive response. I have had one in for about a year now.

It doesn't work for me. They went from the thin lead lines to a paddle lead line planted in between my upper vertebrae.

All of my pain is just above my waist line. The Doc was great on getting the paddle in between all of my hardware. And yes i can feel it "tingling". But we have adjusted every way possible and it does not help.

Now i have one more thing inside of me that has to come out.

Sorry, I pray it works for you, i really do.

Good luck and let me know if you need anymore info.

From: kelizrm <kelizrm@...>Subject: [ ] Spinal Cord Stimulator Date: Thursday, January 20, 2011, 12:01 AM

Has anyone tried a spinal cord stimulator? I need to work, but can't due to chronic pain. A friend who is an anesthesiologist suggested I might give it a try as others she has seen have gotten good results. What has YOUR experience been with a SCS? Also, if you deal with chronic pain, what have you done that has allowed you to return to full time work?Thanks a bunch! in SC

[Guest guest]

I wish i could be more of a positive response. I have had one in for about a year now.

It doesn't work for me. They went from the thin lead lines to a paddle lead line planted in between my upper vertebrae.

All of my pain is just above my waist line. The Doc was great on getting the paddle in between all of my hardware. And yes i can feel it "tingling". But we have adjusted every way possible and it does not help.

Now i have one more thing inside of me that has to come out.

Sorry, I pray it works for you, i really do.

Good luck and let me know if you need anymore info.

From: kelizrm <kelizrm@...>Subject: [ ] Spinal Cord Stimulator Date: Thursday, January 20, 2011, 12:01 AM

Has anyone tried a spinal cord stimulator? I need to work, but can't due to chronic pain. A friend who is an anesthesiologist suggested I might give it a try as others she has seen have gotten good results. What has YOUR experience been with a SCS? Also, if you deal with chronic pain, what have you done that has allowed you to return to full time work?Thanks a bunch! in SC

[Guest guest]

Hi Cam,

Interestingly, I just went to see Dr. Bridwell in St. Louis a few mos ago and he

said I am balanced, thus there is no need for surgery. I asked him Why then am I

having so much pain? He said, Some revision patients just have pain. I saw him

for maybe 10 minutes...grrr. But, I suppose that is good news. I do feel that my

surgeon that did my revisions did a better job though, mainly because of time

spent analyzing my case. It was Dr. Francis Denis at Twin Cities Spine Center in

Minneapolis, MN. I live in SC, but I have tried to go where " the best " docs are.

Overall it sounds like the reviews are mixed on the SCS but it sure doesn't

sound like the panacea I thought it might be. So for now I am going to continue

with exercise as possible, and meds and massage.

Thanks for the thoughtful response to my questions.

>

>

>

>

> Hi ,

>

> I havent any experience with the stimulator, but be sure to use the search

feature on the group, using those key words, and you will find several old

conversations about them.

>

> One I came across was from Janet Bellaware, message # 28483 (which you can

also bring up in the message box) and she speaks of her positive experience with

an intraethcal pain pump and it permitting her to return to work. She later went

on to have revision with DrBridwell. Perhaps you can contact her directly to

find out more about that.

>

> The decision to proceed with a revision is always a very difficult choice.

Perhaps if things have progressed again it would be worth another trip to

StLouis to see if DrBridwells opinion has changed regarding your potential

outcomes. It seems each year that more and more reliable information regarding

our population, and management of our condiiton, is available...at least to

those on the front lines. You dont say who your surgeon is, and I am casting no

aspersions on his abilitities, but certainly DrBridwell, and Lenke, at STL would

have to be considered on the forefront of what is possible for you.

>

> I loved my work, and wanted to finish out my career, but I knew I couldnt do

it without chancing revision. My work would not permit any opiates...so that

helped me make up my mind. I dont think my case was anywhere near as challenging

as yours. I would consider, however, what your long term plan is. Can you

realistically wait indefinitely to attempt a revision...considering age and the

current rate of progression? Would that in itself be career limiting? And then

consider what will happen if your medical insurance, and perhaps sick

time/pay/FMLA type of assistance would not then be available.

>

> I am sure you are worrying about all of these things, and I dont mean to be in

your face about it, just pointing out that just because its difficult to hear

the answers doesnt mean you shouldnt ask the questions. Naturally the

stimulator, if it works, would be a great way to permit you time for your

decisions without making them under the horrific pressure of terrible pain.

>

> Thats my $.02 from the cheap seats.

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

[Guest guest]

,

I wonder if as well as traditional pain control measures you have tried some

alternative therapies? As you said...massage helps...so perhaps some deep tissue

work or postural therapy might be worth while. I guess the point I am trying to

make is that a number of patients with post revision pain that doesnt resolve

have gotten very comfortable using a variety of different techniques....and

everyone seems different about what does it for them. Yoga, swimming Ahi

Chi...feldenkrais, weight loss, pacing daily life, etc.

Another member, fellow revisee Martha, had trouble accepting DrBridwells

assessment that her SI pain post revision couldnt be resolved and she was

relentless in exhausting all possibilities. She happened to start working with a

pain doctor who lead her to a variety of treatments. For one she had a treatment

with

platlet rich plamsa treatment. Last year her pain management team

broke up a good bit of scar tissue using ultra sound guided techniques

to free her superior cluneal nerve. That worked well for her and got

her quite a bit of relief. Further work with her pain doctor got them

searching for the source of her remaining pain and it was pinpointed

as soft tissue at the piriformis attachment point (tendon). So PRP is

what they are trying. The technique is used to successfully

regenerated damaged tendons which are notoriously difficult to heal as

they have a somewhat limited blood supply...and often are damaged

because they are in constant use. Here is an article from HSS...but

you can search under those terms and find out more about it:

http://www.hss.edu/newsroom_platelet_rich_plasma_works_to_heal_tendonitis.asp

You can go to an earlier post #19478 for a more in depth story of one womans

journey. Of course you have to be willing to be your own best sleuth....and not

take no for an answer if something doesnt seem right. Most of us are a work in

progress...so I dont know that anything really can be ruled in or out for us

ever.

I hope the stimulator works for you if thats what you decide. We will all be

looking forward to hearing what you choose to do.

Take Care, Cam