Stimulator To Control Back Pain

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sacho1

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I am interested in hearing from anyone about their experience with a electrical stimulator to help control back pain
 
I have had a Medtronic Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) since October 2006. My SCS was actually placed for right foot, ankle and leg pain. I have RSD/CRPS from a severe ankle injury in August 2004. The way that I walk due to my leg pain started causing back pain about 6 months after the SCS was implanted...the back pain is not related to having the SCS put in. My PM Doc had put long leaRAB in my spine and was able to simply "turn on" stimulation to my lower back. The SCS cut my pain in half.
 
I had an SCS implant in March of 2008 in an attempt to control pain associated with DDD (L5/S1). The SCS was not successful for me and actually caused pain in a new location. When I turned the stimulator on I got pain near the lead (T9) that was pretty intense. I believe it did work on my leg and back pain, but the pain at the lead site was too intense to turn it on. My neuro wanted to go back in and adjust the lead, but couldn't guarantee that he would get it right. After much deliberation, I decided to fix the problem (with a fusion) rather than mask it (which is what the SCS is designed to do).

Best of luck with your decision.
 
I have had the stimulator implant for over 3 years. I just recently had to have mine replaced because of problems with the unit. But I will tell you that the stimulator has helped me a lot!! I have a lot of the burning pain in my legs and the stimulator has been incredible covering that up. As a matter of fact, I really learned how much it worked when I had to go without it for a while! I will tell you, it is a process. You have to go thru a healing process after the stimulator is implanted and go in and try different programs. After you get it right -- it's great!! Good Luck!:wave::
 
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