Spinal cord stimulator

Who on here has one. Pro's cons? I was scheduled for another fusion in December but new MRI revealed no good levels to fuse to. UNLESS they fused me from T4 to L-4. Surgeon said he wouldn't do that unless I was unable to walk upright. Trail is getting put in Feb 17.
Would have gotten it in December but labs came back positive for something ugly so had to get that ruled out first.

Is it internal??

My wife had an external one after her back surgery. It was mainly to stimulate bone healing.

I have one from 20 years ago and now they want to take it out cause it is irritating the nerve and that irritating ME!!! I am 80 and no more surgeries. But for those 20 years it was good, no pain meds and that is what I was told when the original surgery was done. so it did work quite well for me......jk

They can do some truly amazing things for people nowadays.

Yes I was really surprised at the final results of my original surgery. Like new!!!!

I wear the temporary one for 3 days. If it helps they install the permanent one under the skin. Looks like a pace maker. New ones are MRI compatible. I messed up and googled the procedure. Almost backed out. Standing in one place kills my back . Or slightly bending. I can walk for miles with no pain. But finding a position to sleep is a whole different story.....

I have had four of them, they darn sure help!!!!

They do the 3 day trials to see IF they help you

Takes us about 10min to put the trial leads in and probably a 30min surgery if they do the implant. Plus you go home the same day for both procedures

I had one for five years.
Had the trial one for I think 6 days. You have to walk around with the wires coming out of your back and carry a pack.
It seemed to work but I wasn't sure. The doctor did pressure me into getting the permanent implant.
Surgery went fine and it was outpatient.
The computer/battery was in the left hand side of my lower back horizontally. About a 3 inch slice
The other cut was up the middle of my back.
Spade bits are wrapped around my spinal column with wires that go to the tens/battery unit.
You charge it by wrapping a belt around you with a charged up puck in it. You align the puck over the unit and wear it for a couple hours till charged
It worked for maybe a year but was difficult to charge.
I kept getting different programs for it, thousands. But my brain wouldn't be fooled after awhile and the pain returned no matter what I did.
Finally gave up on it after two years.
Then the problems started.
Wires pocking me from inside, puck shifting. Everything rubbing on my insides and no way to soothe it
Took three years of me telling the doctors till they agreed to take it out.
Spades bits are grown into my spinal column and left but everything else was removed.
No MRIs for me because of this but at least the pain and discomfort is gone.
I now use the external one but only once in while so I don't get use to it

I would think long and hard if I were you before getting it implanted inside your body. Especially if your getting relief with the external one.

The one they shine is supposed to be top of the line . It is mri compatible. I’m willing to try anything. Miss standing on the front of the boat throwing a crank bait. Haven ran the trolling motor on my own boat but maybe 4 times in 9 years. Can’t weed eat. Can’t rake love to refinish furniture but have turned down jobs because standing and bending ever so little is excruciating. I can take pain meds and get relief but don’t want to constantly. Big thing that made up my mind was the 3 bulging disc that are against the nerves in my spine. Very few days at least one of them is not hurting severely

Can they handle electric shock? I know the old pacemaker’s couldn’t people I know who had them couldn’t even work on a set of points as that shock could ruin it.

Sister in law had one and was a nightmare

No problem getting shocked with one in your body.

Go down to Dallas or Houston cant remember which, get urself a ring dinger!

That's Horrible

Prayers for you!

My mother had an experimental stimulator installed. After the surgery she cried with joy as she said it had been 20 years since she hadn’t felt pain.
Unfortunately they removed the trial stimulator and replaced it with a permanent one. Evidently placement was off just enough she got zero relief from permanent stimulator. She had to weather another surgery to have it removed. She now has a pain medication pump she would gladly trade for the original experimental stimulator.

Why couldn't they just correct the placement?

I had an issue with the paddle placement and they put in a second stimulator, that sure enough gave me some serious coverage. both timed out and shut off at 9 years. I had another one installed several years later as this occurred during the Faucci flu pandemic. That one worked just as well .You can develop an allergy to the nickel in the titanium housing of the part that is inserted at the top of your arse cheek. Ended up having to get it removed 9 months later because the tissue around it was so irritated that an infection developed. The staples they use to close your incisions also have nickel in them and they mess me pretty badly after about 6-7 days.

After reding all this I guess I was very lucky. I get surprise zinger when I step down and dont realize there is a step there. And the leg pain I get is one side only and goes away for several day at a time, it is bearable since I know that it most all the time does go away. I do walk pigeon toed on one side slightly but it is nothing like the pain I had before surgery 20+ years ago......jk

Sent with prayers for guidance in making the right choice for you.