Spinal cord stimulator

[JRS11]

Went to the Neurosurgeon today convinced that my Stenosis was impinging the nerves at about L4 or L5 and was fairly convinced he would recommend a Foraminotomy. He did something different that the orthopedic docs I have seen, he had my MRI on the computer and had it enlarged and honed it. Said he did not see impingement at the foramin and could not recommend surgery. Did ask me to consider a spinal cord stimulator which really does not sound very appealing to me, wondering about others opinions, success, etc with this type of intervention? I realize it is not a cure but a distraction for lack of a better way to say it.

Thanks much

[Hooch]

Jerry Lewis has one. They seem to be a bit hit and miss but some people find them of significant benefit. I'm not aware of any major complications with them, apart from needing a surgeon who has experience with them and won't damage you further.

What do the other surgeons say? Imaging isn't always 100% accurate. There are plenty of people who have been told there is no nerve impingement.. but there is nerve impingement that has been surgically relieved. The nerve doesn't have to be impinged all the time to become irritated and symptomatic.

What's the condition of your back? The SCS is really end of the line stuff along with the morphine pump. Generally people consider it after multiple failed surgeries and they cannot achieve appropriate pain control through any other means. I wouldn't be racing in there before undergoing other surgical procedures that could fix any issues there.

[JRS11]

Jerry Lewis has one. They seem to be a bit hit and miss but some people find them of significant benefit. I'm not aware of any major complications with them, apart from needing a surgeon who has experience with them and won't damage you further.

What do the other surgeons say? Imaging isn't always 100% accurate. There are plenty of people who have been told there is no nerve impingement.. but there is nerve impingement that has been surgically relieved. The nerve doesn't have to be impinged all the time to become irritated and symptomatic.

What's the condition of your back? The SCS is really end of the line stuff along with the morphine pump. Generally people consider it after multiple failed surgeries and they cannot achieve appropriate pain control through any other means. I wouldn't be racing in there before undergoing other surgical procedures that could fix any issues there.

Sorry, maybe I had the wrong info, no drugs involved in this, just an electrical stimulator. I have 3 more appts, at least two set up so far, one more Neurosurgeon. I have done everything but surgery as my back has so many areas of disease they are a bit scared to fuse or anything else and I am not prone to having one of those surgeries knowing it will weaken my back up and down....so I wait and have to figure a way to deal with the pain. The only surgery I was really thinking about was the foraminotomy as to me it seems like the most benign.

[Justin]

Went to the Neurosurgeon today convinced that my Stenosis was impinging the nerves at about L4 or L5 and was fairly convinced he would recommend a Foraminotomy. He did something different that the orthopedic docs I have seen, he had my MRI on the computer and had it enlarged and honed it. Said he did not see impingement at the foramin and could not recommend surgery. Did ask me to consider a spinal cord stimulator which really does not sound very appealing to me, wondering about others opinions, success, etc with this type of intervention? I realize it is not a cure but a distraction for lack of a better way to say it.

Thanks much

Hi JRS,

Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCSs) have helped many Spine Patients I have spoken with. However, I have also spoken to many that have not had relief from their SCSs and ultimately had them taken out.

Here's a link to a good thread here at the Spine Patient Society about SCSs and Spine Patient experiences: Spinal Cord Stimulators.

Sorry, maybe I had the wrong info, no drugs involved in this, just an electrical stimulator. I have 3 more appts, at least two set up so far, one more Neurosurgeon. I have done everything but surgery as my back has so many areas of disease they are a bit scared to fuse or anything else and I am not prone to having one of those surgeries knowing it will weaken my back up and down....so I wait and have to figure a way to deal with the pain. The only surgery I was really thinking about was the foraminotomy as to me it seems like the most benign.

Personally, exhausting your less invasive options (as you are doing) is the way to go. Spine surgery should be an absolute last resort. Good luck and please let me know if you need anything.



BTW, if you go to our homepage, there is a Educational section that has videos on everything spine...following this link --> click here -- and click on "Orthopedics," then "Surgical Procedures" and then "Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant" for the video.

[JRS11]

Thanks Justin, your link did not work for me but a search did indeed help and I found the thread I think you were pointing me to. It makes a trial a possibility but like others that I have read i would really like to find and fix the cause of the pain I am having....as others have said, more when I have more to share, thank you and will look at the other information you have pointed me to.

[KBear]

Thanks Justin, your link did not work for me but a search did indeed help and I found the thread I think you were pointing me to. It makes a trial a possibility but like others that I have read i would really like to find and fix the cause of the pain I am having....as others have said, more when I have more to share, thank you and will look at the other information you have pointed me to.

I would second the trying everything under the sun before going the SCS route. I was referred for one at 28 years old, 2.5 years into my pain journey. That doctor said nothing else could be done for me and that I would need pain management for the rest of my life. I knew I didn't want an SCS and that it was a last resort (now if I had gotten to that point, then yes I would have tried it; but I wasn't there). Upon finding a new pain management doctor I found out about ADR and that I was a great candidate. Saw 3 top notch surgeons, all agreed ADR was best for me. Had the surgery and can say it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm almost 2 years post, 7.5 months pregnant and pain free (the latter two things I was told would never happen by my previous doctor.) I know surgery is a huge deal and it is also a last resort, but I would still consider a SCS after exhausting my conservative treatments and surgical if available.