LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With QuoteI am having an SCS trial tomorrow, which will last until Thursday. I'll post my results.
-Dave
This is a discussion on Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCS) within the Pain Management forums, part of the General Spine Discussion Forums category; Anyone currently have a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implanted? Before my CT-Myelogram, we gave a SCS some thought as we ...
Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCS) Anyone currently have a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implanted? Before my CT-Myelogram, we gave a SCS some thought as we did not know what was causing my chronic bilateral leg pain at the time. I am curious if anyone has had significant relief of there symptoms with a SCS.
I've known a few people that personally did not like the SCS. However, this was a couple year ago (well, getting close to 4 years ago). I also know people that have had a significant decrease in their pain and associated symptoms and swear by their SCS.
The new generation of SCS look smaller to me...plus, it sounds like the new SCS are easier to adjust and have enabled patients to better control stimulation based on their current pain levels. However, I didn't give them too much of a look when one was offered to me last summer.
I have a friend that is contemplating having a SCS placed, or at least he is thinking about doing the trial. Any info (firsthand experience) would be great. Thanks!
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
I am having an SCS trial tomorrow, which will last until Thursday. I'll post my results.
-Dave
Discectomy/Laminotomy, 1999
L4-S1 DDD, 10/06
Stalif Fusion L5-S1, 3/07
Intrepid Fusion L4-L5, 7/08
Increasing pain since solid fusing, 1/09
Bilateral Transforaminal Injections 3/09
Facet Joint Injections (L3-S1) 4/09
RF Ablation (Medial Branch) 5/09
CT Scan, MRI w/ contrast (no new info) 5/09
Latest:
- I wake up with no pain
- Stand/sit for 15 mins., pinching pain begins
- Pain at center, core L4-L5
- Lying down, pulsing/throbbing pain for 2-3 hours
- Taking 6-8 Norcos/day
SCS Implant 8/31/09
Awesome Dave! I truly hope the SCS will give you much needed relief. I'm anxious to hear how the trial goes.Originally Posted by daveinaustin
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Good Luck in the trial! Just curious, how do they implant the leads? Is it cutting, or is it done like laproscopically?
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011, completely pain free still!
I'm pretty tired, but know there are others who've been waiting to hear the short-term result. I'll post better results in a day or two once I am over today's recovery period.
---
The leads were implanted similarly to an RF Ablation process, under the guidance of a flouroscope.
I'm recovering from the procedure, rather sore, and sleeping a lot today. Tomorrow, we'll see how much this procedure truly helps.
For now, it feels like a giant Tens unit implanted in me, which range can travel from around L3 - my toes!
Hopefully, Amie will let me have a glass of really good wine with dinner tonight. I think I deserve it!
Discectomy/Laminotomy, 1999
L4-S1 DDD, 10/06
Stalif Fusion L5-S1, 3/07
Intrepid Fusion L4-L5, 7/08
Increasing pain since solid fusing, 1/09
Bilateral Transforaminal Injections 3/09
Facet Joint Injections (L3-S1) 4/09
RF Ablation (Medial Branch) 5/09
CT Scan, MRI w/ contrast (no new info) 5/09
Latest:
- I wake up with no pain
- Stand/sit for 15 mins., pinching pain begins
- Pain at center, core L4-L5
- Lying down, pulsing/throbbing pain for 2-3 hours
- Taking 6-8 Norcos/day
SCS Implant 8/31/09
You deserve the wine, tell the wife we said it was ok!
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011
Keep us posted when you can Dave! Here's your wineI'm cheating, and copying my entry under my Ketamine post. I'm pretty tired, but know there are others who've been waiting to hear the short-term result. I'll post better results in a day or two once I am over today's recovery period.
---
The leads were implanted similarly to an RF Ablation process, under the guidance of a flouroscope.
I'm recovering from the procedure, rather sore, and sleeping a lot today. Tomorrow, we'll see how much this procedure truly helps.
For now, it feels like a giant Tens unit implanted in me, which range can travel from around L3 - my toes!
Hopefully, Amie will let me have a glass of really good wine with dinner tonight. I think I deserve it!(just picture it's a wine glass!).
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Hi Dave and Justin
I just returned from Salt lake City From the U of U and suggested a SCS trial implant to decrease my Nerve issues.
I am very discouraged,Fusion was not an option and ADR I did not meet the FDA regs because I had Lam 15 years ago and he would not do a hybird.
He said this would reduce the leg pain but the low back pain is something I would have to live with.
Please Take Care
Gilbert P
L5-S1 lam 1994
L2 to L5 DDD
L3 -L4 hern Dec 2007.
L4-L5 Annular fissure with mild central stenosis and moderate facet hypertrophy.
L5-S1 bilaterial neural foraminal narrowing with inferior effacement.
L2-L3 Right-sided neural foraminal narrowing
L3-L4 related to posterolateral hypertrophic spurs and facet hypertrophy.
C3-C4 limited DDD
15 injections Depo. P.T. 18 months 9 dose packs,
Nerve Block Injections.4 ESI S1
L5-S1 Foraminotomy 09
L4-L5 Microdiscectomy 09 ReHerniation 4-2010
Surgery 6-29-11 L4-L5-S1 Decompression Fusion L5-S1 and Coflex F implants
Hey Gil,
I'm sorry to hear this. I know you were headed to the University of Utah in the hopes that some more doors would open up for you. Are you going to pursue the SCS?
Keep us posted buddy!
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
I'm still recoverying today, and have been fortunate enough to have three naps!
As much as possible, I'm reducing my Norco, and trying to move around the house.
One of the odd things about the SCS is that to get the right spot in my back, it pretty much stimulates the nerves down to my feet! I don't know if this is due to the trial unit that is taped onto my back, or just one of the consequences of the nerve stimulator.
The easiest way to decribe this thing so far is a half-body Tens unit!
Discectomy/Laminotomy, 1999
L4-S1 DDD, 10/06
Stalif Fusion L5-S1, 3/07
Intrepid Fusion L4-L5, 7/08
Increasing pain since solid fusing, 1/09
Bilateral Transforaminal Injections 3/09
Facet Joint Injections (L3-S1) 4/09
RF Ablation (Medial Branch) 5/09
CT Scan, MRI w/ contrast (no new info) 5/09
Latest:
- I wake up with no pain
- Stand/sit for 15 mins., pinching pain begins
- Pain at center, core L4-L5
- Lying down, pulsing/throbbing pain for 2-3 hours
- Taking 6-8 Norcos/day
SCS Implant 8/31/09
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks