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Hi everyone, I am researching for my friend who was just informed her back is "blown" and would need multiple fusions one every couple of years without any guarantees this would work completely. Now she is facing the option of a a spinal stimulator implanted to reduce pain and I have found several sites on it, but was wondering if any of you have or know of someone who has had personal experience with this. To me it looked very scary in the diagrams and never read anything about it eliminating pain just helping somewhat. Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.
Hi. I have not used a spinal stimulator, but do know a little about them.
Most patients are offered a temporary stimulator, in the first instance, to determine whether it is suitable for them or not. Many find the stimulators are effective pain relief, while others have lesser benefits.
It is a device usually implanted into the lower back/abdomen, with electrodes etc to control it. The downside is that "the anchor" leads can move out of place, requiring repeat surgery (or surgeries).
I would advise your friend to speak with her specialist. Good luck to them, whatever they decide.
Isn't that the same type of pain managemt that Jerry Lewis uses?? I have been told I will need several surgeries plus a fusion. Please tell your friend to get a second or third opinion if necessary to ensure she needs multiple fusions. It takes about one year to recooperate from one fusion.
Wishing your friend pain free days,
Curiousdee
I have a spinal cord stimulator and have had one for the past 3 years. As a matter of fact, I just had surgery to replace mine Thursday. It is a method of pain control that works by providing an alternate stimulus to pain....and for me it has worked quite well. My only problem was I used it so much I was going thru batteries at the rate of one a year(the typical battery life is supposed to be 2-3 years). But I had a lot of scar tissue and adhesions due to multiple surgeries and epidurals over the years. For me, it works really well. When you're hurting, you simply "turn up" the stimulator and it sort of "over-rides" the pain....it feels like a buzzing sensation inside...I just had a spinal lead placed, which is not the norm....a spinal lead is used when you can't get enough stimulation from the normal lead placement....
They will do a "trial" placement, and you have the leads placed internally, but the battery pack is external...you wear it this way for a week or so, if it helps they will internalize it.
Once it's internalized, you have a small battery pack placed in the abdomen, it's about the size of a small cassette tape, doesn't hurt and really doesn't interefere at all.
I still need meds, but not nearly as much as I did without. When I had my stimulator I was taking OC 20-40 mg BID with occasional percocet for break thru pain....without the stimulator I was taking 80 mgs of OC BID with ALOT of percocet 10/325 for breakthru pain, usually every 4 hours and even then that didn't cover me...so for me it works really well.
Since you have a trial period, you have plenty of time to figure out whether or not it will work for you....I recommend trying it...it's worth the trial...if it works great, if not, at least you've tried some alternative to relying completely on drugs to control your pain.
You definately want a surgeon who is familiar with placing the leads in the correct place and getting the battery pack installed where it won't interefere with clothing and where it will be comfortable as well. SO you want someone who is experienced in performing this surgery. You can PM me if you have any other questions.
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