Hello,

I just stumbled upon this board and hopefully someone can help.

I am being considered for placement of a spinal cord stimulator becuase of persistant pain in my back and legs after having two back surgeries in just over a year.

The surgeon wants me to undergo psychological testing (specifically the MMPI). I was wondering if this is standard procedure. If so what are they looking for? He explained that they just want to make sure that there is nothing that would interefere with the SCS working.

I am also having to have an EMG done. How bad is that test? And then I have to have a repeat myleogram also. The surgeon said he just wants to rule out any other cause of the pain which makes sense.

Thanks in advance for any help.
kristina :wave:

Question? Where exacly is your pain? How long have you had this pain? What would this spinal cord stimulator do? Would there be wires attached to a battery & your spine?

hi, A scs is placed in your back with wires and the battery is implanted in your abdomin or you hip area. I was supposed to have one and they sent me to a pain mang. dr. and we talked about it and because it is such an invasive surgery I was thinking about not having it done. I had a micrdisktomy and have nerve damage and I had shooting nerves in my leg and foot, but also had foot drop and my ankle broke in dec, so they had to put in plates and pins on both sides of my ankle and as a result of the surgery I developed a blood clot in my lung, still on coumodin, so any thought I might have had about scs, was answered with my blood clot, I am so afraid of getting another clot, because the surgery is pretty complex, I think I will live with nerve pain and hope after time it will get better. I hear many stories of success with the implant, but I think the psychological testing is great for any one getting any implant. Hope all goes well , ask for trail tens unit, it goes on the outside of your body see if that helps and if it does then think implant.
best of luck cookie