edsie1137
04-11-2008, 06:00 PM
Has anyone had the surgical implant, made by Medtronics, tor Neurostimulation? And does any one know of a surgeon who does that procedure in the South East part of the country. I'm seriously considering Dr. Sheu at Beth Israel Hospital in New York. I sure would like to get closer to Memphis, TN. Anyone had sucess with that procedure?
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AnnD
04-11-2008, 06:17 PM
I do hope someone knows what stimulator was implanted as I am also looking for what brands people are using. It seems no one knows what brands were implanted and it really is an important question/answer. Especially since so many are on the market.
Sunnycal
04-12-2008, 01:09 PM
If you do a search for spinal cord stimulator on the RSD board, you should come up with quite a few threads. There have been a lot of pro's and cons about them. You definitely want a surgeon who has had a lot of experience implanting them.
Sunny
Sunny
123dietdrpepper
04-12-2008, 05:37 PM
Also if you do a search on the username Shawley, he has one by Medtronic. He is on the boards off and on - mainly the back problem board and this board.
shawley
04-13-2008, 05:54 PM
Hi , I have the Medtronic Stimulator . Whats ya need to know ?
happygirl440
04-14-2008, 12:10 AM
Hi, I have the ANS model and it's working just great. On ANS's web site they have a link to find doctors in your area so try your companys web site and they may have the same thing.
Good Luck
Cindy
Good Luck
Cindy
lfoster21
04-14-2008, 12:42 AM
Could you guys please tell me what your recovery was like, as well as if you stayed in the hospital over night.
Thanks,
Lorie:angel:
Thanks,
Lorie:angel:
happygirl440
04-14-2008, 12:52 AM
For me it was out patient. I did so well I even skipped recovery. It was about 1 hour and 45 mins for the surgery it self. They wake you up during it to make sure the leads are in the right place for the coverage you need.
Then for the next three months there is no bending, twisting, turning or reaching as you need to make sure the leads stay in place and heal.
The first two days after surgery were the hardest for me. My leads are in T 9-10 and the IPG unit is in my right upper butt check. Your Dr will ask you where you want your IPG unit meaning high or low...due to where you wear your pants.
Then after a week you will have to see the Dr and your company rep will be there and they will add more programs to your unit.
I seen my Dr after 3 weeks then 8 weeks then 3 months.
I have been very happy with having the implant :)
Cindy
Then for the next three months there is no bending, twisting, turning or reaching as you need to make sure the leads stay in place and heal.
The first two days after surgery were the hardest for me. My leads are in T 9-10 and the IPG unit is in my right upper butt check. Your Dr will ask you where you want your IPG unit meaning high or low...due to where you wear your pants.
Then after a week you will have to see the Dr and your company rep will be there and they will add more programs to your unit.
I seen my Dr after 3 weeks then 8 weeks then 3 months.
I have been very happy with having the implant :)
Cindy
shawley
04-14-2008, 08:30 AM
I'm not sure every implant surgery is the same , I had my spine surgeon do mine. He did a Laminectomy first so he could feed the lead down my spine .. My pain management Dr. said he did not do it this way.
I did stay over night in the hospital. Recovery is pretty quick. The only thing that bugged me was where he did the Lami . The battery in my cheek didn't hurt so much. I'm glad I got the stim .:)
I did stay over night in the hospital. Recovery is pretty quick. The only thing that bugged me was where he did the Lami . The battery in my cheek didn't hurt so much. I'm glad I got the stim .:)
lfoster21
04-14-2008, 05:29 PM
I want to thank both of you for all of you answers, to my many questions. I think mine will be very similar to yours, shawley, since I too am having a laminectomy in order to get to the spine. My PM Dr. did the 1st one in his office, by trying to thread the lead to the spine. But I just had too much scar tissue. So, he referred me to this surgeon, who specializes with complex spine problems. He did say that I would spend the night and as long as everything was going well, I would go home the next day.
Thank you both again.
Lorie:angel:
Thank you both again.
Lorie:angel:
happygirl440
04-14-2008, 08:26 PM
OK, I'm confused. Are you having two surgery's at once?
My definition of a laminectomy is The laminectomy surgery is designed to remove a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root to give the nerve root more space
Or were you referring to a laminectomy just as a small incision?
My surgeon did open my upper back in the thoracic area to place the leads in.
Cindy
My definition of a laminectomy is The laminectomy surgery is designed to remove a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root to give the nerve root more space
Or were you referring to a laminectomy just as a small incision?
My surgeon did open my upper back in the thoracic area to place the leads in.
Cindy
123dietdrpepper
04-14-2008, 08:28 PM
I know when Shawley had his implanted his surgeon went in and did other surgery while he was in.
shawley
04-15-2008, 09:27 AM
Cindy who performed your surgery ? Was it your PM. Dr. or your spine surgeon. My spine specialist did mine , he removed bone so he could get the lead closer to my nerves . PM Dr.'s do not do it this way , they just run the lead over the spine instead of up against the nerve itself. This allows better stimulation . I actually had 2 Lami's in my upper back , cause I had to have my lead replaced and where my first Lami was it was scarred to bad for rentry and it was only 3 months after my first lead placement . My PM Dr. told me only spine surgeons do the stim this way.. Sorry it was so confusing .
Shawley :wave:
Shawley :wave:
lfoster21
04-15-2008, 10:57 AM
Yes, what everyone is saying is correct. My PM originally tried it in his office and it could not be done, due to the scar tissue problems. So, he referred me to a spine specialist who will do the whole thing at one time, in the hospital. He will go in and to get to the correct place, he will have to do what he called a laminectomy. He will try to place the leads around T7/8 and then he will wake me up, just long enough to have me tell him where I get the most coverage. If he can find a spot that will cover both my back and legs, then he will put me back to sleep and then do what would ordinarily be the 2nd visit, where he will sew the paddles to my spine area and inplant the unit under my skin.
I hope that clears things up.
Lorie:angel:
I hope that clears things up.
Lorie:angel:
shawley
04-15-2008, 11:20 AM
Lorie this proceedure is pretty easy , as long as your well sedated you won't remember to much . They will probably want you to stay over night to watch you . They did me . The first couple weeks your a little sore but nothing compared to your fusion surgery .
Good Luck :)
Good Luck :)
happygirl440
04-15-2008, 11:57 AM
My PM did mine as out patient at Cleveland Clinic.
Thanks for understanding my confusion and replying back.
Cindy
Thanks for understanding my confusion and replying back.
Cindy
shawley
04-15-2008, 12:00 PM
Cool Cindy, you didn't have to have the Laminectomy for your stim .. Glad it works for you without the Lami .. So you do get back relief huh ? Thats awsome.. I wish it would help my back pain .
Shawley
Shawley
happygirl440
04-15-2008, 12:27 PM
yes, I get great relief. Even with all of my surgeries I do not have a lot of scarring. I have 2 pain pills I take as needed now. Which I do about take once in awhile. I have 90% relief. I do not do a ton of stuff as I know I can not but I am not taking the drugs anymore either. the pain is gone and that was my goal.
Cindy
Cindy
shawley
04-15-2008, 03:59 PM
Thats great cindy , glad you got so much relief from the stim.. Awsome !! :)
kcobb4
06-19-2008, 12:42 AM
Shawley, I am unclear as to whether you received pain relief or not. I have had two neck surgeries, two series of the steroid injections, take pain meds constantly and no relief. The pain has totally changed my personality and I am at the end of my rope. I am only 43 years old!! I still have two young boys at home. I hurt all of the time. I go to see my PM on July 1st to discuss the trial. I am going on vacation in July, so I can't really do the surgery in July. I am hoping to do it the first week in August. I would really be interested in hearing pros and cons and possibly some direction as to who else I can talk to about their experiences. My PM doctor does these a lot and I was referred to him by my neuro surgeon. I am desperate. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't think another surgery is going to help because I just think I have a lot of scar tissue. I hope they don't have to do a laminectomy on me. But at this point, I am willing to try anything. I just don't want to be throwing my money down the drain for another failed attempt for pain relief.
123dietdrpepper
06-19-2008, 08:58 AM
Hi there, Shawley is not on the board alot but from what he has shared with me (I too am very interested in having one implanted and we are buddies). It has definitely helped his pain but it does not cover all of his pain. Don't quote me on it but if my memory serves me right he does not get back pain coverage but gets good leg coverage. It is one or the other but I am pretty sure he does not get the back coverage.
He has the medtronic one implanted. He has recommended the advanced bionic brand because it is supposed to be the cadillac model in his eyes.
You might try doing a search on lfoster21 user name. She has had one implanted and has had great success here is one of her threads.
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=598898&page=3
Last I talked with her she said she does not have as much coverage as initially but it is definitely worth having implanted for the reduction of pain.
I have also found alot of people on the rsd boards have experience with the implants.
Hope this helps.
He has the medtronic one implanted. He has recommended the advanced bionic brand because it is supposed to be the cadillac model in his eyes.
You might try doing a search on lfoster21 user name. She has had one implanted and has had great success here is one of her threads.
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=598898&page=3
Last I talked with her she said she does not have as much coverage as initially but it is definitely worth having implanted for the reduction of pain.
I have also found alot of people on the rsd boards have experience with the implants.
Hope this helps.
kcobb4
06-19-2008, 10:44 AM
123dietdrpepper
Thanks so much. I am going to check out these other boards and talk with them about the implants. I am pretty sure that I am going to do it and it will probably by the medtronic brand because I think that is the brand that my PM uses. I go to see him on July 1st and we will discuss all possibilities. I need to get a list of questions together to ask him. If you know of somewhere I can get a list of questions or frequently asked questions, please let me know. I am going to start putting it together. Maybe it would help if you would let me know what you would like to know. I am having mine for radicular cervical pain in my shoulders, so it will be a little different than Shawley's since his is for his back and legs.
Thanks so much. I am going to check out these other boards and talk with them about the implants. I am pretty sure that I am going to do it and it will probably by the medtronic brand because I think that is the brand that my PM uses. I go to see him on July 1st and we will discuss all possibilities. I need to get a list of questions together to ask him. If you know of somewhere I can get a list of questions or frequently asked questions, please let me know. I am going to start putting it together. Maybe it would help if you would let me know what you would like to know. I am having mine for radicular cervical pain in my shoulders, so it will be a little different than Shawley's since his is for his back and legs.
123dietdrpepper
06-19-2008, 12:00 PM
Would you mind asking him if there has been a recall concerning the leads?
Read this thread:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=609914
Thanks,
Pepper
Read this thread:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=609914
Thanks,
Pepper