spinal cord stimulation, comments - Pain Management Message Board

sammyo1 · 05-21-2008, 07:27 PM

Hello everyone, Went to osteo appointment today. After going over how the treatments have been going & examining me pretty much another confirmation that I am know an official CP patient. The osteo handed me information on spinal cord stimulation for Chronic pain treatment. She ask that I go over it & get back with her if I am interested in investagating further. For those of you who have never heard of it, a device is surgically implanted for pain in the trunk of limbs. This sends low intensity electrical pulses to trigger nerve fibers selectivley along the spianl cord . This is believed to diminish or block the intensity of the pain. It can only be used to help with chronic pain as a disease , not a symptom (little confusing). THis is only considered when all other options are tried or exhauseted, such as therapy, surgery, other forms of cp treatment. The object is to reduce the pain to a manageable level to resume more of a normal lifestyle. The benefits are to:
Provide pain relief, in some cases 50% percent or more
Helps patients reduce the intake of pain meds
Helps patients return to some of the activites they enjoy
According to the doctor & the brochure it can be tested to see how it works before the system is permently implanted, & according to the osteo it can be removed if ever needed.
So has anyone heard of this, tried it or researched it?
I am not so sure it would be as helpful to me as to some others but the osteo said I can read over it & ask her any questions I may have, there will also be a open seminar on it in june for cp patients.
Once again after the treatment today & the examination I was told that pretty much I am a mess. My rib area has alot going on in there & the osteo said she is surprised I was even there today, & surprised I am functioning as well as I am, she said I was a real trooper & could tell just by attempting treatment today that I was willing to try what it took. I did not feel like a trooper, after handing me this stuff I felt like bursting into tears, because she was confirming the fact that she is not sure she can help me. What a mess. She did say I do need to think about PM, which is what I told her my next request will be to my surgeon. I am taking the least amount of pain meds to get by & to be honest I am sick of suffering & want some dang quality of life back. This osteo center comes highly recommneded & has a waiting list to get into, so I am really having to come to terms with this. I am running out of options & definantly realizing I better accept the way it is for now at least, or I am going to set myself up for disappointment. My surgeon had high hopes the osteo would help to. At least she was understanding & came right out & said she will attempt to help me abit more but has to honest & she has no intention on making me come if it causes me any more pain, no treatment that they normally use can be used on me, so cmp you are right, traditional treatments can not be used for myofascial pain.
I was hoping someone can either have some info on this SCS or perhaps it can be something that may help someone here. I am just learning about it but the osteo feels it is worth considering for CP treatment. I have yet to go over the entire booklet. So please share any knowledge you may have or if anyone has any questions about it I can see if I can find the answers in the booklet. The whole CP dx & PM is new to me so bear with me , I may be asking a million questions. Thanks guys, Sammy

cmpgirl · 05-21-2008, 11:36 PM

Sammy: I haven't tried it but my cousin loves his. I was under the impression that it was primarily for nerve pain. There have been a couple of threads, a while back about it, but I don't remember what they all said. I'm sure if you go to the top of the board and do a search, you'll find them.

Wish I could help more. Hugs, CMP/MM

PAULOGGER · 05-22-2008, 02:47 AM

I was offered the same thing by my PM doc. He said it was at best 50% affective 50% of the time. I asked about the actual surgery and risk of bacteria in the open spine. He informed me of the need for a top notch surgeon that can get in and out extremely fast. He said it only takes one bacteria,1, to ruin your day, rather life.
My problem is a constant stinging, burning pain that doesn't keep me from moving around. It's just so intense that I pray for the lord to take me everytime a pray, and that's alot.
My old insurance adjustor(TX. workers comp) made my PM doc so mad they got into it and my insurance stopped paying him. I was on 4 80mg Oxycontin/day with great results. I always thought drugs like that would make a mummy out of you, but I didn't even notice a loss of reflex speed. I was perfectly lucid. Now aft 3 1/2 yrs of that, I'm now back to nothing but incredible pain. When I mention Oxycontin to a doc in AR I feel like the Hubble telescope turned on me with every other sattelite in heaven. I've had two surgeries. One cervacle and one lumbar. I've had back probs since 1985 and tried everything with no help until surgery. I accidently happened on a drug that will miraculasly stop my back pain now. Occasionally I wake up and can't even go to bathroom, 30mgs of methadone and 20mins later I can dance to the bathroom. Unbelirevable! It just does nothing for my neck and thats the real torture and the oxycontin works for that. I just can't find anyone in Arkansas that will prescribe it. Believe me I have a catalog of med files substantiating my need. HELP ME PLEASE! ? God bless you all.

sammyo1 · 05-22-2008, 05:58 AM

Paul I am so sorry, how sad. I know when going into any er or urgent care if you are on narcotics boy does it get a reaction. It really makes you feel pretty low & yes for me angry. The last time two times I was into urgent care they asked why I am not in pain management, well that is a good question & one they should be asking the doctors. I am hoping to get some feed back on the SCS. I truely wish you luck are you in PM? Hang in there & lets us know how you are doing. By looking at the booklet there are differnt brands (not sure if they work differnent) of SCS's with studies comparing them.
cmp, thus far I am not so sure this would work for someone with problems like we have. Looks like it is more for back related issues, but I can ask. Like I said it can done on a trial basis. I want into pm before I would even consider anything like that. I am sure I will be facing the injections & more diagnostic testing & so forth. Always feels like I am starting over again.
Sammy

ms_west · 05-22-2008, 05:13 PM

Okay from what I have reasearched the cadillac model is supposed to be Bionic (sp). There are two other models ANS and Medtronic.

You might also post on the RSD board. Several patients over there use them successfully. Someone on the backboard just had one implanted and is in heaven. I will go see if I can find the thread.

Be back.