Re: New with a question about implanted stimulator for Kathy

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

I had the trial stimulator implanted and it did not work for me. It was just

annoying and as much as I wanted it to distract me from the pain, I could still

feel it. Just be honest during your trial about it. I pray it will work for

you. It does for a lot.

The whole process itself was interesting. My insurance company, Blue Cross

decided afterwards not to pay for any of it as it is considered " experimental "

and left me with a ten thousand dollar bill to pay. I am appealing this. My

doctors cannot believe this stupidity.

When you read any research on my problem, stimulators are a viable option for

us. My debt has been turned over to a collection agency and I am making small

payments while I await the outcome. If the procedure had worked, I would not

care maybe. There is no price too high if I could get rid of my pain I tell

myself on bad days but seeing how it failed, I am just angry at insurance

companies who presume to know more than doctors and would deny this treatment to

others.

Best of luck. Becky

[Guest guest]

Thanks Becky, for your reply. So sorry you are having to fight the insurance

company.

Best of luck.

Kathy

Becky H. wrote:

> I had the trial stimulator implanted and it did not work for me. It was just

annoying and as much as I wanted it to distract me from the pain, I could still

feel it. Just be honest during your trial about it. I pray it will work for you.

It does for a lot.

>

> The whole process itself was interesting. My insurance company, Blue Cross

decided afterwards not to pay for any of it as it is considered " experimental "

and left me with a ten thousand dollar bill to pay. I am appealing this. My

doctors cannot believe this stupidity.

>

[Guest guest]

Kathy

I am afraid I missed your post but I am guessing you were asking about the

neural stimulator?

I have had the stimulator for six months now and I have to agree with

Becky, it can be very annoying. However, for me, it has allowed me to

sleep for a whole night at a time instead of the half an hour to an hour that I

was getting for the two years previous.

I find that it takes a lot of practice and I have to regulate the

intensity of the stimulation but after a while it gets to be like

breathing, i only notice it when there is something wrong. Usually

I am in more pain than usual so I adjust the intensity.

Mine is just about L8/L9 where they thought I would get the most benefit from

it. It works great for the pain I was getting in my right leg but I get more

stimulation in the left leg than the right. During the initial operation, make

sure you tell the surgeon where the most stimulation is and try to get him to

place it correctly, if not, it won't work.

Like I say, I know it does not work for everyone but it certainly works for my

leg. Just wish it did something, anything for the pain in my back!

Best of luck.

Ken.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ken

Kathy

Pasadena TX

Zone 9a. Gumbo

58 inches average rainfall

>Ken wrote:

> Kathy

>

>

> I find that it takes a lot of practice and I have to regulate the

> intensity of the stimulation but after a while it gets to be like

> breathing, i only notice it when there is something wrong. Usually

> I am in more pain than usual so I adjust the intensity.

>

> Mine is just about L8/L9 where they thought I would get the most benefit from

it. It works great for the pain I was getting in my right leg but I get more

stimulation in the left leg than the right. During the initial operation, make

sure you tell the surgeon where the most stimulation is and try to get him to

place it correctly, if not, it won't work.

>

> Like I say, I know it does not work for everyone but it certainly works for my

leg. Just wish it did something, anything for the pain in my back!