Re: Neurostimulation

[Guest guest]

Hi Mindy,

I have the Advanced Bionics Precision Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted in my

back due to failed back syndrome and a degenerative disc condition. I also have

a very mild form of cerebral palsy.

I had the implant since 1997. The pain is not completely gone, but the amount

of relief I've gotten is substantial!!

Good luck!

Jef

>mindy wrote:

Hi everyone

>I fell and broke my elbow (fractured the head of the radius from the impact of

my out-stretched hand hitting the sidewalk) on July 11, 2008 at work and had to

have surgery with 2 pins. I regained function in my arm, but since then I've

been dealing with horrible nerve pain in my arm, hand, and fingers which hasn't

responded to any kind of treatment, therapy, or injection.

[Guest guest]

I have a neurostimulator and have had it for almost two years. It has made a

large difference for me in my ability to have better pain control and not take

medication as I did before. I generally only take medicine in the evening about

an hour before bed. If I don't, I wake up with muscle cramps.

The first brand of stimulator I had gave me problems as the leads would not stay

in place and I had to have them replaced. I then had the stimulator go out.

When the doctor had to go in to replace things for the third time, I went with a

completely different manufacturer. Since then, I haven't had any trouble with

the my stimulator at all and that was well over a year ago.

My diagnosis is RSD so my cause of chronic pain my be completely different than

yours.

I tolerate working full time without any increase in my pain level during the

day that can't be handled by turning up my stimulation.

Lori in Texas

Mindy wrote:

My pain specialist has suggested Neurostimulation. It " sounds " great, but I know

things can sound better than they actually are. He gave me information from St.

Jude Medical. Has anyone else had a neurostimulator implanted? Did it help? What

do you like/dislike about it? Was it from the same company? I'm looking for any

information I can get, so I would really appreciate anyone who is willing to

share their experience with me.

[Guest guest]

Lori and Jef

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. Lori, while I don't have an RSD

diagnosis, I do have some RSD-like symptoms; ie, cold sensitivity, touch

sensitivity. If I know someone has to touch my arm, I can handle it, but a

surprise bothers me...a light touch is actually worse.

Hopefully I will get some help from a stimulator like you both did!

~Mindy

[Guest guest]

>

>

> My pain specialist has suggested Neurostimulation. It " sounds " great, but I

know things can sound better than they actually are. He gave me information

from St. Jude Medical. Has anyone else had a neurostimulator implanted? Did it

help? What do you like/dislike about it? Was it from the same company? I'm

looking for any information I can get, so I would really appreciate anyone who

is willing to share their experience with me.

>

>

Hi, Mindy.

I am 56 years old and have a chronic pain condition from years of arthritis in

my back, shoulders and pelvis (ankylosing spondylitis). I went for a

Laminectomy in 2005 that triggered a condition called adhesive arachnoiditis,

which is inflammation of the arachnoid membrane of the spinal column. This

illness leaves behind scar tissue on the spinal nerves along with fluid filled

cysts further putting pressure on the nerves. Very painful, beyond description.

I opted for the Advanced Bionics (Boston Scientific) Neurostimulator to help

with my pain management program. It has allowed me to reduce some of the

narcotics that I take and seems to take some of the hard edge off of the pain

for me. But it is not a end-all be-all solution.

It is very difficult to compare the trial to the real thing since they are not

really the same from a technical perspective. There are too many variables that

can interfere with the trial. Plus the trial test period is too short, which

makes a decision very difficult.

If you think your body will tolerate the system and your insurance will cover

the procedure, it is probably a good thing to give it a try.

Good Luck to you and I hope you get to feeling better. Time, good doctors,

therapists and the love of friends that care really help as much as the high

tech equipment.

Take care...