Guest guest Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 Hi Jeannie I had one in my hip for over a year and I am a pretty little person. They can implant them in your hip or your stomach depends on the dr where they put it. I never had trouble with any doors or security or anything affecting mine but I know a person that had a really bad time with his. Honestly I think the person who programs it has alot to do with problems later on. It really helped me with my sciatic pain in my whole left side, I could turn it on or up or down depending on what my pain was like. They decided to take it out when I had my fusion done as it was not helping with the new pain I had. I honestly started to miss it at first whenever my leg would hurt I would start to think I needed to turn it on again and get some relief from the pain. But I did not miss the size of it mine was a 3 in. circle and it was pretty big, they do make them alot smaller now which I am sure is nicer. Yes they do a pre test on you to see if it will help you before they will do the surgery. But when I had mine done I could tell the very first day a BIG difference in how much it helped with my pain. All in all even with two surgeries and two scars from having it done I'd do it again, I think it was worth it. There is a link all about them in the links section. Its made by Medtronics and its called a Dorsal Spinal Stimulator. They have a control kind of like a tv remote to activate them, you just put it on top of it to use it. If anyone has any questions about this feel free to email me I'd be glad to offer any help I can. And yes I was at the point when I had this done I would have done ANYTHING To get rid of some of that pain, it was the only option the dr's had for me at the time and nothing else medication wise or anything else was helping me at all. I was told they also use these to treat people with other problems too. Hope this helps. Sharon Group Owner > > Hi all, > My girlfriend has one implanted, it helped her for awhile, but now she wants it out! They haven't found exactly what is wrong with her, she has so much pain from her neck to her toes, and she just got Medicare-she got the stimulator before losing her old insurance. You have to turn it off and on when you're near electric doors, microwaves, she can't have MRI's done with it. But-it may be helpful to others. I was told I can't have one because I'm too skinny, part of it protrudes like a pacemaker, and I don't have enough fat to cover it and keep it from rubbing against anything. I know they do a pre-test to see if you are suitable for it. When you're in so much pain, I think most people are willing to try anything to alleviate it, including myself. > > > Jeannie > > > > hey ya'll > > There was an article in the Detroit Free Press Sunday that was brought > to my attention I tried to find a link to it online but was not able to. > I did however find a link to the device they wrote about and I have > included it in this email. The article was about a guy that survived > the Ford Rouge Plant explosion 8 years ago. He says he is nearly pain > free now with this implant and the story states the the device is > covered by most insurances. Just thought I would pass this info on to > you guys. Maybe it can help someone... The link is > > http://www.controly ourpain.com/ > > I hope this helps someone > > Vikki > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ _______________ > Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels > in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit. > http://farechase./promo-generic-14795097 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 Hi Jeannie I had one in my hip for over a year and I am a pretty little person. They can implant them in your hip or your stomach depends on the dr where they put it. I never had trouble with any doors or security or anything affecting mine but I know a person that had a really bad time with his. Honestly I think the person who programs it has alot to do with problems later on. It really helped me with my sciatic pain in my whole left side, I could turn it on or up or down depending on what my pain was like. They decided to take it out when I had my fusion done as it was not helping with the new pain I had. I honestly started to miss it at first whenever my leg would hurt I would start to think I needed to turn it on again and get some relief from the pain. But I did not miss the size of it mine was a 3 in. circle and it was pretty big, they do make them alot smaller now which I am sure is nicer. Yes they do a pre test on you to see if it will help you before they will do the surgery. But when I had mine done I could tell the very first day a BIG difference in how much it helped with my pain. All in all even with two surgeries and two scars from having it done I'd do it again, I think it was worth it. There is a link all about them in the links section. Its made by Medtronics and its called a Dorsal Spinal Stimulator. They have a control kind of like a tv remote to activate them, you just put it on top of it to use it. If anyone has any questions about this feel free to email me I'd be glad to offer any help I can. And yes I was at the point when I had this done I would have done ANYTHING To get rid of some of that pain, it was the only option the dr's had for me at the time and nothing else medication wise or anything else was helping me at all. I was told they also use these to treat people with other problems too. Hope this helps. Sharon Group Owner > > Hi all, > My girlfriend has one implanted, it helped her for awhile, but now she wants it out! They haven't found exactly what is wrong with her, she has so much pain from her neck to her toes, and she just got Medicare-she got the stimulator before losing her old insurance. You have to turn it off and on when you're near electric doors, microwaves, she can't have MRI's done with it. But-it may be helpful to others. I was told I can't have one because I'm too skinny, part of it protrudes like a pacemaker, and I don't have enough fat to cover it and keep it from rubbing against anything. I know they do a pre-test to see if you are suitable for it. When you're in so much pain, I think most people are willing to try anything to alleviate it, including myself. > > > Jeannie > > > > hey ya'll > > There was an article in the Detroit Free Press Sunday that was brought > to my attention I tried to find a link to it online but was not able to. > I did however find a link to the device they wrote about and I have > included it in this email. The article was about a guy that survived > the Ford Rouge Plant explosion 8 years ago. He says he is nearly pain > free now with this implant and the story states the the device is > covered by most insurances. Just thought I would pass this info on to > you guys. Maybe it can help someone... The link is > > http://www.controly ourpain.com/ > > I hope this helps someone > > Vikki > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ _______________ > Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels > in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit. > http://farechase./promo-generic-14795097 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 At 09:22 PM 2/7/07, you wrote: >If anyone >has any questions about this feel free to email me I'd be glad to >offer any help I can. And yes I was at the point when I had this >done I would have done ANYTHING To get rid of some of that pain, it >was the only option the dr's had for me at the time and nothing else >medication wise or anything else was helping me at all. I was told >they also use these to treat people with other problems too. Hope >this helps. Sharon Group Owner Is it sort of like a tens unit, but connected directly to the pain source, instead of via patches on the skin. Is that the feeling you get with it. Right now tonight my shoulder pain is off the chart. I've medicated all I safely can, I've had two massages, and I'm ready for my second Ice pack. I came downstairs because I was keeping my Wife up. I plan on sitting in my Lazy Boy chair with my Shiatzu massager. I got the tape from Medtronics after seeing Jerry on Larry King. My Doc told me the Morphine pump doesn't work well with upper back pain. But maybe I'll look into the stimulator. Thanks, Dave When I download my images off the CD I'll post them for the group. It was tough holding still for one hour in the tube. 45 minutes normal CT, and then 15 more after a contrast dye was injected. The pain was less when I crossed my ankles, but they said I couldn't do that. So I picked a spot on the inside of the tunnel above my face and just concentrated on that one spot to minimize the pain and keep still. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 At 09:22 PM 2/7/07, you wrote: >If anyone >has any questions about this feel free to email me I'd be glad to >offer any help I can. And yes I was at the point when I had this >done I would have done ANYTHING To get rid of some of that pain, it >was the only option the dr's had for me at the time and nothing else >medication wise or anything else was helping me at all. I was told >they also use these to treat people with other problems too. Hope >this helps. Sharon Group Owner Is it sort of like a tens unit, but connected directly to the pain source, instead of via patches on the skin. Is that the feeling you get with it. Right now tonight my shoulder pain is off the chart. I've medicated all I safely can, I've had two massages, and I'm ready for my second Ice pack. I came downstairs because I was keeping my Wife up. I plan on sitting in my Lazy Boy chair with my Shiatzu massager. I got the tape from Medtronics after seeing Jerry on Larry King. My Doc told me the Morphine pump doesn't work well with upper back pain. But maybe I'll look into the stimulator. Thanks, Dave When I download my images off the CD I'll post them for the group. It was tough holding still for one hour in the tube. 45 minutes normal CT, and then 15 more after a contrast dye was injected. The pain was less when I crossed my ankles, but they said I couldn't do that. So I picked a spot on the inside of the tunnel above my face and just concentrated on that one spot to minimize the pain and keep still. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Hi Dave YES I do think you deserve to get on disability after all you have been thru in so many years of suffering. I think many more people in the group deserve more help than they get but I think we all hate to ask for it, as its just our nature not too. I know that for a long time even my family had no idea how bad of shape I was in because I hid it from them as I did with most people. Just the way I am I hate people seeing me in pain I think most of us are that way. Anyway as for the stimulator it is surgically connected to the nerve bundle in your upper middle back, then the thing is implanted in your hip or stomach. The two are connected with wires. It is stronger than a tens unit mainly because I think its connected directly to the nerves. I am not sure if it will work on upper back problems I know it does on the lower back. The unit sends out electric pulses that distract the pain from going down the nerves to the source of your pain. Using the remote control you can control how strong and how often the pulses are sent. Before I got mine implanted I had to go to the hospital and they hooked wires into my spine, taped up my WHOLE ENTIRE back ( that was funny I felt like a tape scarecrow) then they gave me a portable unit that hooked to the wires and went on a belt. The idea is for people to try it out and see if it helps before they go thru the surgery to have it implanted. Also they had me go thru conseling to make sure I could handle having something inside my body. Alot of people compare them to pacemakers as I think they are pretty similar. The trial was for one week and the dr told me most people usually know right away if it is going to help enough to go thru with the surgery. He was right I knew the first day how much better my pain was, I was ready to have the surgery done that week But I had to wait a few weeks to have it done. Mine was prety long 5 hrs mainly because they had a bad connector and could not figure out which one it was. They keep waking you up during the surgery to make sure everything is set up right and working properly. That part I did NOT like at all. By the last time they woke me up I was ready to deck someone. I felt like I was just going back to sleep and they kept waking me up to ask me all kinds of dumb questions It was important at the time but very annoying right then. After my surgery the company rep came to my room and double checked that it was all working properly, set up the remote and showed me how to use it. The first thing my son said when he saw the remote was " wow can I turn you on and off from across the room and laughed " well it doesn't work that way thank heavens, you have to put the remote directly on top of the implant to make it work. They told me at first to use it only during the day and try nd turn it off at nite. But eventually I got so used to it being on, I'd forget and leave it on for days at a time before I realized I hadn't turned it off. It did take some getting used too I won't say it didn't. It kind of reminded me of touching and electric fence ( something I do fairly often by accident at home) not totally unpleasant but it did take some getting used too. you will have to ssk your dr and double check about it helping you with upper back pain I really don't know if it will help with that or not. I sure hope it will and maybe this will be a way for you to get some pain relief. Best wishes. Sharon Group Owner ( sorry for the book everyone else)- -- In neck pain , Cruikshank <d.cruikshank@...> wrote: > > At 09:22 PM 2/7/07, you wrote: > > Is it sort of like a tens unit, but connected directly to the pain > source, instead of via patches on the skin. Is that the feeling you > get with it. Right now tonight my shoulder pain is off the > chart. I've medicated all I safely can, I've had two massages, and > I'm ready for my second Ice pack. I came downstairs because I was > keeping my Wife up. I plan on sitting in my Lazy Boy chair with my > Shiatzu massager. I got the tape from Medtronics after seeing Jerry > on Larry King. My Doc told me the Morphine pump doesn't work > well with upper back pain. But maybe I'll look into the > stimulator. Thanks, Dave When I download my images off the CD I'll > post them for the group. It was tough holding still for one hour in > the tube. 45 minutes normal CT, and then 15 more after a contrast > dye was injected. The pain was less when I crossed my ankles, but > they said I couldn't do that. So I picked a spot on the inside of > the tunnel above my face and just concentrated on that one spot to > minimize the pain and keep still. Dave > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Hi Dave YES I do think you deserve to get on disability after all you have been thru in so many years of suffering. I think many more people in the group deserve more help than they get but I think we all hate to ask for it, as its just our nature not too. I know that for a long time even my family had no idea how bad of shape I was in because I hid it from them as I did with most people. Just the way I am I hate people seeing me in pain I think most of us are that way. Anyway as for the stimulator it is surgically connected to the nerve bundle in your upper middle back, then the thing is implanted in your hip or stomach. The two are connected with wires. It is stronger than a tens unit mainly because I think its connected directly to the nerves. I am not sure if it will work on upper back problems I know it does on the lower back. The unit sends out electric pulses that distract the pain from going down the nerves to the source of your pain. Using the remote control you can control how strong and how often the pulses are sent. Before I got mine implanted I had to go to the hospital and they hooked wires into my spine, taped up my WHOLE ENTIRE back ( that was funny I felt like a tape scarecrow) then they gave me a portable unit that hooked to the wires and went on a belt. The idea is for people to try it out and see if it helps before they go thru the surgery to have it implanted. Also they had me go thru conseling to make sure I could handle having something inside my body. Alot of people compare them to pacemakers as I think they are pretty similar. The trial was for one week and the dr told me most people usually know right away if it is going to help enough to go thru with the surgery. He was right I knew the first day how much better my pain was, I was ready to have the surgery done that week But I had to wait a few weeks to have it done. Mine was prety long 5 hrs mainly because they had a bad connector and could not figure out which one it was. They keep waking you up during the surgery to make sure everything is set up right and working properly. That part I did NOT like at all. By the last time they woke me up I was ready to deck someone. I felt like I was just going back to sleep and they kept waking me up to ask me all kinds of dumb questions It was important at the time but very annoying right then. After my surgery the company rep came to my room and double checked that it was all working properly, set up the remote and showed me how to use it. The first thing my son said when he saw the remote was " wow can I turn you on and off from across the room and laughed " well it doesn't work that way thank heavens, you have to put the remote directly on top of the implant to make it work. They told me at first to use it only during the day and try nd turn it off at nite. But eventually I got so used to it being on, I'd forget and leave it on for days at a time before I realized I hadn't turned it off. It did take some getting used too I won't say it didn't. It kind of reminded me of touching and electric fence ( something I do fairly often by accident at home) not totally unpleasant but it did take some getting used too. you will have to ssk your dr and double check about it helping you with upper back pain I really don't know if it will help with that or not. I sure hope it will and maybe this will be a way for you to get some pain relief. Best wishes. Sharon Group Owner ( sorry for the book everyone else)- -- In neck pain , Cruikshank <d.cruikshank@...> wrote: > > At 09:22 PM 2/7/07, you wrote: > > Is it sort of like a tens unit, but connected directly to the pain > source, instead of via patches on the skin. Is that the feeling you > get with it. Right now tonight my shoulder pain is off the > chart. I've medicated all I safely can, I've had two massages, and > I'm ready for my second Ice pack. I came downstairs because I was > keeping my Wife up. I plan on sitting in my Lazy Boy chair with my > Shiatzu massager. I got the tape from Medtronics after seeing Jerry > on Larry King. My Doc told me the Morphine pump doesn't work > well with upper back pain. But maybe I'll look into the > stimulator. Thanks, Dave When I download my images off the CD I'll > post them for the group. It was tough holding still for one hour in > the tube. 45 minutes normal CT, and then 15 more after a contrast > dye was injected. The pain was less when I crossed my ankles, but > they said I couldn't do that. So I picked a spot on the inside of > the tunnel above my face and just concentrated on that one spot to > minimize the pain and keep still. Dave > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Eileen== I thought you might like to read what this fellow says about the stimutator that he had put in his back.===Bea Busy Bea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Eileen== I thought you might like to read what this fellow says about the stimutator that he had put in his back.===Bea Busy Bea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 I do not know what happened to the fellow who had the spinal stimulator put in his back. Busy Bea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 I do not know what happened to the fellow who had the spinal stimulator put in his back. Busy Bea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Hi Bea if you read back on this topic I replied to you about the stimulator. And I am a SHE not a he last time I looked in the mirror Sharon Group Owner > > I do not know what happened to the fellow who had the spinal stimulator > put in his back. > > Busy Bea > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Hi Bea if you read back on this topic I replied to you about the stimulator. And I am a SHE not a he last time I looked in the mirror Sharon Group Owner > > I do not know what happened to the fellow who had the spinal stimulator > put in his back. > > Busy Bea > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 I'll never disagree that it DOES work for some people...but saying " I would not hesitate " is a strong sentence. There is a specific patient population it is meant for, and if chosen carefully, you can increase % of those it works for.. But ALWAYS hesitate when you are considering allowing someone to implant ANYHING on top of your spinal cord! these electrodes are placed DIRECTLY ontop of your spinal cord...closer than even fusion hardware. There are many complications that can arise from these devices and this procedure is NEVER to be taken lightly. For people who are at the end of the line, yes, it's probably worth a shot. But for every ten people who get the device , it works for only 3 to 5 people. This is why they do a trial, because it's success rates are not that high. But I caution anyone to never be so flip about not thinking twice. It has a place, for sure, but it should always be a serious discussion. And again, never allow anyone to implant one of these devices who has not done at least thirty of them. your spine is not a playground!  --- Babbitt ________________________________ From: hangingin4593 <no_reply > spinal problems Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 2:10:40 PM Subject: " Spinal Stimulator "  Hi OK Donna-- My sister has had the spinal cord stimulator for over a year. Great success. She's had 4 back surgeries... this works. A good friend who broke her back 15 years ago has one. She has a titanium cage that has slipped thirty degrees and presses on her spine and she got one. She's on the near max dose of oxycontin and uses 'pain lollipops' in addition for break through pain. She said it provides a bit of relief--but, she's so desperate for any relief, she said that it is absolutely worth it. I wouldn't hesitate to get it. You control the zapping and if you didn't like it, you would be able to control it by turning it off. Now, I know my sister's had to be adjusted after a year and I can't remember why. So, I would be sure to ask the doc what type of maintenance is required for the device, how often and how is it done. But, based upon two people that I know that have suffered monstrous amounts of pain, their feedback is all positive. They've said nothing negative about it. Ellen > Yesterday, my pain management Dr. suggested a trial of a spinal cord stimulator.. ..the part costs $78K! My ins. will cover, but will it help? I've read both pro's and con's. . > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 tracy well said....secondly well said.....i have a stim...and for the lady with the slipped hardware..SHE SHOULD NOT BE A CANDIDATE...if the hardware is the problem...the dr.should remove and replace the hardware....stims are appropriate as end of the line..i.e.there is no surgical fix to help the problem...and i would compare the first persons comparison...of the stim of telling someone just go ahead and get a pacemaker...u can always turn it off....the risk of the procedure is not minimal...in fact the biggest risk...as explained...death... deb rn ---------- Sent from my Verizon Wireless mobile phone - " Spinal Stimulator "  Hi OK Donna-- My sister has had the spinal cord stimulator for over a year. Great success She's had 4 back surgeries... this works. A good friend who broke her back 15 years ago has one. She has a titanium cage that has slipped thirty degrees and presses on her spine and she got one. She's on the near max dose of oxycontin and uses 'pain lollipops' in addition for break through pain. She said it provides a bit of relief--but, she's so desperate for any relief, she said that it is absolutely worth it. I wouldn't hesitate to get it. You control the zapping and if you didn't like it, you would be able to control it by turning it off. Now, I know my sister's had to be adjusted after a year and I can't remember why. So, I would be sure to ask the doc what type of maintenance is required for the device, how often and how is it done. But, based upon two people that I know that have suffered monstrous amounts of pain, their feedback is all positive. They've said nothing negative about it. Ellen > Yesterday, my pain management Dr. suggested a trial of a spinal cord stimulator.. ..the part costs $78K! My ins. will cover, but will it help? I've read both pro's and con's. . > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 After trying epidurals, meds, I decided to try the spinal stimulator. You have to go through a trial for a week before it can be permanently implanted to see if it works for you. I didn't even get that far. The doctor was unable to insert the needle into my spine because there was absolutely no place to put it. I have a heavy bony fusion plus a lot of scar tissue plus a lot of hardware so no room. Right now I am trying accupuncture to see if that helps. Hope the stimulator works for you.Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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