r/spinalcordstimulator

I am waiting on getting the trial going. The pain for the last couple years has been debilitating and depressing. I’ve lost my spark and life.

Here’s the kicker, none of the doctors I’ve seen have prescribed any pain medication, because of a new medical rule/law. I have been getting some from a family member to help me get through the incredibly bad days.

In order to move forward with my test, (I was honest with them about the unprescribed pain reliever) they require me to have 2 blood test to make sure that I am “sober” before I can do the actual test.

On a sidenote, I do not have an addictive personality and I’ve been taking 1 to 2 a day typically at night. I don’t abuse it and I have no shame over wanting to live a pain free life.

The issue is, I am in excruciating pain to the point where I can’t work. I can’t lift anything, it hurts to shampoo or brush my hair, do laundry, dishes, cook, pretty much everything that I need to accomplish on a daily basis.

I have tried every other type of therapy under the sun. So how do I get my primary or my pain doctor to prescribe the opiate until I get the tester implanted.
I cannot live like this. I’m beyond my wits end and if I didn’t have my son, I’d considered ending it all.

Hey yall. Has anyone had a positive outcome w sprint’s temporary PNS System? Its leads placed near the affected nerve(s), worn for a maximum 60 days, then removed. I’ve seen a few have tried it without luck, but I’m curious if anyone out there had benefits in pain relief and edema from being it. My friend is an ortho surgeon and has seen it work miracles for shoulder nerve misfirings post-op, but he doesn’t specialize, or know much about, CRPS. Hoping to hear some positive outcomes from this community. TIA, warriors!

Hey folks, I have a trial coming up for C2 SCS implant. I was offered two approaches, one was the most minimally invasive approach, just a lead inserted presumably with a needle, and the more intrusive option included inserting a loop of wire. I’m guessing this second option carries all the additional risk of hematoma/spinal leaks as it must be an actual surgery. Has anyone else had these options presented for the trial, and any advice on the options? Cheers

Hey there,
I (25/F) am a few weeks away from my trail and hopefully the implantation of an Abbott Proclaim device to deal with pain from endometriosis.
I really like to plan ahead and did research from which I learned that I should not move my spine as much, meaning bending and stretching etc.

However I am wondering about the extend of how much movement is actually allowed/possible?
Am I supposed to not bend down to pick something up, for example, or should I just move more carefully and leave heavy lifting until I‘m fully healed?
My doctor told me, another patient of his did some damage when chopping wood two weeks post surgery, which sounds definitely more extreme than picking up my dogs food bowl.

My question is, ultimately, do I need any tools or aides to function after surgery or am I just stressing to much?

Thank you :)

Hello,

34 year old male, dealing with chronic back issues l4/l5 for the past 5 years. My disk blew out and caused me not to be able to walk. The neurosurgeon said it was the biggest herniation he has ever seen. That was 2 years ago. I would go to PT, I workout and walk everyday (not heavy lifting at all!). Mostly do stair stepper and bike. I had to case pay Intracept in March this year for one last hope of this pain going away. I am in about 5-6/10 everyday. I did the trail for the scs back in October 2025. I would say the surgery pain lasted a good 7 days (felt like burning). My trial was 9 days due to some scheduling issues. But I do felt like ultimately it worked.

I just need hope I am doing the right thing. I have been active my entire life. Basketball, hiking, etc. My life has been so depressing since all these back issues. I can’t be normal. I have done so many injections, PT, intracept all of it! But I am to the point this pain has made my life hell. I have 6 kids to take care of.

1. Am I doing the right thing? Anything positive people can give me?

2. What was your recovery like?

3. Is this my last hope?

I'm having my scs removed this Thursday. I've had it for 2 or 3 years now and it has not helped me one bit. I've also become really frustrated with all the MRI's I have to have (I've had a knee replacement and hip replacement since getting it and will have another knee and hip replacement and possible shoulder surgery) and having to do the impedance tests, fully charge it, basically a hassle in my opinion. Has anyone else here had theirs removed or will be having it removed? What's been your experiences?

*Edit - Update, surgery went well yesterday. I think I was in surgery for a whole 30 minutes. I'm in a little pain today. It varys between a 3 and a 5. Mostly 3. I feel like my back is swollen around the incisions, so I've been icing and took some Tylenol. I'm on a 6 week restriction of no bending/twisting/lifting/stretching and no carrying anything over 5 pounds.

I’m hoping to hear from anyone with a similar story, especially those who ultimately tried a spinal cord stimulator or revision surgery.

I originally had lower back pain and left-sided sciatica with persistent calf tightness/weakness. After conservative treatments and epidurals, I had a left L4-L5 microdiscectomy in April 2024.

Unfortunately, surgery made me worse rather than better. I had increased leg/calf pain almost immediately afterward and later reherniated (though very minorly) Since then, I’ve continued to struggle with chronic nerve pain.

My main symptoms now are lower back pain and nerve pain/tightness through my hamstring and calf, about 90% on the left side, although I occasionally get similar symptoms on the right. I also have chronic nerve pain into my foot/toes.

I’ve tried extensive PT, medications, multiple epidurals/nerve injections, acupuncture, etc. An EMG showed chronic denervation but no active nerve damage.

Earlier this year I was doing somewhat better and could regularly do lumbar extension/press-ups. Then I went to a new acupuncture provider who used very aggressive electrical stimulation in my low back/glute/calf. I had a major flare afterward and never returned to my previous baseline. Since then, my pain has been pretty unbearable.

My latest contrast MRI showed postoperative granulation/scar tissue at L4-L5 contacting/compressing the left L5 nerve root. It also showed nerve clumping, which the radiologist called suspicious for arachnoiditis.

The hard part is that there is no clear compression on my nerves. My doctors aren’t certain what is responsible for my symptoms. My surgeon thinks my MRI clearly shows arachnoiditis but isn’t sure if that or the scar tissue is the main culprit.

At this point, my surgeon and pain management doctor have given me two main options:

1. Revision surgery to go back into L4-L5 and try to remove the scar tissue around the nerve. The concern is that revision surgery has a higher risk of complications/CSF leak, and the scar tissue could simply return and potentially make things worse.

2. Spinal cord stimulator trial. Both doctors are leaning toward this because it’s reversible and avoids another surgery in an already scarred area.

Hoping to hear from anyone in a similar boat. My doctors tell me it’s extremely rare to get arachnoiditis from a laminectomy, so I guess I’m just lucky :(

Hi !

I’m about seven weeks post op from a laminectomy and cervical/thoracic SCS. I’m curious where everyone was at week 7? Back to work full time(if physical job)? Still dealing with pain? Lifting 20lbs or more ?

The SCS has worked wonders for my neck and arms, like total night and day. But my lower back has not been cooperating at all. It’s so bad that it hurts just to sneeze right now.

My daughter is moving out of state, and she asked me to drive her there. It is supposed to be a 19 hour drive. I found out today that I will be having my implant surgery exactly 3 weeks before the day we were planning on leaving on this road trip (surgery August 17, trip on September 7).

Is this going to be an issue? From what I saw by searching, the main thing would be to make sure not to twist too much. I also saw the suggestion of stopping to walk/stretch every 60 to 90 minutes. I didn't get the chance to talk to my surgeon about it yet, and it is a little too late to be asking the Boston Scientific rep.

Worst case scenario, I could have surgery postponed until after the trip. However, my surgeon wants to do the surgery ASAP, as do I. I obviously won't make a decision prior to speaking to my care team, but wanted to get some feedback since I won't hear from anyone until Monday at the earliest. Thanks in advance for your comments!