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Excaliber wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:09 am My wife has similar longstanding major back issues and also had 2 spinal fusion surgeries that were only partially successful.

She tried a stimulator over a decade ago and it failed (don't remember the manufacturer).

Her current pain management doctor suggested she take another look at the technology which had advanced a lot since her first experience. The trial was successful, and she had the permanent implant done over a year ago. It is working very well, and when adjustments are needed the rep is very easy to reach and very responsive. We're very pleased. The manufacturer is Boston Scientific.

I hope this info might help your wife as well.

RPBrown wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 7:24 am Long story-short version: My wife has struggled with back issues for years. She has had 2 spinal fusions, both of which helped for a while. 2 years ago, she started having issues again. she didn't want to have another major surgery so we spoke to our family doctor (also a friend) and he set an appointment with a pain management doc. The PM doc talked to is about a spinal stimulator. He said she could go through a trial to see if it worked for her. She decided to try it so she was scheduled with a surging to do the procedure. Basically its (2) 26" leads placed in her back attached to a control/battery pack and attached to an IPad. The trial worked great so she decided to go with the fully installed version in which the leads and control/battery pack is surgically installed. Her recovery time is about a week. This version has not worked at all and the manufactures rep that is supposed to be at each of her appointments to assist and adjust as needed has only shown up a couple of times.
2 weeks ago she had another appointment with the surgeon because she was ready to just have it removed. He found that 1 side was not even connecting and the other side would not adjust past a minimum setting. He stated that they have started having issues with this brand as well as their reps. He convinced her to try another brand that he likes a LOT better and has great success with. So, on Nov. 13 she is going in to have the old one removed and a new one installed. Please pray that not only does the surgery go well but also the new device works as its supposed to.

carlson1 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 10:28 am Praying for your wife my friend. I never tried the stimulator, but I had five trials with the pain pump. The leads would come unconnected and I would leak spinal fluid. Then I would have the worse headaches known to man. They would take me to the OR and do what they called a “blood patch” after a while I told them no more. The best thing I have done is the ketamine infusions. It was definitely not fun, but has done so much to take me back to where sometimes I get away with a tylenol.

If I can be help just down the street please let me know.

RPBrown wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 10:04 am

Excaliber wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:09 am My wife has similar longstanding major back issues and also had 2 spinal fusion surgeries that were only partially successful.

She tried a stimulator over a decade ago and it failed (don't remember the manufacturer).

Her current pain management doctor suggested she take another look at the technology which had advanced a lot since her first experience. The trial was successful, and she had the permanent implant done over a year ago. It is working very well, and when adjustments are needed the rep is very easy to reach and very responsive. We're very pleased. The manufacturer is Boston Scientific.

I hope this info might help your wife as well.

Thank you. That is the manufacture she will be going with. The previous was Abbott Labs