hi...i'm a rather new person here but want to share info on my attempt to receive pain relief from scs. i have had 40 yrs of leg, back, and neck/arm pain. ive had 7 surgeries. i have ddd, stenosis, ligementum flavum, and facet hypertrophy. my condition was agravated by an endocrine disease that caused my bones to grow excessively, especially in my ribs, neck and spine. bones have literally rapped around nerves.
my last hope is the spinal cord stimulator. my pm dr tried to insert a trial lead into position to test how i would react. unfortunately too much bony growth prevented dr from getting the lead in next to spinal cord.
since my pain appeared to be such that the scs would work a plan was developed to drill away part of my lamina and insert the scs paddle.[ANS]
after 3 hour procedure the scs was inserted. i was sent home 2 days after surgery and had no incision pain either for the paddle or battery incisions. my muscles were extremely sore from lying on my stomach for 3 hours.
unfortunately my pain has not been reduced. i have been back for reprogramming but to no avail. i saw my neurosurgeon yesterday and he feels confident the right stimulation can be achieved. the pm dr said if it takes 100 reprogramming he will try to help me. right now the stimulator is on low and does not seem to stimulate my legs. i will try to keep you all posted just so someone might be helped by my info.....pete