Hi - i've had two back surgeries (the last
was a fusion at l4-l5) in the past four
years - along with four series of nerve
blocks. Nothing has worked to control my
pain.
To be short - I can't sit, walk, or stand
for very long without having increased
pain in my lower back, hip and right
leg.
I went to a pain management clinic. It
is suppose to be the best in my area.
The doctor suggested a spinal cord
stimulator. Following that meeting, I
have done the following:
#1. Got a second opinion from a
orthopedic doctor. He stated "your hips
are fine, there isn't any reason for your
hips to hurt. The pain is being referred
from your back."
#2. I will have a ctscan next week to
make sure there isn't any other reason for
the back pain. (like a new disc
problem.)
#3. In about a week, i'll go to the back
surgeon for the results of the ctscan.
I'm really not sure that I want to have
this scs implanted. I'm interested in
hearing from people who have had the scs -
pro's and con's - is there any other
avenue I should try first?
|
gjzh
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 28 Location: ,
Posted: 08-23-06 10:10am
Dawbair,
as difficult as it might be to believe
your hip pain is coming from your lumbar
spine, it is true. I too had terrible
pain in my hips and thought I must have
arthritis in my hips, which you could, but
mine came from my lumbar spine. I too
have had a lumbar fusion, l1 to s1, and
have discovered that the pain from the
hips has dissapated.
I too was offered a spinal cord stimulator
for pain, but have been told that the scs
is an absolutely last result. There are
many other things you can do to help with
pain and I would exhaust those first. If
your pain is localized to one area of the
spine, then a scs may help you, but if not
it will not work.
I was told by more than one surgeon that
the scs would not help me because I had
pain from the cervical spine as well as
the thoracic and lumbar. The scs will
only work in one particular area. It is
expensive to have a scs implanted, so I
would definitely get more than one opinion
before allowing implantation.
Thank you so much for your input. You
confirm what i've been thinking - the scs
is a big step to take and not one to be
taken unless one has exhausted all other
sources.
I had my scan done and will see my surgeon
next week.
Dawn
|
gjzh
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 28 Location: ,
Posted: 08-23-06 10:46am
I have sent you a pm message as well.....I
think it is wise to wait to see what is on
the mri. You should know too that once
they implant the scs I do not think you
can have an mri after implantation...That
is why you should make certain it is
absolutely your last resort. Know too
that some people have gone this route and
it has helped. I just was not ready to
be wired. I went for the fusion of the
entire lumbar spine and hoping for pain
relief. The scs are also very expensive
to have implanted. I think in the range
of $20,000. They always do a test first
though to determine if this will help
you.
