Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) or Neurostimulation

I have a progressive neuromuscular disease that produces a lot of neurogenic pain in my back and legs. I also get the electric shock like pains throughout my body and dysthesia in my feet. I have tried almost all of the pain meds without success. I usually get such weird side effects that I become totally dysfunctional - and still retain the pain. I am allergic to opoids so they are completely out of the question (I was given a small amount of an opiod while in the hospital. After a few minutes I developed a huge rash, and extreme difficulty breathing, and my heart rate shot to 250 beats per minute. The hospital staff spend the next 30 minutes pumping me full of drugs to counteract the opiod.)

It was then suggested that I try a Spinal Cord Stimulator. I tried the standard model with no success. I had to run the stimulator at 100% just to notice that it was on. I was told be the rep that 20 - 25% was normal and anything over 50% was extreme. I was surprised to discover that the paresthesia did cover the area of my pain but all it did was compete with the pain. I felt both the paresthesia and the pain. The leads were removed.

I then tried the newer version by Nevro. This device does not produce the paresthesia, it just eliminates the pain. I had the leads put in. Unfortunately this did not work. In fact, at some settings I had more pain than usual. It produced pain comparable to when my pain normally spikes. Otherwise, there was no difference in the level of the pain I normally experience. The leads were removed as well.

My conclusions from these events suggest that in might work for others but not for me. I am a non-standard case, however. It has been pointed out that I have a defective spinal cord so it is likely that my spine responds to a stimulus in an odd way. Also, the area of pain I experience is quite extensive. The device may be more likely to work for more localized pain in people with damaged but otherwise "normal" spines.

My recommendation is to consider the type of pain you have and consult with your physician. Since you will initial only try the stimulator, if it doesn't work you are only out the effort. If it does work you will have achieved something significant.