Two spinal cord stimulators - is it worth it?

framewales
framewales Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Start here and say hello!
Hello Everyone 

I’m wondering if there is anyone out there in a similar situation to me. 

I’m 32, have had 6 spinal operations over the past 15 years, and have recently been told I am to have a 7th. 

A bit of a back (ignore the pun) story, when I was 14 I fell down the stairs damaging my spine, 5 years later and many rugby/hockey/netball/running/horse riding/trampolining days later, I had a discectomy L4-S1. Then another 2 of them, and more injections than I can dare to remember later, I had fusion surgery aged 27 (same levels of spine). Since then I had a further discectomy before finally being fitted with the spinal cord stimulator in my lower back. (Side not, I don’t find it particularly effective, it has blocked out a bit of the neuropathy to a slightly more manageable level, but the burning sensation can still be dire, especially in the nights).

But I also have problems (3 further prolapsed discs) in my upper back and neck, and am currently taking 31 tablets a day, so have now been told I am to be fitted with a second spinal cord stimulator for my upper back and neck.

I am just wondering if anybody else out there has two spinal cord stimulators? And if so, have you actually benefited from it? Or are you like me with the first one and still in agony daily and dependent on prescription pills and family hugs to get you through each day? 

I am terrified of going through this again, particularly the part where they will wake me up during the surgery, and just really don’t know if it’s worth going through with this or not. 

The pain in my upper back is horrific, I feel like I need a chiropractor to move into my house for half hourly treatment! And with the medication I have put in a disgusting amount of weight, which is also impacting me physically and mentally. Every aspect of my life is affected, I can’t continue like this, but is a second stimulator really the best answer?

Any words of advice/support/wisdom would be greatly appreciated. 

Many thanks 

Comments

  • peggy123
    peggy123 Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener

    oh my goodness just been reading your post. Don’t know how long ago this is from . My heart goes out to you and want to say you are amazing to have come through all this pain . Did you get your surgery done and if so did it help any . I hope it did bless you. Please if you feel up to it post to let me know how it went. I too have a few of the same issues as you .

    Sending you hugs 🤗

  • framewales
    framewales Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

    Hi there

    Thank you for your message and kind words. My post was a while ago now (I’m 33 now too) lols. I had the surgery done in February where the second device was implanted. Whilst the surgery was a success the device unfortunately does not provide me with any relief from the pain. I am even worse now then when I wrote my original post, my medication dosages have increased drastically and my pain is constant and more severe. But I’m smiling through it as best I can. I do my best to not let my back rule my life but it’s extremely difficult. I am desperate for a baby but do not think I would cope with the pregnancy, or any of the parts that follow and I am stuck in an office job because I can’t do what I really want to do with my life (I wanted to be a paramedic since aged 8). But it’s all good, I have my family, my friends and my pets to keep me sane and keep me going 😊 I’m doing the best I can 💞

    Sorry, that’s enough about me. You say you’ve got similar problems to me, can I ask what these are? If you would like to talk more about it I can share my experiences which may open up some suggestions for you to try?

    Wishing you all the best and sending hugs back to you too 🫂 x

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