does anyone have one of these implants?

[Snafu]

here is what i am referring to http://www.bostonscientific.com/Devi...er.ProductPage

this is the next step in my back treatment.

[saeon]

Not to be negative, but some recent studies have seriously questioned the use of electronic pain relief systems in general -- though they focused mainly on external TENS units. The conclusion was that TENS is not generally more effective than placebo, sadly.

I don't want to jump straight to saying that this applies equally to SCS, since SCS is a big step from external TENS. But I would redouble your efforts to research this (as you are obviously already doing), and question *everything*. Your surgeon has a vested interest in convincing patients to undertake the surgeries, so take what he/she says with a grain of salt and then a whole bag of salt....

Also, be wary of any one person's experiences/reports. If there's anything that I've learned in my years as a chronic pain/illness sufferer, it's that perception can be skewed or clouded quite easily, and it's all too easy to convince oneself of something in the moment while forgetting how the past really was. Try to get the widest cross-section of patient feedback you can.

I wish I could give specific feedback on SCS implants, but I've steadfastly resisted any sort of surgical intervention in my case even though I would certainly love for something like that to be helpful for me.

It sounds like you are fairly confident that you'll be going through with this, so forgive me if I'm being unduly negative/skeptical. I have just been through the hope-go-round so many times, and disappointed (or even regretful that I accepted "professional" advice instead of pursuing other alternatives and doing my own homework) in the outcomes so many times....that I can't help but try to give fellow sufferers the benefit of my experience in any way I am able.

These implants are HUGE business, both for surgeons and for the manufacturers. The technology is a moving target, as patients with some of the most popular "med pump" implants recently learned when their hardware was recalled and they had to have surgery to have them swapped out! It's a big step, and although I earnestly hope that it works out for you if you do go forward with it, I would advise erring on the side of (extreme) caution.

If I am able to get in touch with anyone from my support groups or other sites that can offer any useful information, I will definitely post it here ASAP.

Godspeed and good luck, in any case.

[Roy]

I have, I think, a similar device implanted in my body which I use for pain.

It is an "Intel 3 Neurostimulator" which I had installed about 8 years ago. I used it a lot when I first got it installed but I only use it now when my drugs just don't work and I'm in a great deal of pain.

If you have any questions about it just ask and I will try to help you out. By the way the unit installed cost me about $10,000 Canadian.

Good luck.

[smokinbasser]

I have and use a TENS unit for my back, and believe it requires the subject to keep a positive attitude about its effectiveness. The technology behind the TENS unit is sound but even narcotics can be ineffective if someone has serious doubts about its ability to help. Call it faith or what ever but the human mind can do wonders or it can render an aid useless.

[Dirty Harry]

Comedian Jerry Lewis has an implant like that, and in a TV interview he said it saved his life. From all the Pratt falls in his career, he said he was in so much pain that at one time he put the barrel of a revolver in his mouth to end the pain, but didn't pull the trigger. After his implant, he doesn't think like that anymore. He swore his life to the thing.

As stated, each person reacts differently to it. It helps some and not others. If all else has failed for you, I would go for it. What do you have to loose?

My wife tried an external TENS for her chronic back pain. It didn't work for her, but there is a big difference between external and targeted implants.

[Richi420]

I have not had the transplant but have had the TENS unit for a few months. The TENS unit didnt do crap to help but I do know some people it helped.

[Snafu]

this technology is more related to a cochlear implant them to a tens unit.