Back Pain Support Group

I found a humane pain management Dr who wasnt pushing for an SCS installed or implanted. He did radio frequency on my neck. It greatly improved teh quality of my life, pain not completely gone but a lot better. Stay away from the ones who do things that make you worse and then push to have an SCS implanted. Thats where I started until I realized what was going on. This laser spine institue in FL is another place I'd be looking into. I've had chronic headaches and neck pain for 20 years until I was introduced to the DR I'm seeing now. His treatments too arent painfull unlike the first inhumane whatever you want to call this guy I started off with.

Well.............. I am an ARNP and unfortunately I can not practice as a nurse anymore due to 4 spinal surgeries and fail back surgery syndrome. The one thing that I have decided to do is going back to school part-time. I am going for a degree in occupational therapy which is something that I might be able to do PT in the future. DavidT, BTW, SCS's do work for some people. My PM Doc did not push me to get one, I asked for one and It was the best thing that I've ever done in my life!
Due to my radiculopathy on both legs I was basically living in a wheelchair and in bed, after I had my spinal cord stimulator installed, I can walk; with a cane, but I can walk!! So, for some people do get benefits from that type of technology so don't put it down.
The laser spine institute in Fla. wants cash in advance for ALL of their treatments, and if I was you, I would do a Google search on them. They have LOTS of complains in the books, so buyer be ware.

can you get SSI? I am trying the spinal cord stimulator trial this week, tuesday actually. I will let you know if it helps me i have been in severe pain for almost 20 yrs. can't hold down a job, can't even get dressed on my own some days. I know wha you mean about needing to find work. I sure hope you can find something that works for you.

I was on pain medication for 5 years methadone mainly for 10 back surgeries and then failed back syndrome. I hated the medicated feeling I had but I had built up such a resistance to the majority of pain meds. I opted for a spinal cord stimulator and it changed my life I stopped all meds after the implant and stayed drug free for 2 1/2 years, I overdid it and paid the price and now am in need of another fusion at the next level up but the moral of the story is the spinal cord stimulator works and very well........follow the recommendations and use it sparingly as you do build a resistance to it and after 2 1/4 years I had to shut it off for three months and let my body reset.....the laser spine center in Florida.... PLEASE READ UP ON THEM too many negatives and demanding cash upfront is a sign of danger will robinson good luck

what is failed back syndrome? I hear that alot and need to know if that is something I have to be on the look out for since I have had a fusion.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, is not a syndrome.... Believe it or not, but it is the name that the medical community has given a person that continues to have chronic and/or intractable pain after a fusion. With me is not only the intractable pain that I still have after my 4 spinal surgeries, but is also because even though I had my first surgery in November of 07, I still have not fuse. Most of the cadaver bone that the surgeon used on my 360/3 level fusion has come out in pieces and has lodge in my spinal canal, causing all kinds of issues and 3 more surgeries to remove loose bone, etc....

If you do a google search of FBSS, you will find all kinds of different explanations. So it really depends on who you ask...

I was told I cant have an SCS implanted because of my clotting issues, so thats out, from more than one Dr. Noting done inside my spine unless its an emergency thing. It was going on my cervical spine. I had a massive PE after having back surgery so no one wants to take the risk again.I almost died from that so I'm not thinking of having that chance happen again. Thank you so much for the info on laser spine institute. yes I agree I'll pass on them. I had considered an SCS but it would meant my job would be gone not allowing me to do a lot of climbing and reaching above my head a lot. So I opted out and got another opinion. For my back, not sure whats going to happen with it.Only relief I get is no more cramps in my feet, pain is still there and worse.

Hmmmm, who told you that you can not reach above your head or climb once you have a permanent SCS installed??? Who ever told you that, gave you the wrong information! You can NOT reach over your head while you have the trial SCS on and the trial only last for about 4 to 5 days. Once the SCS is inside of you, it will not affect climbing, reaching, or anything physical that you want to do. The only thing that you will not be able to do again is an MRI, because the magnet will fry the battery, but that is it. I had my SCS Boston Scientific/Precision Model permanently implanted on June of 08 and it has done wonders for my nerve pain, so you might want to considered an SCS, because whomever gave you that information of not been able to clim or reach, etc,,,,, was obviously wrong and not really informed on how a permanent SCS works.
To get accurate info. on how an SCS can benefit you go to: www.controlyourpain.com.