I don't have any experience with those, I'm sorry.
I know a couple people here have had them, I hope they see this and let you know what they think.
Burning pain or butt wires?
Hmmm, you paint quite a picture. ;)

Sorry, no stim info BUT you mentioned the burning so I'm wondering if you use LIDODERM PATCHES, helps my nerve pain (burning) and nerve pain meds? Just a thought.

I think that there has been some post on this in the back forum. My doctor has told me about the stimulator. He said that you have to go through several steps before you get to that one. Talk to your doctor and see what he thinks.

I have talked to quite a few on here that have them. I dont', but it is something I would consider. One of my freinds just had that done yesterday, and he is recooping from surgery.

I think this article is accessible to all...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/health/08well.html?ref=science

My best friend has one and I am supposed to get one I have not made up my mind. They have you try a tens unit first, then they do a trial stim test for a week or 2. But I have met people who have had a great trail and a miserable time with the actual unit. There are support groups for people with failed stims. If you don't mind the feeling of a tens unit and it helps then a stim might not be a bad idea

Done it I had a problem and it made it worse its really depends on where its placed.I wouldnt do it again I had it in for 3 days for a trial it didnt work.

Ive got one inplanted in me and i must say its been the best thing ive done. I have now eliminated 75-80% of my leg pains due to the stimulator :)

Check out medtroinc.com
They have stimulator and pain pumps...

i tried it for 10 days and oh my god it was horrible i love my tens unit but this thing shocked me to the point it would put me on the floor the reps gave me thier number and by the 3rd day i was calling them begging to get it out make sure you can handle the tens unit and youll never know the machine is inside you that part was no big deal they told me after the trial i had a faulty remote it would not accept the commands to stop i will tell you to try it it does work for alot of people just dont leave the hospital until you are sure it works candy

Thank you all for all the replies...Does anyone know if health insurance covers these?

I got injured at work and in Australia all medical expensive are covered by a system we have called work care. im not sure how the usa system works but sorry.

I want to move to Autralia,I had health insurance my whole life until I was injured at work.Now I have insurance only to cover my back.
As far as I know health insurance does cover the stimulator. But maybe someone who has it can tell you better.
Deb

I've had my stimulator going on about 7 years now. It was the BEST decision I ever made. I feel real sorry for Candy with the faulty unit as if your unit is set too high, you will "electrocute" your legs! I have to lean forward to sneeze or cough so as not to get a "jolt" as I have mine set so high. I have only met one other person (in person) who just got hers last month who doesn't need to do this but I think she has hers set low. Once implanted, YOU have ALL the control. If it is too much or too little, call your rep. and meet with them to get it re-set. If your not getting the right coverage, same thing. I have a great doctor and wonderful reps who will do anything to make my unit as comfortable as possible. Hey, they cost a pretty penny so they should jump through hoops to help you. Yes, insurance will cover the surgery as well as battery replacements. Be sure BEFORE surgery that it gets pre-approved as my first surgery was $75K about 7 years ago and nobody wants to be stuck with a bill like that. Feel free to ask me questions via PM.

I had a spinal cord stimulator for 9 months. I have several different kinds of pain, but the SCS helped most with nerve pain and some muscular pain. there is an incision on the buttock, where the battery pack is located and one in the center of the back. I thought the lumpy battery pack in my buttock would annoy me, but I barely noticed it and got used to it in a few days. the incision pain was well worth it considering the relief the SCS provided me. unfortunately, the electrodes or "leads' kept migrating which resulted in two more surgeries to my back to adjust the leads. The third time I told the doctors to remove the SCS. I was sick of the surgeries. they dont know why the leads migrated so many times and I always followed doctors instructions. I had it removed in 2007 but wish I could have kept it in.
It takes a little while to figure out which stimulation strength and pattern work best for each person, but once I got used to it, it helped me a lot. at times it reduced my pain by 30%. If youve tried everything for your pain except the SCS you owe it to yourself to try it. try the trial for 5 days and see how it feels. good luck!