Need Info on Medtronic Implant

TracyB,RN, RN · Nov 12, 2001

My Gram had the stimulator implanted in June of this year. She did have it readjusted (surgically) about 2 months ago. The pain clinic doc that my gram has gone to for the past 3 years kept mentioning it to her. I was starting to think he was on commission, LOL.

Anyway, when it was first implanted, the thing that was stressed the most was not to twist, bend or stretch( overhead) for 6-8 weeks. Kinda difficult. Well, Gram did all of those things & they think that may be what caused the leads to "migrate" out of position. It was readjusted & she has done BEAUTIFULLY since then. It has greatly reduced her need for pain meds, she still uses the Duragesic patch, but has only had about 4 times that she has needed to take additional meds. The neat thing about it, it has a device like a remote control,. You can turn it on, off, change intensity, with the push of a button. That was difficult for Gram b/c it was implanted on her backside( flesh eating strep, not enough room to implant in abdomen, but that is a whole different story).

I'm sure that it's success depends on the condition, but I LOVE this device. It has given my Gram back to me:)

Ok, I just called her to ask, she describes the sensation as "tingly" when it is at full strength. In her words, "Trace, I don't know why I waited so long." ( She said that she gets pain relief at low to medium). She also had back surgery ( x4), knee surgery, both shoulders replaced, bilat knee replacements, & of course the strep thing. She was in major pain ALL THE TIME. I was truly concerned for her safety, as I really think she was seriously addicted to pain meds, but like I said, the use has so dramatically decreased, I don't worry "as much."

Sorry so long, hope this helped a bit. If you have questions that I didn't answer, feel free to email me [email protected].

GOOD LUCK :)

kids · Nov 12, 2001

I worry about the tingling inside when I can't stand it outside...agitates the heck out of me!

Trying to figure out how to work with it, can't afford to be off that long and my WC case mgr is a b****, first question is always "this won't involve ant time off will it" not is this something that will help you?

-nancy

P_RN, ADN, RN · Nov 12, 2001

http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=212&SUBMIT=Go

I don't have mine yet, but I have gotten a lot of good advice from other spinal folks over at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard BrainTalk forum.

Drop on over and register and ask the doc there or anyone else and you will get a LOT of first hand information.

kids · Nov 12, 2001

Actully just registered there...found a link to it in one of your posts here...my first post there was a thank you to...YOU!

-nancy