i have rsd am considering spinal cord stimulator any thoughts on this?!

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Hi Connie,

The most important thing if you're considering the SCS is to make sure that your doctor allows you to trial it as extensively as possible - ideally at least a few days at home keeping as close to your normal daily activities as possible. Some doctors, for whatever reason, insist on conducting the full stimulator trial with their patient in hospital, which really doesn't give you a good feel for whether the implant is going to be of help or not - whether there are going to be dramatic changes in limb coverage with normal daily movement, whether the stimulation is going to cover normal changes in pain levels, etc.

There are certainly risks and problems associated with it. I've had CRPS/RSD for nearly 12 years now and had my first SCS implanted nearly 4 1/2 years ago. Initially it was fantastic - at that stage only my right leg was affected and it helped me a great deal. When my CRPS began to spread I had a new unit and extra lead implanted and have had nothing but problems since that time. I have had a lot of trouble with lead migration, I can't get adequate coverage anywhere, I have sensitivity and burning pain in my back around my surgery site - I'm now currently contemplating my 5th surgery to try to alleviate some of the back pain associated with my SCS.

I'd certainly consider it a last resort. What other medications and therapies have you tried? Are ketamine infusions available where you are? If you want to email me, please feel free to do so.

I have full body CRPS/RSD

Check out this website! Its a forum for people with RSD! its really great! Everyone is nice and supportive. I'm sorry, I dont know the answer to your question, but I like to reccomend this site to everyone with RSD, cause i know it sucks like insanlly. Any other RSD patients, check itt out too!

http://www.mdjunction.com/

Search RSD when you go on the site. I dont work for the site, I just love it.

Again, i'm really sorry i dont know. I've had it done but it didnt help. But every RSD case is different.

currently an RSD patient