Spinal Implant for pain helps le?

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cinnamonsmiles
cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi, I have been seeing  a few doctors in a pain clinic. My newest doctor is pushingme to get a spinal implant stimulator for the pain I have from the nerve damage from my bmx w/sentinel and axillary node removal.

He says that he has had LE patients that have gotten this for pain AND found that the spinal stimulator helped reduce their swelling. 

He can't give me names, of course, and I don't find any data on this.

Has anyone else heard of this?

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2013

    Cinnamon, I've never heard of that, but it makes a certain amount of sense. Pain anywhere in our bodies draws lymph fluid to the site. That's because lymph is the garbage truck, picking up dead or wounded cell parts and invading pathogens and hauling it all off to the lymph nodes to be dealt with. So pain signals them to go into action, dumping fluid where you don't want it and can't easily get rid of it. Reducing pain would reduce the amount of lymph being sent to the disaster site, making the LE easier to manage.

    And besides, pain is just not nice.FrownYell

    Let us know what you decide and how it goes! Hugs,
    Binney

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited March 2013

    I too would love to know more this if you give it a try.  My husband is looking at doing this in June just for feet pain.  He was born club footed.  We have to wait till he can take a few days off work because the free trial one you can't take a bath for three days.  I will have to ask his Pain Dr. what he knows about it helping LE.

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  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 3,188
    edited March 2013

    Hmmm...never heard of it.  Interesting theory.  What is the mechanism ?  Is the implant  supposed to reduce inflammation ?

    Is this it:  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,176536,00.html

    Cinn- pls let us know what you learn.  Good luck with whatever you decide !

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited March 2013

    This is what my DH is considering. 

    http://www.controlyourpain.com/

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  • cinnamonsmiles
    cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
    edited March 2013

    KittyDog. Yes, that is something similar to what I am getting. I don't know who told you the trial is free? Mine certainly isn't and I am waiting for Medicare approval. I know of a woman whose husband had it inserted for back pain and it is working wonders for him. My pain doctor told me that like with any treatment, it works with some, and not others. No one can predict if it will work or not, and to what degree.

    Purple: It is a pain reduction therapy. It is not invented for reducing swelling.

    There are two leads(wire like things) inserted into the spine connected to a thing that looks similar to the car remote thing on your key chain (can't think of a better word). Then I have a small remote control that I can turn on and off and control the intensity. It blocks pain by making the spinal cord tingle in the places where the damaged nerves connect to the spinal cord. It stops the brain from getting the pain signals, letting you feel tingles instead

    The trial last three days and I have to limit movements and some other rules. The mechanism connected to the leads stays on the outside of the body. You have to be careful not to move the leads, since there is no scar tissue to hold them in place. 

    If it works, then permament leads are placed in the spine, movements need to be limited until scar tissue forms around the leads and holds them in place. The mechanism connected to the leads is inserted under the skin near the hip. I still have my remote control.

    I am not sure I can handle tingles. Pain sucks, but after time you just learn to live with it. Tingles...I just don't know.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited March 2013

    I've heard the sensation is similar to a TENs unit. If you like that, you should be ok. Ate you doing Boston Scientific or Medtronic ? Heard good things about both!

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  • cinnamonsmiles
    cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
    edited May 2013

    Sorry for not coming back here, Spookiesmom. I am finally signed up for the Medtronic trial. I have never used a tens unit so I have no idea what its like.

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