I was told that this was standard practice and they would not put in a stim until a person has been off opioids for 3-6 months! My response was "yeah 3-6 months of hell, not being able to work and then charge me 50,000+ for a device that might help with the pain. Sure! Sign me up! NOT!!" I recently started on a fentanyl patch and I do like this much better than counting the hours between each percocet. I still have some break through pain, but not too bad until day 3 of the patch. I'm hoping to proabably have back surgery within the next year. I was told a few years ago by a surgeon that I would eventully need a fusion, but put it off as long as possible. Well, I'm getting to that point sooner than I would like. I'm a nurse and was told if I get a fusion I could no longer do pt. care in the hospital. I said, "So I can do pt with an unstable spine, but once it's fused and healed then I can't do pt care?" It seems like with back problems you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Did you do a week long trial before they permently placed your stim? My other concern is that I have thoracic and lumbar issues so I'm not sure the stim would cover both areas. I know they can use it for different areas, but I'm not sure they would do 2 different areas on one person. They seem focused on my lumbar spine, but I've had treatment on my thoracic spine also. I've already had 2 discs fused in my neck. I had scoliosis since I was a kid, but have since developed DDD, bulging discs, sciatica and multiple bone spurs along my spine. Sorry to bore with the details, but I'm interested to know what your spine disease process is and how long you have had your stimulator. Has it made a difference and would you do it again? I've talked to a few people who have had it and I am getting mixed reviews. Thanks for your time.

Wow! I thought my back was a mess. It amazes me that people go through life with all of this pain and then there are others who feel they have the right to an opinion on what that person does to help aleviate that pain. There are very few people in my life that know what medications I am on to help me live with the chronic backkpain. My view is if you don't have a chronic pain issue then spend a week in my body and then I'll listen to you. This is why I like this website. I can talk to people who understand and don't judge. Ten years ago if someone had told me that I would be on continuous release pain meds I would have laughed at them. Now I'm wondering if my spine deterriated that much in 10 yrs how am I going to be in another 10 yrs. It scares me to even think about it. My grandmother was in a wheelchair for the last 10 yrs of her life due to osteoporosis and my father already walks all hunched over and in pain. My goal is to be able to work until I'm at least 60 (I'm 43 now). I know this is probably not possible but I feel that a person should set their goals high and make adjustments as needed. You know what they say about life...the only certainnies are death & taxes! Sorry, I had to throw that in there because of you're previous occupation. You said I could e-mail you through your email address but I'm sure how to get that. Take care.