Hi i my self had one at one time it ended up causeing me more pain and damage then any benefit i was suppose to have i had it put in sept 2012 and removed dec 2017 i would look online for more info about it and a lot gose on you trust in your doctor and his ability to care for you.in the end my old dr was in for kick back money he did not have my best interest in his mind at all needless to say he no longer has his license to practice anymore and he also did some time in jail and his clinic went bankrupt and closed down. I have a new doctor now and he is awesome he is the one who helped me get it removef .it is a good thing for the right type of pain and diagnosis so just keep the lines of communication open with your doctor and ask questions till you feel comfortable with it and dont do it untill you are ready goodluck and God bless

Hi Kathy, before you opt for the spinal stimulator implant, speak to your Dr. about having a Rhizotomy procedure done first. I've had 3 done and although it doesn't totally get rid of my pain, it does take the edge off and I'm able to decrease my pain medication.
It's done under a local anaesthetic, (you are awake) as a day procedure Basically, the nerve endings coming off the spine are burnt. The amount to be done depends on the individual. Previously I had 4 nerves done, 2 bilaterally.
A few months ago I had 6 done - 3 bilaterally. For me, it isn't too painful and is not an invasive procedure. You do have to rest though for 48 hours afterwards and require someone to drive you home.
The procedure varies for everyone on how much it can help with the pain and also for the length of time it works. Our nerve endings grow back hence the multiple procedures I've had over a few years.
My friend has a spinal stimulator implant and it works well for her. You do have to have a trial period with the unit on the outside first. It needs to be manually charged every day.
The latest units are very slimline and much smaller compared to hers, being more like the shape of a matchbox and slightly smaller in size. You can have issues with them, this can be from the wires moving to the unit itself needing an adjustment.
After 12 years of chronic back pain, including spondylosis, this is something I'm also looking into having.
My best advice is to ask your Doctor/Pain Specialist lots of questions!

Wishing you all the best,
regards Daelene

Well I currently have one a stimulator for My back.its a Medtronic device. I can tell you that if it were not for this being in my back. I would not be able to walk and IT has GIVEN me 7 years. But if your expecting it to releave all or most of your pain it will not. But I was having issues with stabbing like stinging in my legs. Now it has help. But the surgery to put it in just about put me at deaths door.I got it around Christmas 2012.and it was a same day surgery. I did okay. But that was after I got home MY side all the way to my shoulder was swollen and sore to the touch. My surgeon was in Florida on holiday and it took all day to get a hold of him. He wanted me to drive 2 hrs to the hospital where I had surgery. But I told him I just could not do it. He sent me in a prescription to the pharmacy,a real strong antibiotic. Which I didn't get to late THAT evening. My brother brought it to me around 8pm.i was out of my head running a real high fever. My brother called my Dr back and told him how I was. He had to call an ambulance to send me to the hosp then the Dr called the local hospital got me an IV and some drugs and sent me to the hospital for surgery. I had to go in the unit they were thinking I HAD sepsis.i don't remember anything till a week later.and I had gotton merca from the operation. I think I spent 8 days in a unit and 3 days in the floor. My surgeon apologized but I just wanted to go home. And the leads to the stimulator were running in on my pace maker which I went without my pacemaker for 3 months and my cardiologist had a fit. And after finding that out I had to HAVE my pacemaker batteries replaced. But I don't think I will have another one. I have 3 more years but it's been a lot of stress.and then I had one put in for my hands, arms, neck and shoulders and somehow it got twisted and I had to have it taken out 6 months. And I struggled with infection.so no.its not worth everything you have to deal with.

I have one in my neck and one for my low back. They both quit working sadly. I would love to drop out the one in my neck, but the one in my low back gave me about 5 more years of work until I couldn't do it anymore.
Know what you're getting into before you do it.

This works for some but not all. As with any back procedures, surgery, or treatment.