MY LATEST BACK PAIN UPDATE

Well guys I am feeling that I may have some hope in getting rid of this chronic back pain in the near future.  I met with the Doctor in Indianapolis , who does neurostimulation.

He feels that I am a good candidate to have this procedure.

Spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation use an implanted device—a spinal cord stimulator (sometimes called a pacemaker for pain)—to deliver low levels of electrical energy directly to nerve fibers. This direct approach to treating pain at its source can be very effective.

He will do what they call a trial period first.  This means they run the leads thru a needle injected in the area where the pain the worst. The leads are then run up the spine.  They then connect the leads to an external device that sends an electrictial impulse into the spine that block the pain messages from getting to the brain.  After a week or so we then evaluate how it is working and if it relieving the pain, they then surgically implant the device inside my body.  There are also some options to keep the device on the outside and you wear it on a belt.  This keeps from having to go in and have the internal device recharged about once a year.

I believe I posted the website from the company that makes this device, but in case I have not, here it is

 https://www.ans-medical.com/patient/basicsofscs/index.cfm

I feel like I really have some hope now but this procedure is like having WLS.  I have to have a phsyc evaluation next week (required by the insurance company… of course) and then it is submitted to the insurance company for their consideration.  My prayer is that I do not have to jump thru a bunch of hoops to get them to cough up the money.  The procedure runs about $50,000.00 which means a big out of pocket expense for my portion, but if I can get rid of most of this pain it will be worth making some financial sacrifices.

So it is set back and wait now.  In the meantime I will have to deal with taking the pain meds.

Dan