Need advice and help!

[rachphil]

Six years ago I had a Spinal cord Neuro Stimulator Inplanted, and for a few years it gave me some relief. This past year had been hell, my Pain management doctor is amazing and had really bee working with me on different medications, and trying to help find away for me to manage with the pain. Meanwhile, the battery life on my stimulator was running out and we had decided lets change the battery and while we are at it put in a new lead In a different level of the spine to see if the pain will improve. We did a trial first, wow I finally had sleep again for 3 nights. But then it was time to remove the leads from the trial and schedule for the permanent implant. The day has come, we did it. Now comes the programming, and I tell you I regret taking out the old unit, nothing but trouble. This new advance unit, I am having to charge on a weekly basis, not only that it is supposed to adjust with me when I lie down, and switch from side to side, but instead it is turning off and on when it wants and up and down when it wants to. And, today while I was driving it had turned off, and then turned back on with a big JOLT! Which had caused my right leg to start to shake. To me this implant is becoming more of a liability more than anything, now I am afraid to drive with it on. This implant is affecting my activity level more than my pain, and it's sad because at one time my pain was bad enough that I wanted to cut my own leg off.

So when I got home I proceeded to call my rep, and he is now avoiding me. Which is making me really angry, because he was really sweet and alwayse calling me to see if we got the authorization and now that the surgery is over I guess he feels as if he doesn't need to help out anymore.

So my question is has anyone else had any problems with this new Medtronic SensorRestor Neuru Stimulator? And if so does anyone have any advice on how to handle this situation?

Thank you,
rachphil

[Jo*mar]

I'd go up the chain of command and forget about the rep.
Contact Medtronic SensorRestor Neuru Stimulator directly by calling and or emailing anyone in the management or sales until you get some responses.

Or if your medical ins paid for most of it perhaps contacting them for assistance as they paid for something that is not safe or functional.
Surely there is a warranty for possible defective units?

But it sounds defective to me. And you shouldn't have to suffer when they got paid for it.

[painman2009]

hi I do not have a scs. and its scary stories like this and others that steers me away plus surgery always scared me. but I have seen this as a common issue amongst many. you should defiantly speak with your PM dr or who, di this, and your insurance, plus if the scs company is avoiding you write letters, call daily or 2/3 times a day, call the hospital or facility that was used for this procedure. and if they don't help you I would go to the press. your pain is real, the issue is real and their jobs exist to HELP people such as you. you might need a whole new unit or maybe just the controller or receiver is off. good luck keep us informed of your status. good luck and god speed