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Re: ANS Spinal Cord Stimulator Problems
Posted by Laurie on 2/10/08

    I had my trial done on 2/1/08. The trial was suppose to last up to an hr. and
    ended up lasting 3 hrs. There was too much scar tissue and the Dr. kept trying
    to push through it. He said often that would work, but unfortunately for me,
    the s.tissue was like a rock and with each push, it pushed against the spinal
    cord and caused excruciating pain. Finally he decided to go up to T9-11 to
    place the leads (the lowest they could place them). Then I went into an
    office room w/ the rep. and he tried tweaking it to get the tingling feeling
    up to my L. Back and my hips. He tried all 4 basic setting (while showing me
    how to do it) and couldn't get it up to that area. He said to go home and
    play with it to find the setting that comes the closest to my lower back.

    I was in cont. pain for the next several days w/no help and by the 5th, I set
    up for the Rep. to meet me at the Dr. office to tweek things. He tried to
    tweak it w/ many types of settings and nothing got past the top of my legs.
    He talked to my Dr. and they did an Xray type of picture and here's the
    kicker...the Rep. (a different one from who was at the procedure) looked at
    the pix. and asked the Dr. if there wasn't any way to get leads past T9
    because at that level, there was no way that it would reach my hip area. So,
    they ended up taking them out. The odd thing was that the 1st rep. was in the
    room talking with my PM Dr. while this was being inserted and knew that, due
    to the s. tissue, T9 was the best they could do. He never told my Dr. that it
    would not work at that level. It was also odd that even though the PM Dr. told
    me that he was 1 of the specialist that teach other Drs. how to do this
    procedure, yet he did not know that T9 would not work. Unbelievable!

    Now, I have a worse problem. Since they took it out on the 4th, my pain at
    both, the area the leads went in at as well as the T9 area, have just kept
    getting more and more painful. I looked in the mirror a couple of days ago and
    even though painful, nothing looked odd, except for swelling that I always get
    if I have overdone things. But tonight, I felt my spine (where the pain is)
    and felt a hard bump exactly where it hurts. When I looked in the mirror,
    where the leads went in, my back is suncken in and just up a bit, where the
    leads were placed, you can feel two hard and painful bump. Sliding my hand
    from top of spine and down, it starts out smooth and I can't feel anything
    odd, then bump, and another bump and then a dip and then back to normal. When
    I touch ea. of the odd places, the pain increases. I'm pretty scared and will
    be calling the Dr. but has anyone had anything like this.

    Thanks, Laurie

    On 12/04/07, Shonda Malone wrote:
    > On 9/20/07, Kimberly Mullen wrote:
    >> On 5/09/07, Mark wrote:
    >>> I had a precision SCS placed in April of 2006. Everything was working
    >>> fine. Then in the beginning of April 07 it stopped working. Contacted
    >>> the company and they are like humm we have never had this happen before.
    >>> Today May 09, 2007 went into the doctors office and had a flouro of the
    >>> stimulator done to see if anything was disconnected. My doctor says he
    >>> cannot see anything wrong. BUT of course the company rep was there and
    >>> says maybe it is the connection to the stimulator itself. That it could
    >>> have moved a little bit. Now I am told the only way to see what is wrong
    >>> of course is to have another surgery. Then after all this the rep is
    >>> playing with the remote and turns it all the way to max. Then guess what
    >>> it gave me a jolt like I stuck my finger in a light socket and of course
    >>> quit working again. My legs literally came up off the floor when I got
    >>> this jolt and the stimulator is for my arms.
    >>> The more I read on here about the SCS the more I am unsure if to even
    >>> let them do another surgery. The reason I got the ANS stimulator is so
    >>> that I did not need another surgery right away. I also have a medtronic
    >>> stimulator that was placed in 200 that only worked about 6 months. So I
    >>> was really leary about getting the ANS stimulator. But I was assured by
    >>> the rep. that this is the best there is out there and that it should be
    >>> about 20 years before I would need another surgery. Now I am at a loss
    >>> of what to do. I hate putting my family through me having another
    >>> surgery. My two boys know that I have RSD and understand why I cannot do
    >>> what other fathers can do. But damn they shouldn't have to understand
    >>> this and to see me go through another surgey and thier mother take care
    >>> of me this way.
    >>>
    >>> On 4/24/07, nyc baxter wrote:
    >>>> I had my spinal cord stimulator inserted in October. I was ambivalent
    >>>> about doing it mostly because I have 3 small children and 8 wks of
    >>>> recovery (which was a true time for me) seemed impossible, but with
    >>>> help from friends, family, and church I managed it. Now 6 months
    >>>> later, I was told that all 16 of the leads are disconnected. There is
    >>>> no tear that they could see on an xray, but it does not work at all
    >>>> and I have to have another surgery to do it. I don't know what to
    >>>> do. I spoke to someone at ANS today and told her I'm livid. Since
    >>>> it's been within a year of implanation, they will cover equipment with
    >>>> the warranty, but I was more worried about how to take care of my kids
    >>>> during the recovery period, she said that when they get the equipment
    >>>> back they can see what the prob was and at that time see if they can
    >>>> help monetarily, Hmmm, doubt it. Does anyone know if there is any
    >>>> legal recourse?
    >>>>
    >>>>
    >>>> On 4/17/07, Kelley Lampe wrote:
    >>>>> I had a stimulator implanted in June of 2003. Recently the implant
    >>>>> would not turn on. Then I began to have severe pain in that area as
    >>>> if
    >>>>> it were twisted. Could this be that it is corroded also? I have an
    >>>>> appointment next week to take it out. It has been replaced once due
    >>>> to
    >>>>> the leads breaking. I am just in so much pain and I have not taken
    >>>>> pain meds in a few years.
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>> On 4/01/07, Kelly wrote:
    >>>>>
    >>>>>> I had a SCS implanted last week and they could not get it to work
    >>>>>> properly. The doctors feel it was because of the inflamation from
    >>>>>> the surgery, I go back tomorrow to have it turned on again. Your
    >>>>>> reaction to this makes me so nervous. I wish you luck.
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>> On 3/06/07, phatkats wrote:
    >>>>>>> can you describe for me the pain that you felt. I'm wondering if
    >>>>>>> it is the same as I'm experiencing. I'm at a loss as to what I
    >>>>>>> should do. The pain is unmanagable and hate to think that the
    >>>>>>> stimulator has to be removed after all it took to get it right.
    >>>>>>>
    >>>>>>> Thanks - my email address is phatkats@optonline.net if you want
    >>>>>>> to communicate directly
    >>>>>>>
    >>>>>>> On 3/05/07, meme wrote:
    >>>>>>>> On 3/04/07, phatkats wrote:
    >>>>>>>>> On 3/04/07, meme wrote:
    >>>>>>>>>> Has anyone had problems with their leads corroding
    >>>>>>>>>> regarding ANS Spine Stimulator?
    >>>>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>>>> I had an ANS Spine stimulator implanted and within a few
    >>>>>>>>>> months I had it removed because of increased pain.
    >>>>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>>>> When the doctor removed my ANS spine stimulator he was
    >>>>>>>>>> able to diagnose why I was having such horrible
    >>>>>>>>>> pain....the leads from the spinal stimulator had corroded
    >>>>>>>>>> and were disintegratig while inside my body.
    >>>>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>>>> Has anyone else encountered this problem? If so, did you
    >>>>>>>>>> have better luck with a different brand of spinal
    >>>>>>>>>> stimulator?
    >>>>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>>>> I just don't know what to do at this point and have fear
    >>>>>>>>>> regarding implanting another type of spine stimulator. I
    >>>>>>>>>> am desperate.
    >>>>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>>> Maybe that is why I am having such horrible pain at the lead
    >>>>>>>>> site. No dr. ever suggested that could be the problem. How
    >>>>>>>>> did they determine the leads were corroding?
    >>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>>> The ANS corroded leads were discovered when doctors removed
    >>>>>>>> the ANS spine stimulator. Prior to removing the ANS unit the
    >>>>>>>> doctors had no idea why i had the increased pain....when the
    >>>>>>>> ANS unit was removed.....that's when the doctors discovered
    >>>>>>>> the corroded leads.
    >>>>>>>>
    >>>>>>> September 29, 2004 I had the ANS stimulator placed in for my right
    >> foot-RSD. January 7, 2005 I went to get out of bed and extreme pain at the
    >> sight of the two probes. CTscan revealed a break in my spine at the sight
    >> of the probes. (I was told that my probes were the top level available). I
    >> was placed in a brace until the spine healed. Three years later still 24/7,
    >> extreme pain at the sight where the probes are placed. I taught school for
    >> 15 years, unable to do anything...an extremely small disability check
    >> monthly...no retirement. I have moved from NC where the stimulator was
    >> implanted. (A Orthopedic Dr. implanted the system, but after the break
    >> stated that his practise is too big to handle life long problems. Even
    >> though his name is on my ANS identification card to call if there is a
    >> problem.) I have been in MO for 11/2 years now, and I have continuously
    >> contacted ANS for a representative in the Springfield, MO area. My primary
    >> care Dr. referred me to a pain clinic to see if they could help figure out
    >> the cause of the pain. I went, and was so relieved to find someone that
    >> would be willing to find the cause and answers. Immediately, he took an x-
    >> ray and called an ANS representative. The representative was at the office
    >> within 10 minutes. (???ANS repeatedly told me that there was no
    >> representative in the area.) He tried all the programs on my stimulator,
    >> then tried all the programs that are possible. He was unable to get any
    >> stimulation on the right side. He went and looked at the x-ray while his
    >> assistant was on the phone with ANS. I was told that one of the probes had
    >> moved and was now pressing on the ligament that runs down my back. This is
    >> the cause for the constant pain, and the severe pain that is produced by
    >> turning on the ANS unit. They have now referred me to a Neuo. Surgeon (in
    >> MO, Orthop. Dr.s do not implant the ANS units...nerves vs. bones?!?) I have
    >> been told that the probes have to be removed. I have a choice to remove
    >> them and live in contiuous pain of RSD...remove the probes and replace them
    >> with new probes...removes the probes, replace with new probes, and remove
    >> the receiver in my hip and replace with an internal unit. I will have to
    >> drive 31/2 hours to have any procedure, and at my expense for all. I am
    >> really torn at what to do...1-I know what is feels like to be completely
    >> out of pain(Sept.-Jan. ANS unit worked!) But, do I go through all this
    >> again, and the same or worse things take place. Demerol dulls the pain, but
    >> does not give relief, and I am allergic to the others. Confusion, anger at
    >> the ANS company for their attitude of no concern...implant the unit,
    >> collect the money and all care is removed!!! Responsibility? Stepping up to
    >> the plate and helping the patient through the trauma?!? Decisions have to
    >> be made, and in the mean time I remain in constant, extreme pain, and alone.
    >>>>>>>>
    >
    > My husband had the Medtronics Spinal implant procedure on
    > November 29, 2007. It worked great from Nov. 29tgh until
    > Dec. 2nd. He was feeling great. After 9 years of back and
    > leg pains from 4 failed back surgeries he was not hurting.
    > Then on December 2nd, 2007 the machine quit working. He
    > was on the 5 day trial with the model # 3628. We asked the
    > Medtronic's rep in the recovery room when he was explaining
    > the machine if we needed an instruction book and we were
    > told no. They had only put 1 lead in him (thank God!) and
    > I asked the Medtronics rep if there was any way that this
    > thing could shock my husband and was again told no. He
    > only spent about no more than 10 minutes with us explaining
    > the machine. (We were also given the Medtronic's reps card
    > and was told to call him anytime, day or night.) Then on
    > December 2nd, 2007 the machine quit working. On the front
    > of the machine there are 4 switches, numbers 0 - 3. My
    > husband was told to switch around these switches to find
    > his combination that he liked, where the stimulation felt
    > best to him. (Between his lumbar region and down the
    > length of his legs.) So this is what he did, just as he
    > had done with the Medtronics rep. My husband had the
    > stimulator on 5.6 and he flipped the switch labeled #3 and
    > it automatically sent it to 12. (Our son witnessed this.)
    > The charge threw him about maybe 18 inches back, he hit the
    > stove with his lower back, shaking him as if being
    > electrocuted, he dropped the machine and the battery popped
    > out and he landed with all of his force on his left hip,
    > breaking his left hip. (We were told that he was
    > internally electrocuted.) He was hospitalized the same
    > night, had hip surgery on December 3rd (had to have 3 pins
    > to put his hip to repair it, and is now going through
    > physical therapy. He cannot move his left leg on his own,
    > the physical therapist has to push his foot to make him
    > take a step. I called the Medtronics rep that night when
    > this happened and the next morning about 7 am from the
    > hospital where the implant surgery was performed and told
    > him that my husband was there and what room he was in. He
    > called me on my house phone about 10:30am and told me he
    > was sorry he was sleeping and to call him back. My husband
    > is only 3 floors up from him, why can't he go and check on
    > him, after all, it is his device! I am posting this so
    > people that are in chronic pain, no matter the source of
    > the pain, will know what to expect. If you have any
    > information on this or would like to know more,email me.
    >
    > Shonda Malone
    > TxPrudy69@aol.com
    >

     
     

 
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