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Re: ANS Spinal Cord Stimulator Problems
Posted by Carmine L. Petrangelo on 4/24/08

    On 9/24/07, Sheryl 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.
    >>>>>>>>

    I have had the ans system since 1989. During that time I had six revisions.
    This device was originally installed to control my dystonia condition which is
    a rare movement disorder. The problem many of you are having is due in large
    part to the fact that this device is considered easy to install and is being
    done today mostly by pain clinic doctors who really don't understand the
    system. You should see a neurosurgeon not an anesthesiologest. The doctor
    that did mine was a nerurosurgeon and was involved in the development of the
    device. In all the years I have had the system I have experimented with it on
    my own because these companies do not want you to program your own system. At
    this point I have come to realize that I really know more than their reps.
    Find a good doctor if you can and understand that a low battery can interfere
    with the stimulation and that both the receiver and the leads do breakdown
    over time. This is what usually happens. In my case it was mostly the
    receiver although the most recent failure is due to the lead becoming
    disconnectet internally. Feel free to email me.

     
     

 
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