Re: To those who have had problems with SCS

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On 11/08/07, Sherri Barnes wrote:
>
> Diane,
>
> I have had a considerable amount of problems with the Customer
> Service at Medtronics. I was not taken seriously and I am not
> sure how your case will be approached. The only thing I can
> say is the more people who contact the FDA the better. Our
> complaints need to be heard and taken seriously instead of
> turning us into a science project. I am certain that some get
> relief. However, I was not one of those persons. I wish you
> well and hope that you seek justice for your problem. I would
> encourage you to speak to your doctor about your situation.
> Thank you, for you questions and I wish you well!
>
>
>
>
> On 11/05/07, Diane wrote:
>
>> On 11/05/07, Sherri Barnes wrote:
>>> I to have had a problem with Medtronics SCS. I was
>>> told it was in my head. I had severe pain in my back and
>>> I was being shocked. It took 3 months to finally, get
>>> some relief and to be believed by my doctor and the
>>> Medtronics ppl. I had faulty lead wires and my battery
>>> was leaking fluid into my back. I have suffered also. I
>>> called the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration) and made a
>>> complaint with them. My stimulator was finally taken out
>>> in Dec of 06....I am asking all of those who have had
>>> burning at the battery pack site, bee stings where the
>>> leads are Please contact the FDA THE MORE COMPLAINTS THEY
>>> GET, THE BETTER THE CHANCES ARE OF HELPING SOMEONE
>>> ELSE......
>>
>> Sherri,
>> I just read your comments, my battery area which is in
>> my back side, hurts and I itch real bad, I have a terrible
>> rash since the implant, my back is terrible pain everyday, I
>> am going to contact Medtronics tomorrow, do you think it is
> a
>> waste?,
>> Thanks
>> Diane ( I have posted 4 today, just discovered this sight)

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