Re: additional injuries caused by spinal cord stimulator

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On 4/07/11, Mercedes wrote:
> my name is Mercedes and I am here with my friend wendy. We
> both had medtronics spinal cord stimuators implanted and we
> have both endured years of pain caused by the impantation
> of the medtronics spinal cord stimulator. Since the initial
> impant of the stimulator we have both endured many
> revisions because of the wires breaking and causing
> additional pain. We were both told by the doctors that the
> implant of this device that we were crazy and making up all
> the pain issues we were having. After Mercedes had the
> implant removed in 2005 I have had 6 more back surgeries
> including 2 titanium rods and 35 screws that were not an
> issue before the spinal cord stimulator was implanted.
> Wendy had 6 revisions within 2 years because of the spinal
> cord wires breaking. The doctor kept telling her it was
> normal but I was having swelling the size of a softball. I
> also had blood collecting in my stomach and had to go 3
> times a week to have it drawn out and was again told it was
> normal. I trusted the doctor and finally saw another doctor
> that said it was not normal. I had demanded every time I
> had a revision for it to be removed but the doctor refused.
> Finally after seeing another doctor he finally removed
> after 3 years of being told I was crazy and not having the
> pain I was saying I was having. I had mine removed February
> 18, 2011 finally. Since then I am having more pain and
> after a mri found out I have spinal stenosis and facet
> joint spurring caused by all the revisions of the spinal
> cord stimulator. Mercedes and I are looking for a lawyer in
> Louisville Kentucky or somewhere close that knows of anyone
> else that has had the same problem. We are also willing to
> drive to see a lawyer to join any class action lawsuits
> against medtronics spinal cord stimulators. Medtronics need
> to be accountable for the pain they are causing all the
> peope that have had the medtronics spinal cord stimulator
> implanted. Please email us back with any information as we
> are both suffering everyday with pain that was not there
> before the implantation and revisions of this horrid
> machine that did not help either one of us. Instead it
> caused us more pain and it is making it hard to live a
> normal life;

I too had an implant for pelvic pain and found out after surgery that I really
could not move started to exp fevers this pain was going down my leg which
before this implant I'd never exp sciatica did not know what it was. So at first I
thought It was just the recuperating process after surgery. As I told the dr and
would take aspirin and tylenol to lower the fever when my fever would go up too
101 even 102 even on tylenol and aspirin not including all the pain meds I was
already on. Called dr but did not do any blood work or pay much mind. After a
week more with a fever he put me on antibiotics and then for two mths loaded
them on. I was still having horrible back pain and sciatica could not walk from
the pain and the leads migrating it was awful so now I'm fighting two pains what
a nightmare. Then to find out I developed CDF and still the pain in my back and
the sciatica don't resolve. They tried to reprogram it but for what just to move
once I walked or passed a bump in the car were the stimulation would migrate
to my leg. I went to get various other opinions since the doc did not want to
take it out but everyone kept on telling me I needed to have it removed. I finally
went to a dr that told me to shut it off to see if that was the cause of the sciatica
and yes once I shot it off the sciatica went away. Though the pain in my back
did not which sitting down mostly in a hard bench would be excruciating like if
someone was digging a knife into my spinal cord exactly were the leads were.
Which from the moment the second lead was inserted it felt painful being that I
was awake with hardly any pain medicine for the entire surgery which took a
total of 3 1/2 hrs talk about painful remember one of the doc rubbing my hand
to distract me from bitting down on my hand ugh from the pain....... I think I
had scaring from when that lead was inserted from the trial or something or
who knows but all I know is when that second lead was inserted in my spine it
felt different and it was painful and that area hurts even after 8mths and all the
trials and tribulations I finally got it removed but the pain in my back in that
area is excruciating and I don't have the same strength on that left leg as far
being able to pick it up etc.... Considering I never had back problems and the
ones I did have were due more to the inflammation in my pelvis but never really
back pain. I never even new what sciatica was and now after they removed the
stimulator I acquired yet another complication in addition to this back problem
its just wonderful and even though I've asked for an MRI of the spine were the
stimulator was inserted the dr hasn't given me the prescription? Though I've
asked for it numerous times ugh..... But this stimulator is more of a nightmare
then a blessing I understand its helped some but being were its localized it can
be the cause of some serious complications and life altering consequences to
patients that are already going through life altering pain stacking exp. Thus it
just makes it that much harder when other complications are added on with no
regard or full disclosure. But since its a highly paid procedure were would the
incentive be first pay then figure out the consequences later!!!!!