Is there a opioid protocol for scs trial?

[MarianneB.]

I am meeting with my surgeon on January 2 to talk about and schedule a spinal cord stimulator trial. I was told by office staff it takes about 3 weeks to get on the calendar. My pain management doctor told me I had to reduce my short acting pain medication from oxy10 to 5. I have been at 10 for over a year and Christmas is a busy time of year to b reduced suddenly. With the trial so far away does this make sense ? I am struggling but I want to give the scs my best try. Does anyone know of the protocol or usual way doctors ask you to prepare for trial with your meds?

[April]

I don't know the protocol for that. I would ask the surgeon on Jan. 2 what s/he suggests. If the medication eliminates your pain, it makes sense to reduce the meds so you can see if the stimulator works. But three weeks for a 50% drop in pain meds seems like a rapid drop to me. Did your pain doctor give you instructions on how to gradually do that in three weeks? I would think you'd want to be completely over the withdrawal symptoms before trying the stimulator.

April

[Violet M]

Marianne, do you know what the rationale is for doing and scs vs. a drg neurstimulator? You might want to do some research and ask your doctor about the drg neurostimulator before making a decision. You can read Kit's posts about it.

Violet