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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Spinal cord stimulator implant?
        
(Message started by: hdbngr on Oct 18^th, 2002, 11:41am)

Title: Spinal cord stimulator implant?
Post by hdbngr on Oct 18^th, 2002, 11:41am

Read a message from Nots that mentioned an implant to treat clusters,...is this the SCS implant manufactured by Medtronic? Are there any clusterheads who have had this procedure done with either good/bad results?

I have been told that this is the "last resort" treatment for cluster headaches but I just want this to stop. They are raving about the results, but I have yet to talk to a fellow sufferer who was actually "cured".

Let me know, and thanks.

Title: Re: Spinal cord stimulator implant?
Post by Bob P on Oct 18^th, 2002, 11:52am

Not the spinal cord.

There are two diferent procedures.

One stimulates an area of the hypothalamus, in the brain.
http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/hypothalamus/wire_in_brain.htm

The other stimulates the occipital nerve in the back of the neck. Have the article but haven't added it to the library yet.

Don't know about the medtronic thingy.

Title: Re: Spinal cord stimulator implant?
Post by J. Marshall on Oct 20^th, 2002, 8:14am

NO....SCS (Spinal Cord Stimulator) is normally used for Sciatic pain originating from a lumbar or sacrum herniated disc. It has had limited success with cervical or arm pain originating from a cervical herniated disc. There are leads that fire electrical impulses into the offending pain generator. There is also a pacemaker-sized battery generator that is inserted somewhere under the skin usually in the Butt Cheek.

Check Bob P.'s URL's for the implant for cluster's

Title: Re: Spinal cord stimulator implant?
Post by Bob P on Oct 20^th, 2002, 2:04pm

Got the other page up:

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/surgery/index.htm

Title: Re: Spinal cord stimulator implant?
Post by hdbngr on Oct 21^st, 2002, 11:42am

Thanks for the links guys, this helps. From what I'm reading elsewhere on the site, surgery is an "iffy" treatment for clusters, and if a Doc recommends having your trigeminal nerve severed, run like hell.

Has anyone heard the results from the guy who was going in for surgery not too long ago? Was his a success?

Title: Re: Spinal cord stimulator implant?
Post by J. Marshall on Oct 21^st, 2002, 3:44pm

One of our posters "NOTSEINFELD", went in for an occipital nerve block.

If that's the one you're talking about, you can see his thread under "I'VE BEEN OCCIPITALIZED". From what I recall, it did not work to well.

However, remember these are two different animals. The occipital nerve blocks and cryo blocks are not the same procedure as what's being discussed in Bob P's URL's.

Title: Re: Spinal cord stimulator implant?
Post by hdbngr on Oct 21^st, 2002, 4:07pm

Sorry so many questions...some of you have said that cluster sufferers have an enlargered hypothalmus? Is this evident on CAT scans or MRI's, and only on clusterheads? Any ideas on the link?

Title: Re: Spinal cord stimulator implant?
Post by Bob P on Oct 22^nd, 2002, 8:34am

Here ya go:

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/hypothalamus/index.htm