Gil, that is very disappointing indeed. I don't know much about SCS, but to my mind it is a treatment of last resort. Something for those people with failed back syndrome. And something I hoped to avoid by having ADR surgery.
Now, I have heard of some people for whom the SCS helped their pain, but all it does is mask the pain, it doesn't address the reason for the pain. To me, that is not something you want to consider unless you have exhausted all other options for getting rid of the pain generators first.
Does this doctor think ADR and/or fusion is totally out of the question for you? What have other surgeons said about the possibility of surgery?
Am I right in remembering that you have two bad levels?
This is only my opinion, and is only based on reading what other people have written about their experiences. I really hope that there are other options for you to try first.
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Cathy
46 years old. 12-15 years of intermittent pain, 2 years with constant pain.
DDD, L4-5 and L5-S1, pain confirmed by discogram.
PT, ESI's, Facet injection and block, Acupuncture - all no help.
2-level (Prodisc-L) ADR surgery with Dr. Bertagnoli, May 26, 2009.
Currently taking Opana-ER (tapering off) and oxycodone
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