Spinal cord stimulator symptoms and conditions

I am a forty something year young female that has been on fentanyl now for approximately two weeks. I am approx. 85% pain free for the first time in about 5 years. Unlike the other postees, after 12 back surgeries, including the introduction of a spinal cord stimulator; I recently had a intrathecal pump implanted. Since the original implant, I have had three separate medications used, (morphine, dyladid and now fentanyl). With the pump, the medication is dispensed directly into the spinal canal requiring a minimal amount of medication, versus taking it orally or being absorbed into the skin through a patch. With the medication going directly to the spinal canal, it does not have to go through the other internal organs before reaching the pain site or nerves, thus minimizing the side effects. Do I have side effects? Yes, but they are minimal and I am very pleased thus far with the results. Where as some patients are receiving anywhere from 70 - 100 mg. in the patch over a three day period; I receive 80 mg. over a 42 day period. It is highly concentrated and again, does not have to be absorbed through my stomach, kidneys, liver, etc. before reaching the pain site. When the pump administers the drug, 100% reaches the pain site; where as out of the 100 mg received orally or through the patch, less than half of that reaches it destination. So far, this is the best I've felt in years. I can walk, sit up and play with my dogs for the first time in years.

IN 1999,I had two epidural kenalog injections, which brought temporary relief of lower back pain,but returned after a few days. Then, I underwent a discogram, revealing two herniated and torn lumbar discs. I had two,two-level decompressive laminectomy surgeries in 2000, followed by three caudal-epidural Kenalog injections. Shortly afterward, I developed terrible burning pain from my lower back, through my pelvis and down both legs. I was referred to a neurosurgeon who implanted a spinal cord stimulator, then five months later, he opened my lumbar spine up a third time and he fused the L4-5, L5-S1 levels with allografted donor bone and implanted rods and pedacle screws. I have a strong suspicion that I developed Arachnoiditis as a result of the ESIs, but my doctors ahve all clammed up. Kenalog's data sheet states that it is NOT RECOMMENDED for epidural use, as it is neurotoxic, but doctors continue to use it on peoples' spines. I am now permanently disabled, in constant neruopathic pain and my future looks bleak. DON'T get epidural steroid injections of kenalog or Depo-Medrol, they'll mess you up for life! DON'T DO IT!