Bone Stimulator anyone?

[skoshi314]

Internal bone stimulator

I have an internal bone stimulator implanted at the top of my hip bone. There are two tiny wires that go up the length of my fusion. The stimulator is very easy to see on my x-rays so I'll try to get them posted here. The stim has a battery that lasts 6 months then stops so basically it's a useless piece of hardware now. My doc said if it's bothering me he could do a minor procedure, make a small incision, get ahold of the body of the thing and fish the wires out. I told him it's just fine where it is!

Just out of curiosity does anyone else have an internal device?

[twistedmama81]

Wow I have never heard of an internal device, I would like to see your x-rays to see what that looks like.

[karena]

I know this thread is a year old, but in comparison to '09 bone stimulators:

the new ones are a compact 2"x4" unit you clip to your waistband and two electric stim pads attached to both sides of your spine. We were told to wear it 24/7 for 9 months. I will recheck this time when I see my surgeon on Monday, but seems a small price versus pain issues for correct healing. Pads stay on thru' showering, and change when they start wearing out. They have rechargeable batteries and you just keep an extra recharged and switch them out.

[Mojo's Mom]

Thanks for posting this. I inspired me to email my surgeon's patient coordinator to ask if I will have one of these, and she emailed me right back and said yes. I'm glad to know they are smaller now.

[jChris]

I wear two stimulators. I wear a cervical stimulator four hours a day for my neck fusion and a spinal stimulator for two hours a day for my spinal fusion. Will wear both for nine months.

[backissues]

I will have a bone stimulator as well. Can you feel it? Is there discomfort? Does it feel like electric stim in PT?

What about getting dressed? How much room does this take up under your clothes?

I will also have a brace for 10-12 weeks. It is good that this will be winter.

[jChris]

I wear both of mine over my clothes so no issues with fittings. I do not feel anything when wearing mine. I do hear a continuous clicking sound while wearing mine and talking on the phone. Some callers hear the noise as well, while most do not.

I must wear mine at separate times as well,,,,,bummer,,,,,cuts into 6 hours per day.