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December 27, 2011 - 6:21pm
Psyc evaluation prior to a spinal cord stimulator test.
Hi all yes I am back it has been awhile I am still struggling with pain. I am sensitive to all narcotics and have reactions so now for me what seems like the last resort is a spinal cord Stimulator. I got a call today to have a Psyc evaluation. Why the heck do I have to have that test!?
Does anyone really know the purpose of it is?
Just wanting to know the bottom line in all this. Did any of you have this?
Thanks
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P.S I have had tons of injections now they do not work. I just wanted to add that and I also have had PT nothing works and I am n nervous about the stimulator as well.
Most Insurance companies require a Phyc evaluation to make sure that the patient can cope with the idea of a object implanted inside of them.
There have been numerous cases where the insurance companies have paid for operations and only to have the patients change their minds weeks later after the operation and demand the object implanted to be removed at the insurance companies expense. My company did not require me to do this , but it is common practice for them to require this .
It was my understanding that the test is to find out if you suffer from depression. If you do insurance companies want the depression treated before the SCS is implanted.
The test is easy.....all you do is answer a list of questions and answer a few oral questions. There is really nothing to it.
Cheers
Patsy
I am not a Doctor but I do watch House and Doc Martin on TV.
Never give up HOPE..June 18,2010 I had a pain pump implant....I now free of pain.
My thoughts and opinions are just that, my thoughts and my opinions, based on my experiances.
I have heard of this. I think it is the norm. I believe it's just to make sure you are able to understand what the system can and cannot do; and your overall state of mind, especially in relation to the pain.
I have had an SCS since 1996 and could not function without . I did need more help and in 2001 had an intrathecal pump implanted. I even work part time again after over 20 years of no work. My dr had initially said I would need the psych eval but then after meeting me and seeing my records, he said I didn't need one.
I wouldn't worry too much about getting one, except that it delays things a little more and I'm sure you want relief as soon as possible. The SCS is not without some problems, but still well worth it! Good luck!
TML
I think it is worth adding here, since you are senstive to all narcotics, that the SCS will not reduce your need for oral pain meds. It is considered a success if it reducs your pain by 50%.
Some people get more relief than that and some less. But with the SCS andoral pain meds they get great relief. Lets face it, some relief is better than none.
Also the SCS does not work for everyone. It did not work for me. I now have a pain pump implant and am off all oral pain meds except when I am having a flair up.
The SCS is really worth having the trial. And like TML said it can have problems but still worth a try. Just do not over expect. A few people can't take the constant tingling but most do not mind it at all.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Patsy W
I am not a Doctor but I do watch House and Doc Martin on TV.
Never give up HOPE..June 18,2010 I had a pain pump implant....I now free of pain.
My thoughts and opinions are just that, my thoughts and my opinions, based on my experiances.
You are right Pat. My neurosurgeon that implanted my first SCS had told me from the get go that it was not a cure all. He knew that due to my condition that I would need it 24 hrs a day and would still need oral pain meds. However, they were greatly reduced and my function level was greatly improved. When it was no longer enough, we added the pump. Somehow, they work together. I still need some oral meds, but much, much less. I remember seeing Jerry Lewis on TV touting how he got an SCS and was pain-free. He showed pics of himself lifting his child, who was about 5 I believe. He showed the same remote I had. I felt he was very misleading. I like when I get the chance to tell someone that's in severe pain about the SCS and pump options. They gave me a life back, even with their imperfections.
Unfortunately, I've had to car accidents in the past month and am having both neck and back pain. I'm going to see tne neurosurgeon to rule out any new damage. Usually, if the pump is not working I have withdrawal symptoms, so I don't think it's that. I so hope things will settle back down. I work a few hrs a week for a Chiropractor, isn't that a hoot! After over 20 yrs of not working at all, I really enjoy it, but it's been very painful lately. My SCS and pump are for my lower back, so do not help the neck.
What kind of pump do you have? Both my SCS and pump are Medtronics.
TML
I just now read your question to me.
I also have a Medtronic pump, the largest size made. I only have to have a refill every six months.
Last June I tripped over a footstool and shattered my hip. It was a very hard fall on my hardwood floor and my pain pump came through the fall just fine.....my hip did not!!LOL
I am at my 'magic" dose now and the only time I take any oral pain meds is when I am having a flare up.
I have been having a flare up this week due to weather changes and the pain has been very, very bad. I think the reason for this is because I am due for a refill the 24th. and I believe the meds in my pump has weakned some.
I LOVE my pain pump and the only way anyone will take it from me is out of my dead body!!
BTW.....My pump is set at 2.091 ml/day and it has diladuid in it.
Cheers to All.
Patsy W
I am not a Doctor but I do watch House and Doc Martin on TV.
Never give up HOPE..June 18,2010 I had a pain pump implant....I now free of pain.
My thoughts and opinions are just that, my thoughts and my opinions, based on my experiances.
Thanks so much for the comments I so appreciate it. yes I am going to see my spine doctor next week. I still have hardware in the front of my neck, they took the hardware already out of the back of my neck, and lumbar spine. I am wondering if the rods were removed from the front part of my neck then maybe that would help, but man, I sure do not want another cut in the front of my neck. YIKES! I have a great deal of pain and man it is hard to just live some times okay most of the time.I feel like I need to move to a warmer climate. Here in Oregon it is freezing and everything inside me hurts.
Blessings and Happy New Year!
As long as you dont jump on the table during the shrink visit and flap your arms like a chicken you should be able to pass the test.
I had 2 previous scs trial in 8 years that failed and ended up seeing the same shrink on my 2 nd trial as the 1 st trial and i was seeing a diferent pain dr at the time,
1st thing that came to mind when i seen him was hey am i crazy or have we met before in another life,
The voices in my head tell me i know you,
Everyone has to meet with the shrink before scs trial or the pain pump trial to get aproved,
The scs trial is prety simple in my opinion, But my pain pump trial and 6 days of spinal leak was hell, That was seriously worse then my spine surgery,
L4 L5 disc replacement in 2004=causing nerve damage'Flexicore disc. 2006 fusion same level leaving adr in. Fusion did nothing to releive the nerve pain.Pain clinic=every injection procedure avalable inc,razadamy, ablation, nerve stimulater trial,morphine pump trial all failed. Pain can be described as burning pain in lower spine penetrating in to left buttock,down left leg. Refuse to take lyrica or nuorontin do to its side effect,Leaving me with norco,valume,and flexiril at night.Which these medications only help with the muscle aches and stiffnes does nothing for the nerve pain from the nerve damage sustained from the adr surgery.Coming up nov.19th 2009 Lami, and hardware removal from fusion,for hardware just causing more pain in other areas.Hardware block comfirmed hardware is also causing pain in diferent area aside from the severe nerve pain on left side.Emg showed some posible problem above surgery are at L3 L4.
the eval is also to assess your expectations. of course we are in an acute depression, my doc knew it and i told him so. If the scs helps "acute"depression that is also taken into consideration. It's not a big deal but like another post noted to have an $80,000 or more implant they need to make sure your expectations are realistic.
I have had mine 2 1/2yrs now after some complication with infection of the first but look i couldn't sit for dinner with my family and now I can. i can do alot more. also take prn oral meds but added a duragesic patch and wow my leg/back are by far much better controlled on a consistent basis.
and like many they can have it back over my dead body
don't be offended by the eval like they said insurance nonsense...good luck
Did your eval turn out okay? I had my eval in early December 2011 and I'm still waiting to have my SCS implant. I'm so annoyed with my doctor's office staff but that's another story! LOL My psych eval was pretty useless from my perspective and psychologist basically asked me if I knew what I was doing and understood the procedure. Of course, the answer was yes. When my pain MD told me I had to do the psych eval I was surprised too and asked if it was to determine if I was faking or what. He replied that it was partially to determine if my pain was real or in my head but also to determine if I understood the ramifications of the surgery/SCS implant. We both had a chuckle about the faking part as it was and is abundantly clear how much pain I'm in all the time. It seems the clerks are in charge of everyone's medical care and all my docs complain about not being able to give patients what they should have because the medical insurance companies prescribe treatment courses. A prior pain MD actually told me the RFL treatments were not going to work for me but he had to give me the treatments before he could give me the treatment he thought would work. When I asked why he said my insurance dictated the treatments I should have and their order and if he didn't comply then the insurance company would not reimburse him! Pretty sad and it will probably only get worse when the health care bill kicks in 2014. My docs all have the same attitude about the health care bill. Who knows! I hope your eval went well.
Hi I am sorry to hear what you went through. My Psyc Eval is next week. I am so not looking forward to it. I was so wondering what the heck it the deal with the eval. I have a total 21 surgeries most of them in my neck lumbar, and feet. So not faking it here. I have had injections, PT, everything you can imagine and none of them work. I hat pain meds they make me sick and I am so sensitive to them and do not want to live the rest of my life on them. The Doctors should be more excited about people who want to stay off the drugs and do everything in their power to prevent pain meds. SO I am facing next week an eval and pray to God it is not a long drawn out thing. Hello I have to cath part time now because of back surgery and a Hysterectomy. So it is like duh!HA HA!
I always got a call to meet with another lady to get counsel from her at the end of this month for the stem.Why the heck am I seeing another lady strange stuff here.
I hear about the doctors I hear a lot of complaining going on in fact I have been through three doctors already and now have to find another because they are moving or quieting all medicare patients.
I pray things work out for you dear one.
Hi I am sorry to hear what you went through. My Psyc Eval is next week. I am so not looking forward to it. I was so wondering what the heck it the deal with the eval. I have a total 21 surgeries most of them in my neck lumbar, and feet. So not faking it here. I have had injections, PT, everything you can imagine and none of them work. I hat pain meds they make me sick and I am so sensitive to them and do not want to live the rest of my life on them. The Doctors should be more excited about people who want to stay off the drugs and do everything in their power to prevent pain meds. SO I am facing next week an eval and pray to God it is not a long drawn out thing. Hello I have to cath part time now because of back surgery and a Hysterectomy. So it is like duh!HA HA!
I always got a call to meet with another lady to get counsel from her at the end of this month for the stem.Why the heck am I seeing another lady strange stuff here.
I hear about the doctors I hear a lot of complaining going on in fact I have been through three doctors already and now have to find another because they are moving or quieting all medicare patients.
I pray things work out for you dear one.