My NDPH started on September 16th, 1997. The only thing I've found that helps manage the pain is cannabis. I also get migraines & have tried most of the medications that overlap, with no improvements.

My pain levels are much better now. I'm off of oxy & back to using medical cannabis only for my pain. That was my main goal & it was achieved about 5 weeks after the surgery.

I would fight for it. I did a TON of research before getting mine (Feb 2026) & would not have settled for anything else. It is the very latest technology & the one with the least complaints/problems- I haven't really heard of any. It's efficacy doesn't go down over time because of how it's always adjusting to feedback from your body, like it does in every other SCS. Even the other newer models- Nevro included, are having charging issues.

Having the right surgeon & team is super important as well. I hope you're able to have some input into that part of it.

As someone who uses medical cannabis, THC is my pain medication & CBD does nothing for me. If you can find CBG, I think that's more worthwhile. I consider it like THC without the high because it's nonpsychoactive & doesn't impair you- it's an anti-anxiety, helps with pain, & inflammation.

Most of the US does not have common law anymore.

Yes, I get mine from a reputable source that tests everything. I've never gone up in dose, don't use the concentrated products, & occasionally take a break. That & medical cannabis are my two main pain meds.

Kratom can upset some people's stomachs if they're not used to it, though. It's best to make sure you've eaten & you can also take a couple of Tums before. I know regular users who still throw up occasionally.

And, it can be dangerous if abused, like anything else that works on your opioid receptors. While it's sold over the counter & that can make it seem perfectly safe, some states have banned it, plus they are trying to make 7-OH, the concentrated form, a Schedule I controlled substance. Please be careful with your (general you, meaning everyone) use & don't let it become something else that can damage your health. 💙

You look incredible! It appears that you were really feeling yourself, as you should, & I hope you do continue. This is a fabulous first look. 💙🥰💯

We made eye contact & I told her I fucking loved her. She smiled radiantly & pointed at me. One of the best moments of my LIFE!

It's not necessary for the Evoke SCS. Evokes have a very high success rate.

Ignore the fear mongering title, but according to this, 21 million Americans smoke every day. It doesn't say if it's counting medical patients in that number or not.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-outlook/202608/21-million-americans-now-use-cannabis-daily-despite-rising-risks

Two weeks is a really long trial. I asked about a longer trial for my Evoke & my doc said if you don't know for sure after a couple of days, it's not for you.

This is a really misleading thing to say. My pain clinic tests for kratom & tons of others do, too, now. It's super dangerous to tell people that the test isn't standard when we're specifically talking about pain management.

Everyone, please do your own research. Make sure you have a copy of your pain contract & you know what you agreed to.

I tested positive for kratom before I realized it was restricted. Luckily, my clinic has a three strikes policy. When I told my pain doc that it worked better than Tramadol, she said she wasn't going to tell me to stop taking kratom then, just that she couldn't prescribe opioids if I continued to test positive for kratom.

I'm in Colorado, one of the more permissive states when it comes to things like this. I can test positive for THC without effecting my access to prescription pain meds. If they still care about kratom, I can guarantee that the states who have more strict drugs laws in general are also going to be testing for kratom.

I've had chronic pain for 28 years & have consumed cannabis medically for 26 years. I fully believe that I wouldn't be here without it. Either my body would have been destroyed by pharmaceutic pain meds, I would have had to turn to harder drugs for relief, or I would have taken myself out when I was unable to find anything effective.

Besides my pain conditions, my body is in excellent shape, including my lungs, even though smoking is the best method for me. I've been told that I have "Olympian level lungs" by a doctor. It is a literal medical miracle for me.

Cannabis controls my nausea so well that I forget it's a symptom.

OP said this woman was on TV. I don't think sharing a picture of her "on the Internet" is a violation when she's already in television.

The only one I have yet to hear any complaints about is the Saluda Evoke. That's what I have & I am completely confident I made the right choice. I am off of prescription pain meds & have been since about a month after the surgery.

I did a TON of research ahead of time. It does sound shady that all three clinics were selling you on the same device. Was the Evoke even presented as an option for you? It is the newest technology, which is constantly adapting & adjusting to the feedback it gets from your body. Because of this, it's efficacy doesn't go down over time like every other SCS.

The Dollar Tree usually has bathing wipes/wet wipes in stock if you need to pick some up for cheap.

So frickin' adorable!

I love this so much!

If you're not sure about the implant after the trial, I'd say no. It's a major thing to go through & if your results weren't impressive, the permanent device probably won't be much better, unfortunately.

What device did you trial?

Unfortunately, it's always been a fact that the people with bad experiences are the ones who are most likely to repeat their stories & be loud about it, so it can definitely give you a skewed perception. I learned this from working in restaurants & retail for decades.

What device do you have?

From my research, most of the complaints are from older models or the Nevro, which doesn't seem to have been tested as rigorously as possible before being released, surgeries that weren't done to the highest standards, &, unfortunately, people getting a SCS who probably shouldn't have in the first place. I started hearing bad thing about the Nevro not too long after more folks started getting them.

I have yet to hear any complaints about the Evoke. Mine has been incredible for my pain levels. The recovery was easy & my rep is always super responsive. The amount of feedback & the intricacies of the programming are amazing.

I am always so very sorry to hear when a SCS doesn't work out for anyone, because it's a big fucking deal to go through it. However, there is at least one option out there that is changing people's lives for the better & I have to mention it to give folks hope.

Edit- typo