Morning,
As for The trial.....,my injury (nerve) is about waist high just to the left of my spine, the SCS was bandaged to the top of my buttocks...the battery pack was wired long enough to set into my right pocket of my work pants....and the leads were threaded directly into the pain site. The doctor was right on it...I mean so on spot that the pain relief was immediate...about 75%. Two days into the trial the lead moved a bit...made a crackly sound; scared the bejesus out of me....and ALL the pain was gone!! When all was removed the pain was still all gone. Now I was too afraid the pain would come back and it was my last surgery option before settlement of my case. Most of all I had so much family pressure that I was perhaps making this all up and had totaled a car to "fake it" (OMG...I have to laugh now) SOOOO I went ahead with the implant thinking the battery would be put in my right buttock and the leads directly to the left to the injury.
I was not told what a laminectomy is; just that a paddle would give better coverage....I did not have internet access....I was working 45 hours a week and the rest of my time was spent in bed praying to die. I was alone and still can't forgive myself for the incorrect decision.
The implant of the "paddle" was put in at T7...my bra strap line....cutting thru my postural muscles...taking a chunk of healthy spine out and jamming in the SCS paddle.....from the moment I woke up it felt like a broomstick in me.....like it did not fit. The leads had been tunneled in the sides if my spine and they pull and tug and if I go to far I feel them tear inside....run a fever and lay in bed for a few day.
I feel the positioning of the paddle and direction of the leads is imperative to know ahead of time as well as great consideration to the battery site. I had had knee surgeries previous and I was taught to use my arms...then suddenly my arms were useless and caused more pain. Any pressure on my spine (sitting on hard surface)travels to that point and causes pain...still feels like a foreign object in me.

So I gave you way more info than you asked for ....thanks for listening.
I am way better due to my vigilance.

HB