Gunny, our mutual friend Dave reached out to me and drew me onto your thread. I read your story...and tears welled up in my eyes. You have given, and given so very dearly. Thank you for having been in theatre. Our son has done multiple tours, as has a friend who nears the wrap up of his full career in SEALS. All of you who served have seen such a hard hard reality..... then YOU pay such a terrible price. Though it may seem little, I am dearly thankful for You.

My journey through pain began not via military sacrifice; instead, I was injured in a high speed car wreck on I-70 commuting one day for a ride to L.A. on an aircraft for my work. I never made it to L.A.

Pretty much all I had to say was documented in my threads you my see in the stickies at the top of our SCS forum. Two posts allowed in the stickies on the top of page 2 give thoughts on surviving surgery under the acronym BLAST and the following post which gives Links to the multiple threads chronicling my journey through surgeries and SCS implant.

Five years ago I received thoracic implant of Boston Scientific Precision Plus SCS. This, I credit as the single life saving event among my 38 visits to the OR to fix my spine. My thoughts had involved either Smith&Wesson or knife as the alternative to pain. Gladly though I got serious therapy to preserve precious life for my family. You have great strength to have avoided a Glock appointment.... and heck, to many other folks are counting on you Gunny. Keep yourself safe.... please.

I use my implanted stim 24/7. I am faithful to keep it charged. It is simple. For me, it works and works well. You know from reading other posts it is not for everyone. Truth be told, it is NOT perfect. It is a means to manage pain. It is not some Cure which will be likely to stop pain.

All of this being said, with it, I have been able to resume my career, and this the most important byproduct, for with me doped up on morphine, I could not work to help provide for my family. We had lost absolutely every dime we had saved. I am now contributing thankfully to our family pedaling back from the financial brink.

You will learn from my Boston Sci threads the experience of "trial use." This path is not lightly taken by onyone, patient or provider. I found Peace from PAIN for the first moments since suffering overwhelming pain those many years. This was my result, and not necessarily yours.....but that Trial is the means to see whether you might be helped by it.

I hope you might read the stuff I mentioned. It is quite a bit, but repeating it all here would be way overboard.

Your dog is a great friend to you! I know he'll help you through this no matter your choice. As for me, if you ask, I will try to respond.

All the best,
M56