To be honest, this doesn't take away ALL my pain - in fact, the trial leads are quite tricky - in some positions they don't work at all, and then I'll turn my head another way and get a strong "ZAP" down my arms! The rep says it's because they are so unstable - he made a comparison to a spoon stuck upright in a dish of jello - fine until someone moves the dish, or even bumps the table! Once the permanent leads are in, and "scarred" in place, position changes won't make nearly as much difference.

I'm learning quickly, by trial and error, how to change the settings for different activities. When I'm up and active I have the stimulation set higher. Wasn't sure last night how much lower I should set it for sleeping, so decided to get in bed, then adjust it - ZOWIE!!! Felt like I had hold of a live wire - not hot, but electrifying LOL! Could hardly sit up and reach for the remote to turn down the stimulation - I won't forget THAT lesson

The SCS is doing a wonderful job masking most of the pain in my hands, arms, shoulder and underarms, my absolute worst pain areas. I get some relief at the outside and upper edges of the scaps, none in the traps or neck, which are my second-most painful areas, or upper chest/collarbone area, also v. painful. My hips and legs have also been really achy due to sciatic nerve pain, from RSD or DDD depending which Dr you listen to. I think it's RSD because it's on again/off again and I think DDD wd be more persistent, don't you?

And due to RSD my feet always burn, and I have pain to being touched all over, EXCEPT the area covered by the stimulator.

My point is, I'm not completely pain-free, but the SCS HAS taken the pain in my hands, arms and shoulders down to the lowest level they've been since....since I got injured. I haven't been distracted once today by screaming elbows or freezing hands - a first since Feb 2003! And because the pain in my arms is so low, I can cope MUCH better with the rest of it, especially after a good night's sleep - like a gift from heaven.

An SCS isn't a cure or remission, and may not be for everyone, but so far the trial has given me an idea of how much I stand to benefit, and the permanent implant should be even better. I can actually imagine having a better quality of life, being rested, relaxed, not just having lower pain levels but actually being able to participate more in household, family and social activities. I'm pretty excited, can you tell? LOL!

Tonia, I think of you often too - I need to catch up with your news! Is your heart behaving? How are the boys? Please post or PM me, ok?

Dawn and Stardust, thanks for sharing in my happiness, it's sweet of you! Keep me in your thoughts and pray these good results continue, please? I 'm sort of still in that "Pinch me, I must be dreaming" state-of-mind if you know what I mean I know I won't want to give this up on Monday afternoon!

beth