I just had a permanent spinal stimulator placed on Saturday.
1. The surgery lasted about an hour and a half.
2. They told me to stay home a week from work. (I'm a science teacher) They said it would take about 6 weeks to totally recover.
3. The battery box is in my right hip and is the size of an Oreo cookie. I have the stimulator for the lumbar -thoracic area. I can't tell yet if I can feel it under the skin because it is still bandaged.
4. My SCS is by Boston Scientific and the battery is rechargeable. I have a disc plugged into a charger and they said it could last as long as a month before I need to hold the disc next to implanted battery and recharge it which takes 1-4 hours.
5.You can change the intensity and pattern. Sometimes if I have it turned up, it feels like very strong pins and needles. Othertimes when I have it turned down, it feels like a strong tingling. I hope I get used to the sensations.
6. I would definitely would do it again. I just pray it si going to really make a difference so that I can keep teaching and play with my grandchildren.
Kim