[QUOTE=Mark56;637730]I am grateful to those who have posted on this thread, as one who has been through a few surgeries previously and am now facing the SCS implant procedure. I was injured in a high speed car wreck 5 years ago. A few things were messed up as a result of that event and I have been in an operating room more than I care to remember. Among the most major have been the discectomy/laminectomy/fusion in my lumbar spine followed a few months later with another major invasion of my spine to remove a bone growth medium spur which protruded against one of those lovely pain producing nerve roots.
Having striven to be the good patient and follow all doctor prescriptions and recommendations, I am now heavily invested into the process of attaining SCS implant procedures. Sure, I went through all of the post surgical physical therapy [all of it and then some], deep tissue massage, acupuncture, and, of course the confounding and constipating courses of prescribed medications. Right now, I still use the prescribed morphine, neurontin, and restoril along with much use of my interferential neuro stim unit and its sticky electrodes on my skin with those wires which dangle from my pocket and will remind me RIGHT NOW of their presence if I walk too close to a kitchen cabinet handle. JERK! That stops me!
My physiatrist finally said I fit the profile of one who is the perfect patient for the SCS procedures. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow. The psychiatrist a few days later. And I wait. Kinda tired of the burning pain in my sciatic nerve arena and the ever present spasms.
I have been through the healing process of deep penetration back surgery and the insertion of rods and pedicle screws, and I have dreaded EVER again going through such surgery to address my issues. Family and friends chimed in lovingly and with wisdom helping me to understand there is this last resort means out there to maybe, just MAYBE remediate some of this awful pain.
So, I have had discussions with Patient Ambassadors for St Judes Medical, the manufacturer of the EON unit we are considering. They have told me of their experience with results based perspective. I have discussed and researched the procedures and believe I have a grasp for the post surgical pain associated with the implant. My doctor is looking at a T8/T9 laminectomy to be able to suture the paddles to the spinal cord, the routing of the leads down the cord to a lumbar exposure where the stim unit will be buried in my upper hip. It sounds like a lot of ouch.
Reading of your experiences with the surgeries and the follow on recovery, I am heartened that, if allowed to proceed, I can do this. For five years I have wanted to get some of my life back, and you are among those helping me know that is possible.
Thank you so very much, Mark56
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Mark wow what a painful experience you've been through. My injury took place by an abusive ex-boyfriend who didn't like the fact that I was leaving him coming up on six years ago in Aug. My full body weight was thrown on the ground and the impact hit right on the underside of my right arm at an angle and caused the ribs to jam back into my spine and split from the pressure of the impact. It never healed back right, and I too have a spur pushing on a nerve root, but they say it's not big enough to do the surgery to clean it up at my age. Like I told Mrs. KRouge, I deeply ache and sympathize for anyone who lives with this humbling uncontrolable lifestyle. I used to run 2 miles a day at 4:00 a.m. and do a total of 2 hour work outs a day, I was tone and felt great, this eventually took over..I've failed PT bc they can't do anything with me that wouldn't create a flare up. I've cried my tears, but Mark, the most important thing...I wasn't afraid. I wasn't afraid of the procedure for the SCS, maybe that is foolish but I looked at it as even though its not going to fix your problem, it may help you cope with the pain a bit better and therefore we can gain just a bit back of our once very active lives. I'm afraid now only bc the major procedure that this was for me I don't want to have to experience again...but Mark,..wow, you've been through so much, you most definitely are a perfect candidate for this. I so hope this will help you in lowering the pain your in. You always hear that saying that someone else out there is worse off than you, you certainly fit the bill there. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you to cope, bless you for being so strong. Stay positive and strong, there is a ton of support and caring here.