The new doctor was really nice but it was a hard appointment because my pain doctor did not send any records to him even though they are the ones that referred me! So, it was kind of weird because I had to tell him all the basic stuff. He said it sounds like I might have a pinched nerve so I have to have testing done. He scheduled me to have an EMG? I think its called that its where they put the needles in your leg and the electrodes to test the nerves. He got me in for Friday. He also said that this will be our first step (he does not want to take my SCS out unless absolutely necessary so that is good. He said after the test then he will probably do a cat scan and (if need be an MRI but thats the last resort) see what that shows, of course it would of been a lot better if my records had been there! Since my pain doctor office is notorious for losing my phone number and not following through on anything my husband and I just went up there too and told them I need to get my records and I am also trying to get a handicapped parking permit so that I can also get a handicapped permit for school too because I really REALLY need one since campus is big and it would help us out. The pain doctor office is supposed to call me back about my records after my doctor gets in tomorrow so we will see. I am glad that the neuro is nice and he made sure to get me in for that test sooner because I would have had to wait a whole month and I just can't keep going like this.

"fionabThird, and I say this hoping that I am very, very wrong...maybe you're like me and have many different health issues going on. I see an immunologist, a neurologist, a specialized ENT surgeon as well as my pain mgmt. dr. (who is an ortho.). So while her bedside manner may be lacking, she may be thinking that you have other issues that either complicate the ability of the SCS to work properly or you have other issues, period, that need to be addressed."

fionab, I do have many health problems and I have many specialists and all of them have told me that the pain is what the stimulator should be covering especially since it has helped me before. I have an Internist, Urologist, Gastro specialist, blood specialist, Gyn, endocrinologist, pain doctor, heart specialist and now neurologist so I am used to having complicated medical problems. The SCS (when it is working right) did help me with pain control even though I have all that other stuff wrong with me. There is definitely a problem with my leads and she is not addressing it so after all this deal with the neuro is over I am going to have to get my stim fixed so that it will help me again. And even if I do get it fixed but they can't fix the numbness I will be with my walker and wheelchair and that would be fine because I would be out of pain again.

Leesa "I'd surely go for the pump rather than the stimulator. I had the SCS at one time, but had to have it taken out due to problems. then I had the trial for the pump, but because I'm small they said i couldn't have it because the pump was too big for me. At least it was at that time ~ perhaps the pumps are smaller now, I don't know. But ask your doctor about it. It gave ME total relief, and i'm not kidding!!! i didn't have any pain at all during my trial, and I have SEVERE lumbar pain."
Leesa, thank you for sharing your experience with me and I am really sorry that you were not able to keep the pain pump I really do not want to go that route though because I want to be off pain meds for good which is what happened when I was using my stim when it was helping. I want to keep my stim just get it fixed because it was like a miracle for me and it did get me out of pain and I was not using the walker or wheel chair and not on pain medicines. Thank you for sharing though I appreciate it!

Thank you so much for everyone's replies and support! This site has really been a lifesaver for me in dealing with this and not feeling so alone! Mark56, abrown176 (also thank you for sharing your experience with me too), fionab, and Leesa