I just got back home from my programming session and it went very well. However, before we started I talked to the rep about my goals and also my fears/issues about it. I told her that I would be really happy if we could get my stim to cover abdomen/pelvic pain area BUT if not then I would be happy to have coverage on my whole lower back and also in my legs. So, unfortunately we were unable to get it into my abdomen but this was because every time we tried I would get very sharp pressure in other parts of my spine and sometimes in my ribs! This has always been an issue and knew it was a possibility so after that was ruled out we went to work on my back and got the whole low back covered and my legs. Then I also told her about the burning nerve pain in my right leg and how it will go numb and not move and she had an idea to add to my program the option of being able to increase my right leg when it does that since that actually overrides the pain and stops the rest of the burning/numb from happening! I was excited to know this because in my old program when it happened I had to turn up all 3 areas at once and it would cause more pressure and make me have to turn down the leg thus letting the burning then numbing sensation happen each time. I was so happy when I left my rep because my other doctor had told me that this would be forever and they can't do anything because to fix my real problem would end up me being in the wheel chair for the rest of my life. So, even though I am going to have to still deal with my abdomen/right side pain it makes me feel a little overall better to have the majority of it under control!

I also learned an important lesson about talking to your rep as soon as you feel stimulation problems and how it manages your pain because you have to get this taken care of and tell them soon instead of waiting for months hoping it will go away. I used to always be nervous to go to programming appointments or even to call them but it is their job and you are not bothering them and the overall goal is to get YOU to feeling better and if they do not know what is going on they cannot help you. I also think it is very helpful to discuss your goals/issues and even fears with your rep because it made me feel better and she was able to figure out better ways and options that would help me. I know I have had mine since 08 but I keep learning more things about it all the time and that is why I also think it is so helpful to talk to other people with stimulators too because they do understand and can give you valuable information from their own experiences. Thank you for all the prayers and thoughts Jerry and I really appreciate it! Take care and I hope you all have a good week