Ger I am feeling sadness you are not one who can find peace with SCS, but then we are told the Trial is administered for just that reason. Witness Sandy whose medical team did a one up process of implanting due to difficult mechanical issues with her spine, only to have it seem to be on the brink of not working.....

Pain..... how I wish I could understand pain so much better than I do, because its well meant indication of acute conditions causing bodily harm is SO FAR OUT OF THE BALLPARK where chronic pain is at issue. This, I believe, is the reason my pain management specialist is so thrilled, so happy to see me when I appear for a follow up appointment, because I live as a rare enough success. Someone who brings encouragement for my brilliant doctor who so tries to aid people suffering chronic pain. It was he who asked I write the article for the med journal. [written and unpublished].

Reality and truth in the chronic pain management world is that SCS never wipes away all pain. I am convinced while it fools my brain into non-recognition of the signals, those signals are nevertheless generated; hence, the reason I have found my supply of daily energy only goes SO FAR. I acknowledge full awareness the SCS is only a pain manager distinct from meds, perhaps in most cases in addition to meds.

You, dear soul, hope without SCS to wean even so from the opiates. We share the same goal albeit on a different time line. My withdrawal was at once horrible and difficult followed by rapid onset depression, but you know this. Then I emerged gleeful the SCS managed pain well enough to exist without pills or drops or shots. My sister-in-law, Terri, of whom I have written on the RSD forum lives ingesting more than the therapeutic maximum morphine dosage for her doc knows this is the only means by which she can control both real and phantom amputation pain.

God is dearly close to each of Terri and me. This is how we cope and it is so wonderful all we had to do was reach out for He was always near. Some will scoff at my presentation thus, but I can only write from my heart, this experience, my subjective knowledge of both physical and emotional pain of the chronic sufferer.

So GER you are an incredible trusting soul to endeavor withdrawal from pain management meds absent another means to manage your pain. All I have to offer are my prayers and my words of encouragement and comfort. They will always be at your side. This is my mission, my ministry now, to help others however I can, and you are part of my family in pain. May you be well in all ways.

George- if you have found using a Tens, or, as I have in reserve because I used it daily before surgery- an Interferential Neuro Stimulator [far larger than the usual tens boxes which are about the size of a pack of cigarettes (no, I do not smoke), while my INS is about the size of a 250 page paperback novel]. I was told my INS is basically a Tens on steroids, and I believe it having used both. Mine was used in a criss-cross fashion at the low lumbar area, around the sacrum, just above the crack you mention. I used it and used it and used it, leading my doc to believe I might be a good candidate for SCS. I feel blessed both by God and man that the SCS has worked so well for me.

As for you, George, may your Tens usage thus continue to provide all you need. Surgery is not a kind or easy experience. I have experienced 29 since my 2005 auto wreck, and I have little desire to return to an OR as the object of scalpel wielding. So, I will pray for you George that all will be well in your pain management, and would you please pray my SCS will last as long as I live so I never have to go into surgery again?

My Prayers are with both of you, my friends,
Mark56