Welcome to this parlor in the universe! The thread chronicling my path on this stuff is jammed with STUFF, but is closed to comment now and is spiraling down to the never never land..... kinda makes me wonder why I wrote it.

Anyway, it is here http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread117854.html and has much to say about every little thing which will go on as you proceed through a paddle emplacement via laminectomy of your permanent SCS. Read the stuff around June 30 of 2010 and you will get quite an idea.

Big things to remember are Log Roll, the means to arise from bed once you have received the implant. You will definitely be sore, and if you have not had a spinal fusion before, you should want to learn to log roll out of bed.

Begin by practicing BEFORE you ever have surgery, using arms and abdominal muscles only. Lie on your side facing an edge of your bed and place yourself as though you are a log, a straight line creature. Then draw your legs toward your waist, allowing the lower legs to descend to the floor as with your arms you lever yourself up to seating position. Once sitting on the edge of the bed, then using only your abdominal muscles and leg muscles, arise to a standing position.

At first home from the hospital or surgery center having had the laminectomy, you will be both sore and stiff. It is just part of the invasive process, but taking TINY steps leads to long walks thereafter.

Next is the toilet........ yes, this is potty talk. You should not need to make any adjustment to your toilet, for the laminectomy is NOT as invasive as fusion. You see, prior to the SCS I had experienced multiple fusion surgeries and the very FIRST thing I learned after the agony of getting out of bed from fusion [not such agony with laminectomy for SCS] was getting Down to a toilet and then back Up again. They sell these nifty toilet risers which make a toilet seat much higher for such crippled people as I was, complete with handles for the getting up and down. I did not need one for recovery from the laminectomy of SCS.

BLAST is next, and I am deadly serious about this one...... NO BENDING, LIFTING, STRETCHING OR TWISTING, that is unless you have a desire to mess up the works of that delicate SCS which was just installed in your back. SO, you become VERY careful about BLAST until your Doc says less restricted movement is permissible. Why? Because the connections, the paddles, the wiring, the generator pocket are all pretty delicately placed until the body begins to form natural scarring around the foreign bodies within yours to hold everything fast and safely. Once all of that occurs, you might even be allowed to golf as has been KZLRogue, one of our graduate members here.

Purchase one or two of those reacher grabber things for the reaching you MAY NOT DO. In case you wonder where they are found, Rae will be along shortly to let you know they are always on the aisle where the pink flamingoes are found with which she populates her front yard.

Get a hair trim and style if your hair is ultra long so it will be more manageable afterward, for you will be restricted in shampooing thereafter for a few days. Or, if length of hair is a thing for you, then invest in dry shampoo.

You will want some loose clothing to lounge in for the first couple of weeks. Why? Because if your generator is mounted in the buttock just below the waist line, you will feel quite tender there for at least a couple of weeks thereafter. I wore sweats, since society and my wife would have scowled at me wearing a "nightgown" or some such other get up.

Take it easy on yourself and USE the pain management meds prescribed for post surgery along with your usual pain management meds. Your doc will tell you the need will present itself, and a medicated patient who manages their pain is far happier than one who is unwilling to use the meds.

Accept help from those around who offer to drive you places, for you will not be allowed to drive. Just do NOT allow them to lift you by the armpits or some silly thing like that, because this would be bad for your new wiring. You have already learned above how to stand up, so do it yourself, thank you very much.

Well, aside from the stuff above, I reckon, the thread I mentioned is about it for other stuff you might encounter.

All will be well, Kaye,
and, I will pray for you,
on July 10,
yup,
Mark56