My Surgery Bombed!!!
 

http://www.lil-abner.com/images/joebfstplk.GIF

Is anyone else old enough to remember The 'Lil Abner comic strip character, Joe Btfsplk (pictured above)? He was a good guy and friend but also the world's biggest JINX! Well, when it comes to my neuropathy, he must have been in my neighborhood and close enough to jinx me.

My doctor has NEVER had the implant move after surgery. I was soooo careful but I knew something had happened because by Day #4, the only stimulation I was feeling was around the little system "do da".

Turns out that my "swayback" (lordosis of spine) caused the movement and now I will have the surgery redone by a neurosurgeon. (Just the leads will be redone.) He will drill a hole in one of my lamina (part of the spinal canal's bony roof) and thread the leads through that hole. They will be placed on some special pad to protect the spinal cord and then attached to the the little system do da.

Naturally, I was stunned and upset but this way it will be done to last and last and gives me a better chance of having the stimulation reach down to my toes.

This is now getting interesting! Will let you know when the surgery will be.

Later,
Nancy-H

I just wanted to leave you a hug Nancy-h. :hug:

i actually just had my scs implanted march 7 and i love it so far makes life

bearable. my trial was also very successful and my all time goal is to b able 2

stop with the meds as well. i am very young so i am healin pretty quickly but

like they say just give it time 2 heal cuz u dont want the leads 2 move the

painful part for me is where they place the battery is super sore. what my

drs have said is that u have 2 give the whole unit time 2 scar into place so

thast my words of wisdom if u can call it that. lol i hope all goes very well for

and keep us updated cant wait 2 hear how r life will change for the beter for

u. in my thoughts and prayers

Still waiting
 

Stacie;

Thanks so much for writing. I had my surgery, the one that failed, two weeks before you and the area around the stimulator is still sore from time to time. I see the neurosurgeon on Monday but don't know yet when he will schedule me for the "fix up" surgery where they will restring the wires through a hole in a lamina before hooking them up to the stimulator. I am very frustrated because my pain is worse. I've been waiting since SEPTEMBER to have this surgery. I finally have it over 6 months later and my stimulator moves 2 days after surgery. Arrgghh

Take care,
Nancy

Oh Nancy!
I am SO SO SO SORRY! All I can say is hang in there with it! I can't even tell you how many revision surgeries I've had because my leads have moved (I have 2 of them). And they finally gave me a laminectomy with one of them, and I just have a big *** anchor for the other one. So think of it as you're saving yourself a few surgeries by getting the laminectomy lead NOW, instead of later, after the lead has slipped a couple of more times. I know that's sickeningly optimistic, but it really is true. There will be a bright light at the end of this dark tunnel, and this will change your life. Just try to hang on until it can happen. But sometimes, when in doubt, turn to bribery. The scheduling girls at my doctor's office LOVE See's Candy truffles, and I know it. And that gets me better surgery times. It never hurts to try. And it never hurts to be pushy with your doctor. I know that as women we're nicer than men and sometimes don't push as hard for what we need. Make it clear that you NEED this to live. Be firm. It can't hurt, right?
I truly hope this helps you! And if you need any advice or encouragement, feel free to PM me!
Linnie

[QUOTE=Lynns409;225974]Hey, just to give you some encouragement- You'll be back to normal after a month. It doesn't take as long as they say. Just no sudden jerking motions! :)
Linnie[/QUOT

I am new to this forum but am so glad I found this thread. I am going to have a SCS implant on May 14th. From what I have read here there IS hope from this chronic lower back, rt hip & thigh pain.

I went through with the SCS trial implant and it was the longest, most painful week I have ever experienced. I couldn't wait for the tech to get the thing out of my back!! I could manage the tingling sensations but however they had me hooked up did nothing for my chronic hip/thigh pain. When I asked why I didn't get any relief, just increased pain, I was told by the implant Dr. that they couldn't perform miracles and walked out the door. I felt hurt, let down, and then just plain angry. I would never recommend this procedure to anyone without extensive prior discussion with the Dr. Even then, don't get your hopes up too high.

Hi everyone I'm new to the boards so I decided to surf around a bit and came across these posts. I was wondering if you all still had your SCS? I recently moved to a new state and my WC of another state has denied me twice for the SCS implant. But, since my old doc recently had a new MRI (mylogram) done and found several nerves impinged that are not being reached by the medication they want to try the Stimulator on me. My WC analyst thinks that they will re investigate this option and have sent me to a neurosurgeon to see if surgery is an option which it is not. So, my new doctor is going to push for the stimulator and I am Hoping and praying that we have a decision by march of this next year.

A little background on me; I'm a 44 (almost 45 ohh crud next month) year old gal grew up in Wyoming all my life. I married my current husband 12 years ago and he has been a god send as far as being supportive with my pain. He takes me to my appts, and everything. I messed up my back at work 8 years ago while transferring a patient (I was a CNA) and caused three herniated discs in my back. Needless to say in Dec of 2000 I underwent the first of many fusion surgeries a two level fusion that was successful for the first two years I did quite well. In 2002 the disc above L3-4 herniated fully and I went under the knife again to fix that one. Got 6 months of pain free freedom out of that surgery until I was planting my strawberries and felt excruciating pain down my left leg. Immediately called my neuro who got me in and after doing tests found that the fusion did not take and that one of the screws had come undone. So then back in we went for a revision but this time when I woke up there was no relief. My left and right legs hurt bad and my neuro said that the surgery failed and that I was stuck with my pain forever.

Sorry for the long post. I'll post more later as it is time for a hot bath and some meds :-)

Ok so.....
 

Then I have a few more questions. My sister-in-law has one of these and she has had her's for several years (just got her first 7 year battery replaced). My first question is; is it true that the doctor takes you off all pain meds before the trial? or before the implant? If so I have been on my pain meds for the last 5 years straight and I am really worried about withdrawls. How do I control this?

Secondly; I understand that you are awake for the trial. But are you awake for the actual implant? If so how painful is this to handle? and how long is the surgery?

Third; I am only expecting a 30 to 40% decrease to my pain is this a viable expectation?