Weird feeling/sensation and pain
 

Hi everyone, hope you all had a great New Year. I have been sick with the flu really bad so we did not get to do anything. This week (7th) is my post op appointment and I will finally get my stim back on and I am nervous and excited about it. Anyway, this is going to sound weird but I am noticing really weird sensations/feelings in my back. When I lean back it feels like I am laying against something solid, and this is where my laminectomy incision is. I also am still having spasms and pressure but this feeling is really weird. I am also having really bad trouble sleeping at night because my legs hurt so bad (I think its because of no stimulation) and my incisions sometimes burn. I am about to enter week 6 so hopefully this stuff is normal. I was hurting really bad because a couple days ago I kept throwing up (due to flu) and I know that was not good on my back :( I really hope I did not mess things up or do anything wrong because I do not ever want to have this surgery again! I have also been having a hard time because the burning pain and numbness is back in my legs and so I have to be really careful in order not to fall, usually I just turn my stim higher and it helps me with that pain and overrides it but since its off it is really bad and pain meds don't even touch that type of pain for me :( I have to make this short because I need to lay down again and also Gigi is up from her nap ;) Have a great weekend and I will check back in when I can! I wish everyone a new year full of health, happiness, and less/ no pain! Take care :hug::hug:Tara

Hi Tara
 

Sorry about the flu..... goodness, as if surgical recovery was not enough. I do empathize regarding the tender feelings and such with your incisions. On my post surgery wait for the go date to turn on the stim, I had a good deal of tenderness there, and since I have had bone removed before with the fusion work, I did not notice anything unduly different about this laminectomy. Just look forward to that pain being controlled by your unit once it is turned on. As for me the docs all said the numbness I have in both legs and feet is permanent, an issue the device is not intended to correct..... so I still use the cane as a get around stability device. Gee, maybe I should name the cane?

Prayin for you,
Best to both of you,
Mark56:hug::hug:

Oh I did wonder if something was the matter. I too hope you are ok with your stim after all the throwing up.

We need some pics of you and your little baby. How is she settling in?

Took a short ride in the car
 

:hug:Saffy and :hug:Mark, Thanks for checking in on me. Today I decided to try to be in the car since tomorrow we have to take Gigi to the vet, I only lasted about an hour which was enough time to go to the pet store and back. I was hurting bad and had to come home which was good because poor Gigi was freaking out in her cage :( I felt really bad for her but she is better now and playing with her new toys. I had to be in the wheelchair too because with my stim not on my legs are hurting/going numb really bad but at least I was out. My incision has still been very sore since getting sick so I am going to tell the doctor on Friday and ask if its normal to still be having spasms. For the time being I have had to take more pain meds again even though I have been cutting down but oh well...oh yeah, besides the flu and then the bad cold I also ended up getting food poisoning from cereal! I did not even know it was bad but my husband checked it and yeah something was really wrong with it so I have had a really rough week and a half! Well, I am feeling pretty bad again so I will be back on here when I can. Hope you are all having a good week! Take care.:hug:Tara

Good Lord!
 

:eek:BAD cereal TOO!!
You've been hit with a triple whammy!! SO not fair!!

I'm so sorry!

Things can only go UP from here dear Tara!! :hug:

I am so anxious to hear how it goes when you can get your stim turned ON!

:grouphug::grouphug:

Good Lord woman .. what are you like!!? You snuggle up to your little pup .. oh I so wish I could have one but Mike's badly allergic.

Rrae .. I love your profile pic !!!

I don't know what to think, my roommate is suppose to get a pump in February. I was going to let him read here, but now I'm second guessing. Will a pump help , I wonder about the weird feelings and sensations and other things I read. Well let me think it over before I let him read the posts.

I know this is OT but what cereal maybe we need a recall? I haven't read or heard anything. I'm sorry you're so sick, hope you feel better soon.

Well Hello!
 

It's good to see you over here :)
Is your roommate going to be getting the pain pump or the spinal cord stimulator?

Here's a great link I pulled from the 'stickies'. It's very informative.
http://www.nationalpainfoundation.or...e-technologies

I know it seems a bit 'scary' to read some of these posts, but hopefully we can help explain the different types of pain issues going on

I'll be totally honest in saying that I was completely creeped out when first presented with the option of the SCS......but after so many years of dealing with chronic level 8 pain and no answers in sight, it was without a doubt the way to go. It has been a 'lifesaver' for quite a few, especially having a pretty high success rate in covering neuropathy/RSD burning type of pain in the limbs.

The best part is, the candidates for these units do a 'trial run'....like a 'test drive' to see if it is something they want to pursue.

Not all are success stories of course, and they do require maintenance....but several folks here will swear by them.....others will 'swear' FROM them. :rolleyes:
That's just it - a very individualized therapy and no two people can really tell the same tale. Depends on if there are other health issues going on as well.

Has your roommate had the temporary trial procedure done yet?

Just ask questions!
He is fortunate to have you looking out for him the way you are doing. That is fantastic.

Rae
:hug:

How are you doing Tara!
 

PRAYING FOR YOU!!

Have they 'flipped the switch' ?? OH, How I PRAAAY this will be above and beyond what you expected!!

Caring Always
Rae
:hug::grouphug::hug:

Tomorrow is the appointment
 

:hug:Rae, I just wanted to let you know that tomorrow is my post op appointment! I am excited/nervous because I really want everything to work right and I am worried about still being in pain at my incision sites. I am hardly getting any sleep too because of dear Gigi I think last night I got 4, but when she naps during the day I sneak one in too. I love her to death but she is just like a little baby and I am definitely her mommy which I don't mind except for I need some sleep too lol. Today we were supposed to go to my mom's for a play date but she is very sick so we are home, I am worried about my mom because she has the same blood disease as me only hers is way worse so please pray for her. My other health problems have been acting up really bad too while I am recovering from surgery, but when you have been in pain as long as I have you get used to it unfortunately :( Well, I need to go but I promise to let you all know how my doctor appt goes as soon as I get home tomorrow! Take care and have a great weekend :hug::hug:I also really like your new avatar too :)

Hi legalmania, I have a stim not a pain pump, I am not sure how pain pumps act or what they do because I have never had one. I have had my stim since 2008 and have had 3 surgeries for it due to different issues and my last surgery was November. I was really helped by my stim and it was scary because I did not have anyone to talk to and I didnt know anyone that had one before but it really helped me alot and gave me back a normal life. As Rae said we all have different stories and and experiences and the best way to learn about them is to ask questions :) Good luck to your roommate I hope that they find something to help them! Take care and have a great weekend, :hug:Tara

Hi Tara!
 

Prayin both that tomorrow goes well..... very well for you and that the stim provides exactly what you need for pain control!!!!!! Prayin for your Mom too, yep.

You mean lots to me and to this group!!
Hugs:hug::hug:
Mark56

Oh yes!
 

Mark took the words right outta my mouth! :p

I'm excited for you, Tara! This has been a LONG time coming!!
My Lord, when I look back at when you first joined us and all the frustrations you were dealing with before you found your new doctor!......it seemed like an eternity that you would end up where you are now!

I'm just SO sorry you've been sick...and the pain from surgery...
And the stress from all of this just adds to it, making it one big circle of maddness!
I pray for peace over your whole situation...and health and healing for you and your mom....

Sitting on the edge of my seat!
Rae
:hug::grouphug::hug:

Good Luck Tara
 

Tara:hug:Im hoping Im getting in , in time to wish you the very best of luck today with your appointment. I KNOW its going to be fantastic.

However, Im so sorry to hear of your ongoing problems and sickness. I do hope that once all this post surgery pain subsides that you once again will feel the benefit of your stim like you have told us about before. Please, please come back to us and let us know how you got on and I pray its good news too :)

Im sure Gigi is very good , but I know how exhausting looking after a puppy can be. So please be careful wont you. Its so easy to forget, believe me I know and Ive 3 dogs, but puppies are quite demanding and needy, just like a baby, but you need to make sure you are eating and sleeping enough so that your recovery will be plain sailing :hug:


Cant wait to hear how you get on...so GOOD LUCK TARA:hug:

Jackie:hug:

Dr. appt
 

Hi everyone, you guys are so sweet and you mean so much to me too :) Well, my appointment went well all he did was check my incisions and he said they look good. He also said this is normal for me to be in pain because things are still trying to heal he also said it would probably be a couple months before all the incision pain is gone. I asked him about limitations and all he said was for me to becareful lifting things and also not falling and especially becareful now that I have a puppy to chase around! He also wants me to see my pain doc but I won't get in until the end of Feb. so hoping I will still be able to get some pain meds in the mean time.
Doctor also said I can turn my stim on, I did try to and of course it did not work :( I think it is because it needs to be charged, I have been trying to charge it all day but its very hard because I am still very sore there. I was disappointed because I thought I would just flip the switch but I guess it makes sense because I have had it off so long. I am hoping though to have some kind of charge in it by tonite so I can see how things feel and then I can contact my stim people tomorrow. I did feel some weird twinges earlier like little zaps which made me worried but I know that I just need to wait and see how it feels.
Gigi kept us up again and we had to let her sleep with us because she cries and screeches in the night so I was up at 12, 4, and then 8 and I have not been able to nap today so I am very tired. Also, I am trying to get ready for my next semester because those classes start Monday and I still have to finish up last semester's course work too so I will be really busy and won't have much time to do anything else besides being with Gigi and school work lol. Thank you for praying for my mom and also me. She is still sick so I am still worried about her. I need to get going I am going to keep charging and then maybe in a while I can lay down because I am so tired and in pain. Have a good night and I will try to be back tomorrow. Take care:hug::hug::hug:Tara

It's good to hear from you Tara. I'm not on often as I'm feeling a bit flat (god knows why) .. but I do think of you guys ...