help
 

Hi, I have had my scs implant for 2 years now.For the past week or so I have had mild swelling and alot of pain around my battery pack.Has this happened to anyone else? Any info would be appreciated.

Oh Mandy!!
 

Well first of all, WELCOME HOME!! We are your local and far away collection of body buzzers. Used to be b u t t buzzers, but now body as we have to recognize some of the battery/computer devices are implanted in the tummy, in the chest, and other places. Mine is a Boston Scientific model implanted June 2010 and I have not noticed swelling or pain regarding my upper right buttock implanted device EXCEPT when I lie on a hard surface, like wanting to look under the car for something so "on the ground I go." If I roll "Just Right" I know I am lying on that miracle device and if I remain in that position too long.... IT BECOMES SORE, pretty sore indeed. I have not noticed swelling from such an event, But, I can imagine repeated such behavior could aggravate the situation.

Is it possible some form of this issue is affecting you somehow..... even maybe if it doesn't come to mind right away? Think it through... maybe pressing up against a chair back in a certain way, a wall or file cabinet or car seat in a manner that may seem benign but causing the symptom you are feeling. If none of this comes to mind, then I reckon a visit to your pain management doc may be in order to have them opine whether anything is amiss with your unit which might cause the issue. Theirs is the best advice usually anyway unless there is some easily correctable environmental experience such as my silly crawling around under a car [well, I used to do that quite a bit, repair our vehicle when money was slim and electronics had not taken over the engine compartment].

No doubt someone of our other buzzer experts here will chime in regarding other possibilities.

That is what I have for now except to write "Thank You" for making yourself known here among us!
Mark56:grouphug:

Thanks Mark, I have thought about what I may be doing to aggravate it.I do alot of lifting at work ,which may be the cause.I guess I should take my pm doc's advice and stop working.:)

Lifting
 

Hi Mandy, yep, my PM doc left me with a minimalist lifting approach to life for so many reasons, not the least of which was further aggravation of the back, the SCS, and, well, pretty much all of the hardware from which I am now built. EVEN SO, that does NOT necessarily a termination from employment make, especially if the injury resulting in the surgery was work produced..... reasonable accommodation comes to mind as something to suggest to the employer if they are aware of your physical limitations and employ you nevertheless. Consider whether there are other means to accomplish the work.... whether office work might be a possibility with the employer.... whether lifting smaller quantities of the material at a time within your doctor's purview might be an approach to the solution of the employer's expectations, the doctor's limitations, and your pain threshold issues.

I have real REAL lifting limitations, real stay off of ladder limitations and the like. So, if doc has issued limitations, discuss them with employer under a reasonable accommodation approach perhaps? Human Resources within your employer staff, if this is not a tiny workshop, may have means to assist you in the workplace while you resolve the pain issues with your doc, etc......

Do you think?
Mark56:hug:z

Hello Mandy!
 

So glad to see you here! I sure hope we can be of help - actually we all help each other, so you've probably got something to pass on to us as well!

Ok, so you've had your unit for 2 years, right?
And this irritation is just 'now' becoming an issue. Are you having any other discomfort, or is it just around the battery site?
Has your stimulation changed?

Bombarding you with questions? :o

Couple things come to mind and this is assuming your battery is in your hip/buttock area? You might need to have your Dr check to make sure a lead isn't coming disconnected to the battery.
Are you wearing clothes that are tight around the battery pocket? Ex: the jeans that are popular right now are like 'hip huggers' and it just so happens that the waist of the jeans hits right at my battery site.

Another thing, as freaky as this may sound..... If you've lost some weight recently, that could make your battery seem closer to the skin (this happened to me, and I thought my battery was trying to work itself OUT :eek:

There could be various other reasons it may have become irritated...
Have you taken up horseback riding? Cycling? ok, I'll shut up now.

Is it swollen and painful to the touch? If so, this would warrant a trip to the doc asap.

Hoping & Caring this will work out soon!

:hug: Rae :hug:

i didnt even consider weight loss as a cause. And yes I have lost about 15 lbs recently.My Doc never said anything about that either.I keep getting the same answer from him ,"give it a week or so and will look at ya again".But never any test or anything.I actually had to go to the ER over the weekend and they gave me the blood test.I'm begining to get a little upset with my doc's. thanks for the advice.

My employers do kno my limitation,but I'm a floor manager at the resturant I work at and I also wait tables too.WE have 2lb plates without food on them.Also we have to do alot of set up & prep before openining and close.After my surgury when I went back to work it was no problem getting everyone to help with the heavy stuff.Now after almost 2 yrs they don't really care anymore. Before my accident I worked 40-50 hrs per week.I'm down to 20-25 per week now.I also hurt alot more lately too.Thanks for listening...

Rrae on target
 

Yep, Rrae really comes through on those other thoughts like lead dislodging or weight loss, both true possibilities! Regarding the two years and no one cares anymore....... from a Workmen's Comp perspective, if the injury is work related, and if you have restrictions which would, likely extend beyond the initial "oh, Mandy Dahling, we are so glad to have you back" honeymoon, there could be a workmen't comp issue which needs to be recalled and Dr's restrictions revisited to see whether you are overdoing.......

Oh, and IF.... that is a big IF your injury was work related and you never saw a work comp attorney about that issue, you may want to get in to see one... just in case. Nope, I am not practicing in your case, as I am a workmen's comp patient, and there is much about this one does not want to overlook, like forward looking medical care, and the like.

Just a :winky: heads up,
Mark56:grouphug:

very wise ,but sadly no it is from a car accident.

Arghhhhhhh!!!!
 

Writes the pirate who wonders then whether all of the potential insurance claim matters have been resolved. Just thinking from a purely protective stance.

Yup,
Mark56:grouphug:

That ship has also sailed

Happy 1-year Anniversary!
 

Just wanted to say happy 'B-day' to your BUZZER!
What would we do without these units!

Rae
:grouphug:

Happy BDay!!!
 

Have a very merry un-BDay, to me, to YOU [OK, I digress, the Disney wonderland experience.... you know?].

I know perzactickally where we would be without these things....... languishing in the PN forum morose about our pain, because there would be no other place. It would probably bring down the spirits of the PN forum, and I would never want to do that!!!!

GRATEFUL, just GRATEFUL,
Yup,
Mark56:grouphug:

Perzactickally :p
What have we started!