Stimulator moved??
 

Just have a question from the veterans on this site or anybody that knows this. I had the stimulator implanted on Jan 3, 2012. I have gone in for some tweeking the last couple of weeks. Last Friday I went in to be tweeked and after 45 minutes and no luck the rep decided to have an x-ray done. The stimulator moved!! :confused: It moved up a couple of vertebrae and the top slide over a little. Now I have been complaining of pain in my shoulder blade area since the surgery. I think the muscle was torn due to surgery, now I'm wondering if some how the muscle has anything to do with the movement of the stimulator. I have an appointment with the doctor on March 9. The rep said that they have to go back in and slide the stimulator down. The rep said that this was common--How common is this?? I think the doctor would have mentioned this to me that this could happen. Just kind of bummed right now. :( Has it happened to anyone else? Thanks for the support :grouphug:

Hey Lynn, sorry to hear about the problem you are having. One of mine moved as well. I have two stims, cervical and thoracic implanted June 29, 2011. They put in two percutaneous leads on each and one of the thoracic leads slid down quite a bit as shown in my x-ray in Aug 2011. I was getting increasing pain in my lower left back and the dr thought the lead that moved was stimulating the muscle, ligaments and whatever else in there and causing the pain. They took those leads out and replaced with a paddle lead (which is supposed to stay more secure) on Nov 2. I could tell the difference when it was changed, that pain went away...but now I have some other kind of pressure there. At least now I can have that stimulator on a low setting where before I couldn't use it at all.

I have read about quite a few on here that have had to get the leads changed out, so hopefully they will chime in too.

Good luck with the dr!
Nanc
:hug:

Thanks Nanc
 

Hi Nanc,
At least now I don't think I'm a little crazy. Thanks for the info--I have the paddles. I thought the same thing that the paddles were stronger. Curious what the dr will say. Thanks again.

You are definitely not crazy. My paddle lead moved up a little bit within two weeks, I was shocked! But it didn't move as much as yours or enough to cause a problem.

Keep us posted with your dr visit.

Wishing you the best,
Nanc

Hi Lynn and Welcome
 

Mine has never moved that I could discern, but Rrae on here had a lead which moved all of the way down her back. That one was finally removed because it was not helping anyway.

Tchr012 had a generator which moved I believe, and ultimately the whole affair was switched out to another unit much to her joy.

Others on here have noticed movement, whether as with Saffy who even showed on you tube, I think, how she could manipulate her abdominally mounted generator.

It seems we have a few of us around here with things that move and go bump in the night, and I hope for you, the solutino is quick in coming.

Mark56:grouphug:

Hi Lynn!
 

Gee I'm sorry to hear this. It does leave us scratching our heads doesn't it.
This is something that I would THINK the Dr's would do something about in the first place! Too many pts have this problem of the leads slipping. I'm amazed that yours has moved this much especially since you have paddle leads.
In my case, I would almost be willing to admit that it was 'my' fault, as I became a bit overambitious and was doing too much strenuous work out in my pasture with the horses. We'll never really know tho. Like Mark said, we ended up just pulling that lead out since it was not helping in the first place. So, I get by just fine with one lead.

I know how frustrating this is, but hang in there. Let's see what your Dr says. I'm really curious. It WILL get straightened out and eventually the leads will scar in. Be prepared for the Dr to blame 'you' for moving too much or bending wrong during recovery.....evidentally it's in the 'small print' somewhere that it's OUR fault when this happens :rolleyes:

:hug: Rae :hug:

counting the days
 

OK-----counting the days until I see the doctor!!! 5 to go!! And I'm sure Rae you are right--the doctor will say that I moved too fast or something to that affect. :grouphug:

Cause is not relevant
 

Though doc may attempt to chide, if the unit has moved, the cause is irrelevant as it could just as easily have been an ineffective creation of the pocket for its containment in your body and ineffective securing of the unit in the body.

Relevance is whether it has moved. A moved unit is a moved unit. If it, having moved, results in questionable operation, recharging, or program accessibility, doctor has a duty to inquire. You are the patient, and doctor operates under a duty of professional care so take no guff. Press the issue if you are concerned.

Give accurate information regarding your activities and take along a corroborator, such as spouse or good friend. Doc will perceive the scenario as best possible according to skill level and care, then hopefully you will receive treatment as required.

I may seem cranky, but trepidation when it comes to whether doc gives a %!#$ is beyond the pale. They must treat issues presented not hold judgment whether something is amiss, for they may just as easily be the cause. So, worry not, and go be seen for your need. Head held high. Expecting the best of care because you are the deserving patient!

How's that for a locker room spirit call?
Mark56 OO-AH!!:grouphug:

dear rae
hope all well
just wanted to say
thanks for your last line
do not be afraid to voice your concerns
always go with your gut
doctors have HUGE egos
it is a job to listen
make them listen
lynn i wish the outcome 100%
eva

Lynn
 

Just so the leads do not scar in a position they were not meant to be. There is a real concern for that as well.

(Ger)

Thanks for the pep talk
 

This makes me want to go out and kick some butt!! Thanks for the pep talk. This puts a smile to my face :) My husband is going with and he is not a happy camper about this situation. Anyway I will get back to everyone after I see the doctor. Shall be interesting ~~thanks for the support that one needs :grouphug:

Great that hubby is going with. Doctors seem to take me more seriously when my husband goes with. Bummer if the lead has moved but that may well be the answer to the unexplained pain you've been having. I would hope that moving the lead back to where it should be won't be as big a surgery as the original one:confused: Praying you get some answers and some RELIEF:hug::hug:

Lest they be unnamed
 

Our wives make wondrous advocates for the hubby as mine so assuredly has! How blessed am I!

Mark56:)

I agree Mark
 

Mark I couldn't have said it any better!! Except for in my case my hubby :wink: My husband has been there for all of my surgeries--I think about 10 in the last 12 years. I think it is harder on him than me. He vaccums, does the dishes, shops and does the laundry--even when I'm not laid up. And my kids help me too, so I am very lucky. Ok enough bragging.
So 3 days until I see the doctor--can't wait!!! I haven't felt good since the surgery. Has anyone ever felt nausea everyday after the stimulator was implanted? Every day my stomach hurts and I feel nauseas. Since the surgery (Jan 3) I have lost 9 pounds. I really don't need to lose any weight--maybe at that most 3-4. Lost weight without trying. I wonder if my body is rejecting the stimulator and that is why it moved?? Just wondering.........
Thanks for listening :D
:grouphug: --Love the group hugs!!!

More of them coming
 

Dear Lynn-

29 surgeries, the most recent, my stim implant June 2010, NEVER any post surgical nausea..... ever, even when they expected it after multiple deep back surgeries like discectomy/laminectomy/fusion. Doc has got to know of tis and help you cope, and I pray, OH, and so grateful your husband is so very supportive as is my Cleo.

As Karen and Sinead so often write, XXXXXXXXX
and also a healthy dose of :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:
We who care for you here in Colorado,
Mark56 and Cleo:hug::hug:

Hi Lynn!
I am with you, my husband has been wonderful with all that I have been through, which is so important to have that kind of support. I do not know where I'd be without mine :D

Question - does your stimulator stimulate your abdomen, or close to it? One of the programs on my thoracic one was set to stimulate a little too high and it really made me nauseous. They did that one program a little higher to cover my whole hip area. I had to stop using that one!

Good luck at the doctor!!
Nanc
:grouphug:

Hi Nanc
 

The stimulator is for the sciatic and the butt area and only for the right leg. The implant is in the thoracic area. They had it working at one point where I was getting some relief. But like everyone else I had to keep going and getting tweeked. The last time I went in and they couldn't get it to the area that I needed that is when we discovered that it moved. I still have the nausea feeling and the stimulator has been turned off for 2 weeks. The doctor's office called yesterday and changed my appointment for Monday. He had some kind of surgery this morning. :( Now I'm going to be shoved in with everyone else for Monday and probably have a 3 hour wait--you know how much I love to wait!!! NOT!!!
Anyway everyone have a great weekend and can't wait until Monday :)
:grouphug:

Well, that's a bummer!! I hate when they have to change appointments around like that. Hope it is not too bad on you!!

My thoracic stim was really for the butt area and down my legs, they did that higher program to make sure they got it all since I started hurting a little higher...it was too high. I too had to go back for tweaking quite a bit, but they can't do much more with my thoracic one since I have extra lower back pain/pressure when I turn it up :( My cervical stim has been good for a while now!

Good luck and hope you have a great weekend too!
Nanc
:hug: