will new s c s stim drive me nuts????
 

Hello, I am new to these spinal cord simulators. I need to make the decision very soon if I should put the permanent one in. When I turn the stim. off I feel this feeling of great relief. Is this going to be an obnoxious feeling that I unconsciously or consciously drive me nuts????
On the other side I am doing so much more than I was doing before I had the stimulator put in. I have it at a relatively low frequency; 1.75.I would say it helps me 65% opf the time.
Any I dears or suggestions???
Thanks,
Moira Joyce

I thought it would me. I can't stand scratchy tags, things out of line, etc lol. The stim feeling never bothers me. I've only had mine a week, though. I love it!

Good Luck!
 

Hi Moira,

Welcome! I'm also new and waiting for the trial, which starts a week from tomorrow (the 24th). Thanks so much for posting. You brought up a question that I've had, too. I am SO hoping that this will be the answer to some of my pain and will provide opportunities for me to do some things that I haven't been able to do for quite some time, like go for walks and play music with my bluegrass buddies. At this point I'm starting to get kind of nervous about the whole thing!

I'm thinking that if this has helped you to be more active so far and has giving you some decent relief, that's a GOOD thing! Maybe as time goes on you will get used to the sensations from the SCS and it will become more tolerable. The good thing about this treatment is that if you really hate it, you can always just have the implant removed.

Hang in there....you are in my prayers!
Jan :winky:

Jan,
 

The trial is easily removed. Not too sure about the permanent implant though. The leads will eventually scar in (which is what they are suppose to do). This is the reason it is so important to not bend or twist for some months to keep the leads from moving from their original position.

I'm sure there or those with more info on implant removal tho.


(Gerry)

Howdy Moira
 

Welcome with your questions ALL!!!

I am a two year old Stim Implantee, of the Boston Scientific Precisions Plus SCS tribe. AND I AM THRILLED TO THE MAX WITH IT!!!! Sure, I had trepidation at first whether this was the thing to do, becuase once implanted, it would be heqq to remove after scar tissue developed to hold it in place. Even so, I have been able to resume my profession and would NEVER have been up to the rigors of work had it not been for this BLESSING for which I give thanks to God every day!! I am goin gto have to look up Jan's band, because among the things I absolutely thrill to do is sing, and I am truly good to go with that wondrous means to bring joy to people's faces.

Sure, I am dealing with other debilitating pain for the time being [crushed disc at C6C7] and I wawit fusion to fix that little annoyance, becuase the pain of typing these words is more than enough to send me into orbit.... so this post will bbe short......

Even so, I would NEVER regret having had my permanent implant. It has brought the means to all pain management to me with te flick of a control, for thereafter I successfully withdrew from all pain meds. Once this neck thing is behind me, I fully expect to be there "once again."

Prayin for ya, Moira,
Mark56:grouphug:

Questions
 

Hi I am one of the older "vetrans" of the SCS user. I found there was more room to adjust the permant unit and you will find through expermintation what feels best to you. I have found If the pain is getting to me I turn up the unit to almost "unbearable" for a time and rest quietly, then I can return to my normal settings later.
Just a small warning when they take out the trial unit the pain will return with a vengance so be prepared. I hope your permant unit will be install soon after your trial is finished.
You can look up Mark's original thread and read through it to see his journey. (I would post the link but I dont know how to)
:hug:z

Sorry Pooh
 

Here it is. It has fallen into oblivion due to having reached near a thousand posts........ so I started the thread with 2 at the end of it to continue the journey.

The original is http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread117854.html

Yup, and it talks about going through almost everything.
Yup,
Mark56:grouphug:

Mark,
 

[QUOTE=Mark56;898224]Welcome with your questions ALL!!!

I am a two year old Stim Implantee, of the Boston Scientific Precisions Plus SCS tribe. AND I AM THRILLED TO THE MAX WITH IT!!!! Sure, I had trepidation at first whether this was the thing to do, becuase once implanted, it would be heqq to remove after scar tissue developed to hold it in place. Even so, I have been able to resume my profession and would NEVER have been up to the rigors of work had it not been for this BLESSING for which I give thanks to God every day!! I am goin gto have to look up Jan's band, because among the things I absolutely thrill to do is sing, and I am truly good to go with that wondrous means to bring joy to people's faces.

Sure, I am dealing with other debilitating pain for the time being [crushed disc at C6C7] and I wawit fusion to fix that little annoyance, becuase the pain of typing these words is more than enough to send me into orbit.... so this post will bbe short......

************************************************** ***********************************************


Hopefully the pneumonia is almost gone and you are feeling much better in that area. Any time frame for the C6C7 fusion? Will there be a trial before doing an implant?

Prayers for you, as well as those dealing with the stim trials/implants.


(Gerry)

Fusion
 

On 23 July- We are supposed to pester Doc for a surgical consult appointment to give me max time to get beyond the pneumonia. My lungs are clear now, and I have another blessing to acknowledge--- a robust immune system.
Mark56:grouphug:

Hi Moira
 

I thought the constant tingling would drive me crazy when I first began the trial...then I realized it felt good. I had both cervical and thoracic St Jude stimulators implanted in June 2011 and the stim doesn't bother me one bit. It is such a great comfort. There are different settings and frequencies that I didn't feel as comfortable with, it takes some programming and playing with them to get that good, ahhhh feeling :)

I am so happy that I got both of mine!!

Nanc

Hey Mark - glad your lungs are clear now. Wishing you the best on the rest!

Nanc
:hug:

Good news. Feel better Mark.

Sandy kay

I've had my Bos Sci stim coming up on 1 year in Aug. For abdominal pain. At first the stim around my ribs drove me crazy. But, with a few adjustments and different settings for sleep and day time use I barely notice it except for when I have break through pain and need to turn it up very high until the pain subsides. I still have trouble when I need to turn it up for night pain. The stim in stomach and rib area sometimes feels like a vice around my ribs. When pulse is lowered it is very soothing and relaxing.

Sandy Kay

I think at first it can be somewhat annoying, but as the leads start to scar in and you also are getting more used to it, that annoying aspect goes away, so eventually you'll forget it's even on!

Uhhhhh Nope
 

We don't allow crazy 'ceptin only at parties at Pooh's Ranch. Then we let our hair down. Now for some GUYS that is hard, since there is little to no hair to let down.... but we do it anyway.:eek:

Prayin you will be fine:grouphug:,
Mark56:hug:

Yep, the trial is easily removed and doesn't hurt. I had mine removed by the office nurse as there weren't any docs around for the scheduled appt. I was not pleased with the arrangement and don't reomend that course. It took a few decades but I finally quit doing such dumb things. Best wishes.

Hi, finished my trial and going to go permanent on August 15th, the worst thing for me will be the lack of mobility, hopefully a brace or back stabilizer to remind me to take it easy.....thats my only concern now. I put this off for four years and if I could I would kick myself.

Yay!
 

So happy to hear your trial was a success and you've already got a date set for the permanent! How exciting.
Don't feel bad for dragging your feet on this. I did too because it sounded like the creepiest thing I'd ever heard of! :p When I finally realized there really were no other options for me I went ahead with it and I'm SO glad I did. I've got my quality of life back. The SCS isn't a 'cure' per se, but it sure does allow me to be active in my kids and grandson's lives. Not to mention it has alleviated the depression that went with the horrible continuous burning neuropathy in both legs.

Please stick around and let us know how this goes for you!

Rae
:grouphug:

Hi Janna!
 

No kickin allowed here!! We treat ourselves fairly well...... but...... there is nothing wrong with :deadhorsebeat: yup. The only brace I was issued was at discectomy/laminectomy/fusion, not for an implant. This is surely because despite wanting us to adhere to BLAST, no bending, lifting, stretching, or twisting, the professionals in the business would like for us to be mobile.

The brace was intended to help keep me together and avoid disturbing the fusion so I would be fairly well immobile purposely for 8 weeks post fusion. YUK. I did not like that thing, although I know it helped. And I took a whomping big pile of ribbing from the ladies of my office who wanted to know whether I would like a little lace to "go with my girdle." At least they knew I am good humored and not a one lost their job for giving me a hard time.:D

Remember BLAST and you will do fine, also, use the log roll for getting out of bed and back in. Easy moves. Tiny steps. Take care with stairs. If you never used a hand rail on stairs DO IT. Walk and walk and walk. Then before you know it, you may be prescribed physical therapy to assist you in regaining proper muscle use without messing up the implanted hardware.

Forget lifting free weights. Do NOT REACH for the cereal box. Use a grabber tool. I still have a nice one with rubber cups on the end to prevent slippage of the target item. Driving? NOT! That is until Doc says so.

You will do fine, and I hope for all your life the stim will bless you as it does me in my waist to lower legs.

I feel blessed,
Oh, and Prayin for ya too,
Mark56:hug:z:grouphug:

Cool!!
 

Wow, so you're getting the permanent implant in just a couple of weeks, Jannaw...how excited you must be! And maybe a little bit nervous? I'm still in the "deciding phase" after just having the trial leads removed on Monday. I had pretty good relief, but the leads moved and didn't work the last couple of days, except to give me some annoying stim around my ribs. The first part of the week was great, though.

So you can count on the folks here to answer tons of questions for you and give some really great feedback, as well as emotional support. Glad you found us!

Welcome hugs,
Jan :grouphug:

You're 2 days ahead of me, Jannaw. Mine is the 17th - have you asked your doctor for a brace? Mine ordered one yesterday when I had the temp removed - she pretty much insists on it for all of her SCS patients.