Post-Implant Update
 

Hi Everybody!

Sorry I've been awol for so long, but I'm finally back with an update post-implant surgery!

First, it started off with a bit of a mess... after almost an hour's drive (by my dad and step-mom) to the surgery center I got there and was told that my surgery was rescheduled for the next day ("didn't I get their voicemails?" er, "NO!").... Then after some haggling it was determined that they would indeed do the surgery that day (Thursday 27th). So I was very relieved as I didn't want to put my parents through having to drive all that way all over again. Anyway they bring me back to pre-op and start with the standard questions when in comes my surgeon's asst. who pulls the nurse out of the room and says "hold off for a sec..." Now what? I'm thinking. Well it turned out that my surgeon had to leave immediately to do an emergency removal on a patient who (I assume) developed an infection. So after all that, my surgery got postponed till the next day after all! But I understood, of course, and pray for the patient who had to have the emergency surgery.

So onto Friday the 28th, they were extremely nice about everything, even giving my dad a gas card for the trouble! They got me in right away and it went fairly well... except after the leads being tested and being put "deeply" under, I woke back up and WOWZA was I in pain! It was temporary, but boy it hurt! But it seems that that's just me- I ALWAYS 'come to' when I shouldn't during surgeries... I warned them but I guess they still couldn't prevent it.

Then after waking up and getting some more morphine, as I was in LOTS of pain, I got ready for the trip home, which wasn't as bad as I expected. They sent me home with my Medtronic pack but didn't attempt to show/teach me anything about it that day, nor did they turn on the unit... That all was done at my first follow up appt- last Thurs.

So the first week was rough. Ice was and still is my best friend. but I'm so pleased with the Stim placement and results... Dare I say that the placement and coverage is better now than with the temp. stim... And I think that after just the first programming it's pretty close to perfect. I can't wait till my next appt- this Thurs- to program the AdaptiveStim! It will be so nice to not have to adjust it as I change positions.

I also am looking forward to my back pain letting up... It's really killing me, although it's easier to take now that my stim is programmed and it's obvious WHY I'm going through this pain... That there IS an upside to it!

So that's been my life for the past couple weeks.... Hope you didn't miss me too bad ;)

Love ya all :grouphug:

~Colleen

Welcome back Colleen
 

Im so glad to hear that all is going well for you Colleen and you are over it all now. Thats great news........yes you will notice a HUGE difference with the permanent SCS as you say, the trial one is just a 'little' feel of what it COULD be like.....Im so glad its working well for you.

Im sure this post op pain will pass real soon, its only been a couple of weeks so take it handy and relax.

Will be thinking of you

Jackie

So excited to hear from you. You have been on my mind. Happy that it all went well. Not happy about the aftermath pain :(. My SCS surgery is the 25th and I'm scared of the pain after. Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

:grouphug:Ashley:grouphug:

Pleased and slightly envious ... I hope all goes well for you poppet. X. X

so good to hear from you and with such success....wonderful!

I too suffered immensly from the back pain while even just breathng..and of course reaching; lifting etc. Hang in there...it took about 6 months and quiting work for me to heal so I always say take all the time you can now.

woth it to rest now
Johanna

Thank you so much for this update, Colleen! :hug:
Sounds like you did hit a few bumps along the way, thanks to the scheduling mix-up :rolleyes: but I'm glad that the hospital accomodated you with the gas card at least.

Other than the pain you are currently experiencing, it sounds like you are WELL on your way! How exciting!
The pain will ease up each day, and especially as you start using your unit, you'll become so excited, the surgical pain goes on the backburner, and then fades altogether, yes?

and YES you've been missed! :hug: But we knew we didn't lose you! :p

Rae
:grouphug:

Saffy,
 

I so wish all had worked out to your satisfaction. I had a failed SCS a while back ago. In my case, that worked out to be a good thing. Possibly you are not a good candidate either and since we don't see the whole picture, may not realize at this time things are for the better.

Happy for those that do get relief attaining a successful implant.


Gerry

Oh Ashley
 

One thing about pain..... it is transitory post surgery. This stuff we know as incomprehensible nerve pain, well, it is managed well by the appropriate SCS permanent implant.

That surgical pain, as with all of my surgeries, and they have been many, it goes away. Then the bliss of managing nerve pain with the electronics becomes reality. It feels like such a BLESSING!

Prayin for ya,
Mark56:)

Colleen
 

That recovery piece can be quite a hurdle. Pain can be pretty bad post surgery. Even so, it is mahvelous you recognize the SCS is making its presence known in a good way!
Yup,
Prayers for complete and positive recovery!
Mark56:hug:

I'm glad things are going well Colleen! Yes, post scs surgery pain is quite the booger, but once it settles (2-3 weeks I started feeling somewhat human pain wise) I felt great! So glad it's already helping!


TK

:hug:

I agree with Mark completely. While the post op pain can be nasty, once it starts to go down, you notice a little progress each day...........assuming that you are behaving yourself. I have been lucky in a convoluted manner in that I have had quite a bit of rugged spinal surgery that involved serious post op pain and that made this seem less troublesome. Pain tends to be relative. If it weren't for the darn Fibro flare, I would have been tempted to push the envelope soon after.

My biggest problem other than the Fibro was getting good communication between the devices when attempting to charge the butt buzzer. It took a good two weeks before the swelling went down to a point where communication was good. I was amazed when I went to charge up and the charger showed that all the bars were up and running. Oh, that happened before but one good sneeze would drop the level and I struggled to maintain a "third of a tank". Anyhow, the other day, the charger appeared to be functioning at full power due to improved communication. I fell asleep and when I woke up, my "tank was full". :yahoo: :ROTFLMAO: :partytime2: :Dancing-Chilli: I rejoice in being over that hurdle.

At 2 1/2 weeks, besides the Fibro, I am primarily dealing with a generalized run down feeling. That shouldn't be a surprise as I am not a kid anymore and can no longer bounce back in record time. Thankfully, I had a stash at home to take care of the pain. The dang surgeon said I needed to start cutting back on the pain meds the day of the surgery. :eek: I will always be greatful for his surgical skills but beyond that, he is a nut case. :D

From One Older Kid to another
 

Ok, you have to intone this like Gome Pyle from long long ago

Well Go-o-o-o-olly, we aren't exactly Spring Chickens anymore. Gotta expect some "take aways" from surgery....... run down will be par for the course [and I am not chiding you]:wink:. Goodness, I am only now hard into the post recovery integration of the multiple times daily use of our treadmill, and wow has it affected me with aches here and paini there.... They say no pain, no gain! So I am gaining on the effort to bring my fat mass under control so as to become svelte once again... [Is that possible at my age?:confused:].

Yup, gotta keep the electricity gauge on the battery on the upper half of the tank, as allowing it to fall too low both risks potential harm to the battery within, while taking one heck of a long time to recharge. So, we do our thing. Use, charge, use, charge.... and I find the need to charge is about once every ten days. Not bad.

So, to Spine and Colleen and all them uthah [pronounced "uther" ending in "uh"] recent surgery folk. Be good, be BLASTING and logrolling, start phys therapy when it is allowed, then increase that activity and you will be doing well!:D

In the meantime, stay away from Rae's hay bales.:thud::Head-Spin:

Mark56:hug:

It's funny you say that, Spiney! I did push after my first surgery. I developed those emboli in my lungs after the second and couldn't do anything! So, it was horrible but helpful! I wasn't tempted. In fact, I passed the 3 month mark of this surgery with no fanfare! I guess because the first six weeks I did very little!

Hopefully things kep progressing well!!