Scheduled for SCS surgery
 

Good evening everyone!

I have great news to share today with the group. I received approval for my SCS today and I am scheduled for my permanent SCS inplant on Jan 17th. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers that the SCS is a sucess! Do you have any words of wisdom to help prepare myself for a sucessful sugery?

:grouphug:

Wishing you all the best. Really hope it works for you.

that you be blessed
 

dear scs candidate

to add

may your surgery
the staff from
beginning to end
blessed in their jobs
that all go as planned
and that your body
accepted it and you
be blessed not for a single
thing but joy for the future
as then you are responsible
then take care of yourself
have a if i'm following things
you should have a "BLAST"
HAVING EACH LETTER STAND FOR SOMETHING
in regards to your healing
getting in and out of bed
live life be careful


blessed you are
thy will be done

someone who cares

Best of luck
 

Hi and congratulations on your approval for the SCS. I take it you had the trial and you were happy with that, which is great. You will be delighted with the permanent implant then.

As regards the surgery, well just make sure that you listen to what your Dr and Reps tell you. After the op you will have to take it easy for at least 6 weeks, well thats what I was told. I couldnt shower for a number of weeks, well until all my stitiches were out. You have to be careful not to bend, or stretch up over you head in case you move the leads etc. Its a case of taking it easy so that the leads/paddles can scar into place and not move around. It is annoying when you are restricted in what you can do but worth it in the long run,....believe me. I have mine now just over 2 years and I wouldnt be without it.

Where are you having the implant, is it a back/neck/leg issue....whatever it is I really wish you the very best of luck on the 17th

Take care

Jackie :)

Thank you for the advice and prayer. My SCS trial went really well. I will miss my daily showers but, in the long run I am sure it will be worth it. I have CRPS in my left hand, arm, shoulder, neck and in my right neck area and right shoulder now. I currently have limited movement in my left arm.

The stimulator will be placed in my back and program to cover both arms and my neck area. I will be receiving a Medtronic RestorUltra unit.

Is there any who has the same time of unit who can share their experience with me or who has had a SCS for CRPS in the arms/shoulders/neck areas then received a SCS who can share their experiences with me?

Thanks again for all your shared experiences. Without forums like this people like me would be lost :p

I had mine implanted two weeks ago and it has removed ALL of the neuropathy that I have lived with for decades. You have been given great advice. Follow it!!!!

I don't know at what point they will turn you on and then teach you how to recharge your buzzer. Initially, it could be a tedious process and slow going due to the fact that the devices have a hard time communicating through the surgical swelling. Be patient. It's not you. As the swelling goes down, the communication improves and the charging goes much faster. That's my little addition. :D

Best wishes and prayers for you and the doctor. I hope your results are as amazing as mine.

spine

Scs
 

Hello everyone! I am new to the group as I just found it on the web. About to have spinal cord stimulator trial and I have so many hopes for this to work I will do anything to make thebtrial a success! I have been in pain sooooo long and when my pain mgt dr suggested the stimulator I was very sceptical. But now I can't wait for this trial. Could be as soon as Jan 14th! Am I crazy to want this so much?

crazy
 

Crazy with pain....that is what led me to my SCS..
best of luck
Johanna and welcome

welcome
 

Oh I did not fine thig group until after my SCS implant...and yes I was lost.

I have the Medtronic Adaptive Stim....implanted 3/2012 for chronic pain L4-L5 9auto accident).

My input would be that you have someone with you for a week if possible...give yourself extra time to heal......six weeks is my feeling; have extra or stronger meds on hand; plan ahead for your food and nutrition...rest...BLAST...understand it is a painful recovery.

in the prayer group now
Johanna*

Welcome Orrwhat!!
 

It's great to have you! :hug:

ONE WEEK away! How exciting :)
Me too, Medtronic, but mine is for lower extremity RSD/neuropathy. I'm very happy with it! The soothing sensation of the stimulation is a WONDERFUL tradeoff for the horrible burning pain.

Like Johanna mentions, it can't be stressed enough how important it is to follow the post-op restrictions. The BLAST rule (no bending, lifting, stretching or twisting) is like the 11th commandment around these parts :p
Take it from me - I was thrilled with how well I felt and figured somehow that I was 'beyond' the rules :rolleyes: and was pitching HAY to my horses too soon.
Yep, I was back in the OR with a migrated lead.

Are you getting percutaneous leads or the paddle leads? Alot of times the paddles are inserted by doing the Laminectomy surgery, which is more involved, but you'll have aLOT less chance of leads migrating since the paddles are alot more secure.

I'm very excited for you and hope you stick around to let us know how it goes!

Rae
:grouphug:

Hello Helch!
 

WELCOME! :hug:

No, you are not crazy :p. It's a very exciting prospect to know that there's a good chance of getting a much better quality of life.
You'll get plenty of great support here and we'll be excited to know how it goes, so please stick around! There's plenty of personal testimonies to read, so make yourself right at home. Each person is unique to their experience.

Ask anything you'd like and the wonderful caring people here will be glad to help in any way.

It's great to have you!

Rae
:grouphug:

What type of pain have you been battling?

Prayers for you ORR and HELCH
 

Well, I have been off studying for the Bar Exam TX style and have not been on here much to post lately. Sorry......

Eva gave Great pointer in the direction of BLAST which stands for
No Bending
No Lifting
No Stretching
No Twisting

It is especially helpful along with Logroll for a Permanent Implant patient such as you ORR

Weldome Helch! Trial and wanting the trial is NOT Crazy. Johanna and Rae write about pain MAKING us crazy, so the notion of wanting relief from it is not such a bad..... I will pray your Trial gives all of the information you need to make an informed consent decision whether to proceed!

Prayin,
Mark56:grouphug:

Welcome helch and Orr. I did not find this group till after my first implant. This board is the best, IMHO. Great thoughts and caring. My battery is being replaced and leads moved up (I don't think I knew of BLAST then) and I am going to be crazy in not doing anything that could move the leads. In the night I often wake up in bad pain and I do use the scs for an hour or 2 with a lidoderm patch over the battery! I usually fall back asleep quickly. The scs is the best pain relief I have used.

Great Testament NJ
 

For me, the SCS became so effective, I withdrew from all pain medication.... all of it. I am so thrilled this has been made a reality for pain management.
Mark56:)

Hi Helch!
 

Not sure if you'll see this or not, but I just wanted you to know that I'm lifting you up in prayer since you may be getting your trial here very soon.
Let us know how it goes, ok!

Rae
:grouphug:

Well tomorrow is my surgery day and I am a little nervious. I am just getting over a cold. I have not ran a fever but I still have a tickel in my throat and a cough once and a while. I hope it will be ok for me to move forward with the surgery. What are your thoughts?:confused:

Well Orrwhat, I certainly know how you are feeling right about now.
One thing I did before my surgery was I wrote myself a little 'note' of sorts. I described to myself :rolleyes: how horrible it had been all that time leading up to the surgery. How much the unrelenting pain was driving me to think unthinkable thoughts, missing out on my family, etc. Wrote out the details. I did this just in 'case' I had any doubts after getting the surgery or wondering if I shouldn't have gone thru with it.
I'm glad I did that because looking back, I wish I wouldn't have dragged my feet for 2 yrs before doing this. This definitely was a GOOD thing!

Sure, you're gonna be in a bit of surgical pain for awhile, but your team is gonna be with you on this......the Rep, the Doc (make sure he gets you something for the pain when you leave :)) You'll have those at home helping out. It really does all fall into place, so try not to let doubt or discouragement set in, k. You might need a tweak session or 2, or 3 :o, but it'll all come together.
Oh! and of COURSE you'll have all of US! :grouphug:
We'll be 'with' you all along :hug:

Now, get some rest and pamper that cold. The medical staff will evaluate whether or not you are 'too sick' to go thru with it, but I highly doubt you are.

Caring,
Rae
:grouphug:

I have my revision surgery tomorrow. I also have a cold. The hospital said no fever or coughing up stuff I am ok for surgery. Sadly it will not be till 3:30 tomorrow afternoon. But u should be ok.

in my prayers
 

Got ya covered on prayers now and tomorrow...let us know your progress please.

Calling in the Arch Angels of healing to be by your side
Johanna

And I'm doing the same here too for you both....the very best of luck :)

Jackie:grouphug:

Wishing you the best as you get your revision.
Please let us know how it goes when you feel up to it - of course we'll be anxiously waiting. :)

Rae
:grouphug:

Care
 

Oozes from the pores
of those who here frequent
Calm, repose, healing..... prayer:grouphug:

Thinking of you. Hugs and prayers.

Spine

Update -
My SCS surgery went well. I am at home working my way through the surgical pain. I can already tell the difference in my CRPS pain with the SCS working. It still needs tweeking but what a nice relief. Thanks for all your prayer and support.

Joy and Peace
 

Lifting up prayer of thanksgiving
and joy
and peace
heal well
Mark56:hug:

Thank you SO much for this update! Sounds as tho you are well on the path of better pain management!
Hurray!!

Rae
:grouphug: