Nerves
 

So today I was sitting here listening to some old tunes I had loaded on my phone (Galaxy S3) such as Led Zeppelin (black dog) Deep Purple (smoke on the water) Eric Clapton so on and so forth you get the idea classic rock.....I was making a play list for when I go out for another photo walk soon hopefully before my trial the music helps me get through the walk and push through the pain most of the time.
Then all the sudden I realized how quickly that trial period is coming up and I realized just how nervous I am about it. I started to wander off into thought (which is pretty difficult seeing I had to have the wife help me out of bed this morning) of a day that I may not need to make a play list to help make it through the walk but to actually just to enjoy and then I started to think well how long is it going to take for you to get to that point:Ponder:
So my question for all of you veterans of scs devices is after your permanent placement of your device how long was it before you were able and willing to get up and walk out the front door with confidence that you could and would return to that particular stoop under your own power ?
:Thanx:
Messy Mark©

Rock on!
 

Hi Mark
Those bands you listed are what I grew up with also. I remember getting that Deep Purple album from my brother back when I turned 21. :cool:

You're not alone with regard to being so nervous. Being in so much pain for so long and after having tried pretty much everything possible, this sorta comes as a 'last hope' to us. We desperately want to get our lives back. There is so much 'build up' that leads us to the point you are at now. The red tape, the hoops to jump thru, reading other's testimonies, will this work? will it not?

Regarding your recovery, pretty much everything depends on how well you maintain the post op restrictions. It takes a lot of patience, especially after the initial surgical pain begins to wear off. I wish I would have practiced what I'm preaching :rolleyes:. I got a bit too over-confident (or impatient) whichever. Ended up with a pulled lead.

If it weren't for my pulled lead, I'd say I felt back to 'normal' within 4 or 5 months. Others here pretty much went back to their active lives within a few weeks. When I say 'active', I mean things like going back to college, work, etc.

Don't worry tho, you certainly won't lose a sense of who you are. The SCS will give you back a quality of life, hopefully with much less pain.

Keep the Faith,
Rae
:grouphug:

Thank you Rrae
 

Thank you for taking the time to respond to something that I am sure is probably is asked a lot . As for the music can't beat the classic rock era. Listening to music has always been a huge help for me through out my life so far. Especially after I was injured.

I know how nervous I am......... not because it's another surgery but just hoping the trial is a success. My wife on the other hand is worried something is going to go wrong either during the trial or surgery. I have reassured her that I have the utmost confidence in my surgeon he has down so many of these and has a great success rate.
So of course some of her nervousness is rubbing off on me. But I continue on with making sure things in the house are like I'm going to need them. The utmost important thing I must be able to grab is my coffee cup first thing in the morning so I found a place on the counter were it can sit after it has been rinsed out for easy access the next time it's called up for duty. In the morning I find I have to much blood in my caffeine system :D to my dismay when they drew all that blood at the hospital for all the pre-op stuff I was very surprised to see my caffeine system didn't come out as brown and thick as I thought it might :cool:

Hi Messy Mark
 

Great music! That would get anyone through their day. I can't answer your question, but I will keep you in my thoughts as you go forward with the SCS. I hope it helps you. ginnie:hug:

Thank you ginnie
 

I think I am in good hands with this surgeon. It's a gut feeling when I speak with him I feel he is very trustworthy. I'm usually able to get a read on people when I meet them face to face I've always been that way and most of the time I'm right in my judgement of them I will say about 94% of the time. Kinda like a dog lol can sense if someone is good or bad lol

Hi Mark
 

Gut feelings like you have usually are right! I believe in that too. Speaking of good music, have you ever listened to Joe Bonamassa? Today I down loaded Eric clapton to my samsung, I am in PC lessons, yep at my age! I am determined to learn a few new things. Try Joe, if you like the blues by Clapton, you will love this guy. ginnie:hug:

Hey Ginnie
 

Here is a great performance by Joe Bonamassa I think one of his best performances live anyway playing at The Royal Albert Hall The song is just got paid it's about 11 minutes long. BTW if you are any kind of classic rock and blues coniciour you should know Joe Bonamassa :cool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Aud7AwGGb4

Hi Mark
 

Yep have the song, and every song Joe Bonamassa did. Got to see him last summer. If he comes back to my area, I will go again. Didn''t like the venue he played at, so I hope he picks a better one for sound. Still a good concert. Look for him and Beth Heart on U-tube doing a few together. Talk about a good combination...WOW is all I can say. Keep on trucking with music! ginnie:grouphug:

Music is in the soul....
 

Yes, music goes very deep. Never lose the music within. :hug:

I'm so glad you feel confident in your doctor. I was gonna mention how very very important that is, but you beat me to it.
With his high success rate and your confidence in him, this can only be nothin but good.

It's a team effort to say the least. Your input while in the OR is just as important as what the Dr is doing. It's when people don't communicate very well to him and the Rep - that's where things may go a bit array. Be sure to let them know if you aren't feeling the stimulation where you need it.
I have a gut feeling this is going to be a PEACE of cake. yea, peace out man.

Has anyone mentioned to you those 'reacher/grabber' thingy's?
GET ONE! I still use mine to pick up my sons' dirty socks. :rolleyes:

I think now at this point, we need to get your wife to feel more confident! :D

Rae
:grouphug:

I was naught and up and doing everything as usual as soon as I got home from hospital.

Howdy Messy!
 

All will be well with your trial. The purpose is very transitory and truly just a look into whether you think it worth it to go the distance with the real McCoy in the full on surgical implant.

I did not feel nervousness 'bout the trial effort. I had been through so much by then and the pain was outa sight......so I was a go for the "gimmee this thing right now" temporary gig. It worked. It was FANTASTIC!! I could do things such as EXIST and not want to die. We went walking....not far, but enough and under own power so as to give it a test of the ability to reach out and touch my PAIN in a very real way. I WAS SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Ka - ching]

So, fast forward several weeks [because my trial site became infected an wet with pus] after healing up from the trial attempt. It was the night before surgery for the implant. This was going to be the serious part. The life long test whether I could handle having some foreign electrical gear in my body.... Funny, but that night after making sure of the preparations, taking final meds, trying to calm down to sleep I was WIDE AWAKE with trepidation... After all, what had I gotten into, and what if this expensive venture proved to be a flop??? :eek: :thud: :yikes: :Doh:

Finally the ever elusive rest caught up with me. I fell fast asleep, and before I knew it, 5 a.m. arrived. Get up, get ready, head out to the surgery center. Pastor came. Friends and family gathered 'round. We prayed. That gal RRAE here and several others "carried" me through the event keeping vigil over the whats and howzits and R Yuh OKzzzzzzzz and lo, and behold, the surgeon [who has since fired me as a patient for he only wants to treat people who are not on ........ medicare] proved himself to be the top drawer, top notch, good hands surgeon whom everyone had made him out to be. He did a super job.

IT WORKED!!!!! Then, blessing of all blessings, only to be known by CoralToes and me to my knowledge as patients so far, I was allowed to program myself. That not only went real well, but the result was I have NEVER required the never ending litany of tweaking so frequent on these pages, the program has functioned wonderfully, and I have been a happy camper!! Got my career restarted, and I am jazzed!!!! What can I say? I am thrilled I "bought this particular winning lotto ticket!!"

Just like RRAE said, I followed the post surgical restrictions to the best of ability. In weeks I was chomping at the bit to resume my career. I had withdrawn from all....and I mean ALL pain medications. Life was coming back. I felt so very much as though I wanted back into hyper speed, it seemed I was running very fast ahead of the economy, ahead of the absorption rate of re-entrants into the practice, and I failed for quite a while to get back into the work thing. Finally, it all came together, and I know very well it could not have been for anything other than having the stim.

Remember BLAST! It is in the stickies at the top of this board page. A discussion about those post surgical things to DO which enhance the likelihood for personal best success as you heal.

So, guess what? I will pray all goes well with ya,
Yup! :grouphug:

Thank you Mark56
 

It's funny you mentioned Blast in this post because I was just getting ready to go there again this morning and I had seen you had made a post on this thread so I figured I would check it out first.
Thankfully I have figured out how to navigate around the site pretty well now an have grasped the concept of the stickies.

I must say that all of you here have been a great help so far as to answering my questions about all that is to come soon for me I'm so thankful that I found such a great group of people.:grouphug:

I was wondering if any of you have had your trial with paddles? as I'm going to the 23rd.

I like the concept of "if the trial is a success" my paddles are already in place and what the surgeon does next is hook up the extensions to the paddles and continues on with the surgery for the device. Quoting my doctor "why move them if they are working for you"

Again thank you all for your continued support and wealth of knowledge.

Well How About That?
 

Paddles at trial........

Huh......

Nope, it was the "quick and dirty" [well something was not quite clean if I wound up with infection] insertion of leads. You see, to insert the paddles in my permanent implant, it was necessary to do a laminectomy allowing for the space needed which would have been a more invasive trial effort [as well as expensive]. Just leads for trial here. Yup.

I am a paddlin on anyway......

May all be well with you, :grouphug:

Hey Mark56
 

Yeah I had the same reaction when I was told it was going to be paddles for trial so when the rep from medtronics that works with my doctors office called (at my request) I asked him if that was standard procedure for my surgeon and he said yes he has been doing it this way for sometime. He also answered some other questions I had about coverage concerning the areas I have pain in He replied should have no problem covering those areas I should be able to cover you from your lower back to your toes if you like. He then went on to say that my surgeon has the highest success rate in the this region. As for my question about how long it was going to take for the implant of the trial he told me that it would take about 2 hours part of it I would be awake for it and the other part they would be putting me under. Then when I wake up I would be working with Denny (medtronics rep that I was speaking with on the phone) So from what I can Gather I will be the first here on NT to have it done this way maybe ? :confused: Well if it all works out like it should I will be very grateful. Thats why I have been asking so many questions trying to figure out if anyone else has ever had a trial with the paddles ?

I didn't think they could do a trial with paddles either. As Mark56 said, there is usually a laminectomy that is required to get those paddle leads in place. Fortunately when I had my revision, switching from percutaneous to paddle leads, they did not have to do the laminectomy...doc said the path was already there and they were able to use it :) You would definitely want the doc to go in and secure those paddles down better than how they are in the trial and it sounds like that is what he will do. Very interesting. And it is great that you have such confidence in your doc, that is very important!!

Everyone is different in their healing and how soon they can walk out that door in confidence. I only took 1 1/2 weeks off from work after having both SCS's implanted at the same time. It was really too soon. When I had the revision and one battery moved, I took 2 1/2 weeks off...that was better. My trial was 7 days, half was at home and half at work. But I still needed that 6-8 week healing period to use caution with BLAST, etc.

I would highly recommend what Rae suggested - get one of those grabby things. I actually got two of them, one for work and one for home...they are helpful!! It is good that you are putting things in reach too, you will really appreciate it when the time comes ;)

And, we have similar tastes in music LOVE Eric Clapton and Led Zep!!

I wish you the best, you will do great as all signs are pointing that way :)
Nanc
:hug:

Hi Ya Nanc
 

Yeah I did my homework on him before I choose him. I had a choice of two docs him and another doc . This one has much better credentials then the other. My surgeon is head of the neuro department at upmc in Pittsburgh and also chief of neuro at pittsburgh medical school also a teaching professor at the school. Like I was told unfortunately if the trial is not a success then of course I have to be put back under to remove it. But if it is a success then of course as I said before I go back under and he adds the lengthening leads to the already placed paddles and finishes the implant by putting the device onto one of my sides. He refuses to put them in the butt area says he has had to many problems with them in that area. I was glad to hear that about placement I have read alot of people on here having problems in that area.

Hey Mark! So glad you found a good dr, it is a rarity! I am actually looking for a new one as I do not have the confidence in mine any longer. He was great at first but then he moved to a new/different practice, then he and everything changed. I need another revision on my thoracic lead, the paddle has migrated up. I had my dr move that battery because it really bothered me in my butt area. He moved it to my front/side, not quite at the bottom of my ribcage and now it is twisted (and hurting). Glad your dr is aware of the placement issues.

I am still undecided whether to have the revision or have both SCS's removed. Mine are placed for RSD/CRPS pain in all four extremities. I am torn as they did help for a while, but I cannot keep having revisions. Every surgery risks spread of RSD/CRPS.

Remind me, when is your trial? I am sure it will go great!!

Nanc
:hug:

Hey Nanc
 

It's going to be the 23rd of this month and then the 26th I go back and if it was a success then he will take me to or and finish the implant . I know it's hard to find a good doc this is if your interested in contacting him I know I was willing to travel if I had to. I don't know if you are willing but here is a link to his page to upmc pittsburgh hospital :) http://www.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/person/daniel-bursick

I know you are both nervous and excited! The 23rd will be here in no time!!

I am in VA. My husband and I talked about going somewhere else to find a new dr, but the problem is having a procedure there and having to travel home and then traveling back for follow-ups. And staying in that area between appointments is just not practical. My husband takes off work to take me to the dr now and that is no problem, but taking off extended periods would be a problem. Then there is the expense of it. I haven't worked since the end of December, so no income! SSD will start paying next month, thankfully, but it has been tight!!

You would think that being in the same area as a medical college/hospital, that there would be some really good drs...but that is not the case. I have been searching online and there are some that I haven't seen and I don't want to after reading some of their reviews :(

Hey Nanc
 

I know how hard it can be to find a good doc heck it took me going on almost 4 years now. On top of that I was in the same boat as you about the SSD I finally got mine in 2011 and then it took 2 years before insurance would kick in for me. Mine just kicked in on June first this year. I hope things only get better for you soon.

Prayin all will be WELL
 

Glad for the doc, whose creds read OH SO NICELY,

Glad for the procedure which may cut some of the awful waiting time out of the whole process.

Glad SSDI is in or coming for each of you and Nanc....... I have had its benefit, BUT, there is a whammy too. You see, I tried VERY HARD to resume my career after all came into place. Tried VERY HARD indeed. Thing I did not know in taking advantage of that "Ticket to Work" program was if I was successful in returning to work, the last bit of SSDI I received from SocSec would be taxable..... yup, taxable. So, bear that in mind if it is a wild success for you as it has been for me. I don't feel rewarded for having used the Ticket to Work to get off of SSDI, I feel punished, but..... in the end analysis, I am far happier being back to work again. Far happier helping others in need....after all, that is what I do.

Yup,

AND praying Messy Mark that everything is GLORIOUS for you in receiving this wonderful device. I am thrilled to have mine!

:grouphug:

What a Night (Thank you Mark56)
 

Sorry that I missed you last night I would have responded then . Alas we had an unfortunate accident happen with my littlest one last night my (6yr old 7 next month) decided while she was taking her bath last night she was going to play with the little metal cover that goes over the drain in the tub. She some how manged to take it out of the drain and just had it setting on the bottom of the tub with some of her toys as she was cleaning up she went to stand up put her hands on the floor of the tub to sturdy herself as she was getting onto her knees to get up. The little prongs that hold it in place to the drain were pointing up and she put all her weight on her hands and it punctured her left palm about a 1/4 inch deep. My wife and I heard a shrill screech then DADDY! DADDY! it hurts from the bathroom and my wife made it to the bathroom before me (of course seeing I was in the recliner watching tv and it takes me a minute to put down the foot of it because of my bad leg) Then I hear my wife's voice pretty distressed Mark HURRY UP! and then all I hear as I'm hobbling towards the bathroom just hold on daddy is coming! I finally reach the bathroom and my wife is holding my little girls left hand up over her head and Jade is a pasty white and I can tell she is in shock I look at her hand in the air and that little plate is lodged into her palm of her hand and the first thing in my mind is calm both of them down so I tell Jade it's going to be OK just look at daddy and nothing else with a calm and assertive voice and told my wife to set her down on the floor please. In the meantime a couple of things are running through my mind (1) infection (2) asses exactly how deep it is embedded in her hand. (3) keep Jade as calm as I can. I get her over to the sink and take a look at it and see that 2 of the prongs on this thing are in her palm of her hand then I realize these prongs are also curved. So I roll up my left sleeve of my t-shirt and have Jade focus on my tattoo on that arm as I go to pull it out of her hand. Thankfully it come out really easy. Now the hard part begins I have to clean this out quickly and try to get the bleeding to stop. I grab the peroxide and have my wife take her thumbs and spread the two puncture wounds open a little bit and pour it on their and of course Jade squeals a little bit. then my focus is to get the bleeding to stop and I grab a couple of 4 x 4 gauze I keep handy for skinned knees or elbows and start to apply pressure on top of both holes for about 5 to 6 minutes and it still is bleeding not as profusely as before so I take a couple more gauze and put neosporin on the wounds and tape it up and have my wife get Jade dressed and we take a 25 mile trek to the hospital at ten o'clock at night. We get her checked in right around 10:45 pm eastern time. They take her right back into the E.R. and the doc comes in right away also ( all of this surprised me seeing it was a sat night) takes a look. Meantime I'm thinking she is going to need a couple of sutures. Thankfully she did not need any and by the time we got there it had stopped bleeding and the E.R. doc did nothing but look at it and re-wrap it the same way I had it done and said keep an eye on it for infection and sent us on our way seeing she was up to date on all her shots. We were half way home and I hear snoring coming from the back seat. So that is how my Saturday night went. How about you lol:winky:

Been there Know that
 

Our daughter is our youngest, and one night our children were playing chase and slam the bedroom door. Then we hear a thunk, screams, daughter sobbing, and learn her pinky is slammed flat into the door. We made a late night ER trip oh so many years ago on that one. Similar effect, except they had to finish removing her fingernail and apply a couple of stitches. Tears at your heart strings it does.

Glad you were able to calm the situation and the frayed emotions, get the proper oversight to your good first aid, and bring snoring Jade home. Hope she will be well with no infection.

:grouphug: