New here, confused, in pain, scs???
 

My name is Jessica and I am 27 years old. I am married with 3 children and work as a 911 EMT, and am currently finishing school for Paramedic. I was diagnosed in Jan '10 with RSD, after having knee surgery in '07 and then having knee trauma in '09. I have been going through sympathetic nerve blocks for almost 4 months with initial great relief immediately after the injections. The last for a few hours to a few weeks. I had an injection done yesterday, #5, and it lasted for the remainder of last night but now I am having severe lower back pain and my leg is back to being on fire. I don't know how much more I can take tonight. My leg feels absolutely swollen, but is only moderately. I have tried ibuprofen and heat as well as ice. I'm losing it quickly tonight...it hurts to sit, it hurts to stand. My dr suggested yesterday a scs and he thinks I will have good results from it. They did give me some info on it but I want to hear what other people have gone through, pros cons everything in between. I don't know how much more I can take. We have tried other things such as physical therapy, external electrical stim, heat, cold, ect....HELP PLEASE!!!:(

Hi Jessica
 

I am so very sorry about this battle you are facing! :(
I know just where you are at BELIEVE me. I used to feel pretty much alone in my battle, until I happened upon this wonderful forum, while searching the web for info on the SCS.....

We actually have a forum specific to discussion about SCS and Pain Pumps......It is listed as a subforum in the "Medications" Section here at NT.....here is the direct link to click on :

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/fo...ysprune=&f=118

There IS HOPE! The RSD/CRPS forum here is very active.....I encourage you to go there and introduce yourself and you'll get much support there......
Your situation sounds pretty much like crisis-mode....

I'll be looking for you there!
Hang in there :hug:

Rae

WELCOME TO NT

You have come to the right place for support and information.

We're here for you.

Hello Jessica great to have you!
 

Welcome Jessica!
 

I'm so sorry for the pain you are going through. I pray you will find some comfort very soon.

I have received pain shots in my spinal column in the past. I know it was done under x-ray so they were very precise in getting the medicine in the correct place. My shots were always pretty effective. Are yours being done under xray?

http://dl7.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...ub2cvh4f9g.gif

Just wanted to add my welcome--this is a good place, and you'll find lots of support here!

hi
 

hi and welcome to NT there are truly helpful folks here hope you find the help you need

Yes mine are being done under xray. Sometimes I have absolutely NO pain afterwards and sometimes I get this pain in my lower back. Last night I was at my peak. Hubby asked what he could do and I asked him to paralyze me the pain was so unbearable. Just feel like I'm fighting a losing battle right now.

I know how you feel !
 

Actually pretty much everybody here knows that feeling!
There were countless times I would have rather just given up instead of living thru one more day of the pain....

Like you, my children, supportive husband, career......somehow kept me going...
And then once I felt comfortable opening up and sharing here....
wow! :grouphug: It has done wonders as far as keeping me above the battle.

I know this sounds 'shallow'.....but literally, we have to take a day at a time.....and as the days turn into weeks, months.....we can look back and see that we actually ARE winning the battle......just maybe in 'slow motion'... :o

If you've officially been diagnosed with RSD, you'll probably benefit greatly from the RSD forum.....
My diagnosis was questionable, so i just sort of 'lurked' around the forum until I found the area that seems to relate most to my symptoms.....so I'm on the PN (Peripheral Neuropathy) forum, as well as the RSD.....and SCS..... and :) i continue to find friends in other forums here every day.....

Just please know that you CAN stay above your battle! Hopelessness is like a heavy anchor that will inevitably weigh you down..... you've got a lot going for you and a lot worth fighting for....:hug:

Rae

I too am really small, less than 100 lbs, gotta love an incredibly stubborn metabolism...NOT! Most pain meds knock me out cold! I have tried the gabapentin in several doses but it still makes me incredibly too tired. I have had 5 injections since January '10, get a pretty good amout of relief but it NEVER lasts! My pain is better than it was the other night, asked hubby the other night to amputate my leg. Probably the worst it has been in a long time. My dr and I have discussed the SCS on several occasions but he has completely left it up to me wether I want to go through it or not. He has given me informative DVD's and told me to call him with any questions and that if I wanted to talk to someone who has had it done to let him know and he could have a patient call me to talk to me about it. He asked that when I call him this week for my weekly check in that I let him know what my thoughts are on the trial and then possibly getting the implant done, just because of having to get it authorized by my insurance. My job requires me to be VERY functional so medications are not at all the answer for me since most of them make me "loopy" and I can't function the way I need to. Peoples lives are literally in my hands everyday. I know I will probably have to take several weeks off from work :( I love my job but it might be a little slow down that I need. Is there a specific place where I can see all the pros and cons listed? I haven't had an incredible amount of time to research this, been in the hospital over the last few days with a heart problem. I am young and haven't been diagnosed long, although have been in pain for several years, and then hubby doesn't really get involved I just get "whatever you want to do I will support you". It's extremely hard and frustrating when they have no idea how much pain you are really in and how to help. I hide pain pretty well and am not one to complain unless I'm seriously hurting. Any info or links or anything else anyone can offer, personal stories...ect....PLEASE send me anything! Thanks in advance!

Jessica