Revision Surgery
 

I thought this might be easier as a new thread.

Since I'm under 10 days now until my revision surgery, I figured it's time to start thinking about post-surgery. I'm going in on the 5th of January to have my leads moved down because of the painful stimulation I'm having in my stomach and back when it is only supposed to be in my legs. I'm definitely very hopeful that this will work, but I'm nervous too. My doctor said going back in won't be like the first time because of the scar tissue to cut through and that it "will be painful". Hopefully he'll only have to open up the incision where the leads were inserted but he said there's a chance the leads could break and then the other one has to be opened back up too and the leads will have to be replaced. I've tried searching, but there's not much information to be found on revision surgeries. For those who have gone through it, please tell me in all honesty what is was like and how the recovery was?

My spring semester of classes will be starting 5 days after the surgery. I'm also supposed to go up and visit a grad school 2 days after and I'd really hate to miss this opportunity. So I'm just trying to get an idea of how much I'll be able to do after and how bad the pain will be :confused:

feb 2011 got first one July 2011 they replaced everything. I got new stim and leads. It was a redo. It is like first time but you know what not to do
good luck ron h:hug:

Those who Know
 

Tchr012 and Rae especially have revision experience, as I think Jenna does, and others..... I pray they will chime in for you and, Yellow, that your experience will be overseen by God, who by presence with you and your caregivers may help in your revision and healing.

Prayin in Colorado,
Mark56:hug:zz:grouphug:

Here I go again...beating the same ole' drum. Maybe it's cause I've lived with pain for so many years, but my first thought is always to make sure you have enough pain meds. to get you by, and maybe even something stronger than usual on stand-by should you need it. Hopefully your dr. will help you with this!

I can understand your excitement about going to see grad. school but please don't push yourself. It's better to delay it a while than getting any pain flaring up worse than necessary.

Here's praying that the revision will do what's needed, and that you'll finally get the proper pain relief you've been waiting for!! :hug::hug:

Fiona

I agree with Fiona, Yellow - about taking it easy and not putting too much on yourself.....but you've been thru this before and you pretty much know what to expect. I know how disappointed you are to have to be going thru this, especially since your trial had gone so well.
Of course this will seem like a complete setback, but in reality, you're just getting the fine-tuning you need and I'm certain your medical team know what they are doing.

This won't be anything 'new' to you and you know what to expect. Just keep your chin up and you'll be ridin high in no time.
I'm sorry you have to be doing this in the first place, but we know you to be strong and you've got the Lord on your side.

You're young and strong. This won't have you down for long....
Worry not, my friend!
We aren't goin anywhere! So, give us the details as soon as you're up for it. I'm excited for you!

Your Friend,
Rae
:hug::grouphug::hug:

Thank you to everyone who responded. Hopefully my doctor will be able to access the leads easily and pull them down without any troubles, that way the battery site does not have to be messed with. In that case I'm thinking the pain will maybe be more like after the trial? I was still in quite a lot of pain then, but I was at least able to do things. If both sites have to be opened up, though, then I know the pain will be the same as the implant surgery. I guess I'll just have to cross that bridge if I come to it. And I know it's really bad timing with the grad school visit, but I still don't want to cancel it yet because part of me is holding onto hope that I'll feel well enough to make it. My doctor said my surgery can be outpatient this time, so we'll see if that remains to be true or changes like last time. Last week I rescheduled my PT appointments for the date of surgery and the following day to late afternoon for both and I did this directly with my therapist because no one was at the desk that morning. She gave me a look of are you crazy? and asked "why would you want to come in on the day of surgery?" :D I had to laugh and when I explained that when I came in on the same day of the trial I felt so much better and I think it really helped, she said ok and didn't question me anymore. That's just my personality to want to go go go and it's hard to scale back ahead of time :p

A week from today my stimulation will hopefully be out of my stomach and stay that way!

My mother keeps telling me that, that it is like I'm starting over. I have to keep telling her that I'm not starting over, I already have something that I know works for me and now it's just about fixing it to make it so that I can use it. I do see where she's coming from, though, and it's easy to fall into that trap of thinking. This is why I've told almost no one about this surgery, because I don't want to disappoint them. But I am in a good place about it now and my doctor was confident it would help, so I'm holding onto that :)

Yellow - I wanted to post a quick comment on the grad school issue....as having gone through grad school I've "been there, done that." When I was applying, and even through my first three years - I did EVERYTHING "for grad school." The best way to explain this is, during my first year, I herniated a disc, that didn't get better. I put myself in misery each and every day - because I thought I had too. I was talked into surgery as a "quick fix" because the surgeon made it sound like I would be up and at 'em a week or so after a laminectomy. Time after time, I put my health aside for school. Now that I am on the other side of things (I now help mentor grad students)....I realize how stupid I was. You need to put your health first. Take the time you need for recovery - don't push it. Call the grad school in question, and explain the situation. Ask if they would be willing to meet with you at a later date. Have a previous professor write a letter to help back you up. Hell, if you PM me the school, It may be that I can even be able to write something (depending on the school) to someone to give you the time your body needs to recover.

-Heather

Nice Coral Toe, Nice
 

That is true outreach Heather, well said, well done.

:I-Agree::Good-Post: mark56

Thanks Heather, I appreciate it, and you're right, of course. I need to hear things like that sometimes. I promise I'll do all I can to not push myself, and I'll stand up for my own health and recovery :) My school just dropped a bomb on me recently anyway that I'll be 11 credits short of graduating after previously telling me that I'd be fine, and because of the holidays I can't get ahold of them. So unless I can get something figured out, I may have to take another semester in the fall of all electives- something I'm extremely opposed to. I'll be so glad when I'm done with school finally and can work in my career to help children.