Need more info on SCS
 

Can anyone help me out? I have lots of questions. Let's begin with:

I am a 50+ female who after a seemingly simple and easy massage at a business seminar turned into my new lifestyle nightmare. Long story short, the girl did not set up her portable massage chair correctly, I was her first "client", went to sit on the chair, it collapsed, I hit the floor, tore my rotator cuff and compressed L1 thru L5. That was six years ago.

Since then, arthritis has set in, I have severe outbreaks of sciatic nerve attacks, have not slept more than 3 hours at a time and now for the past 4 years, been on pain medication which is starting to really alter my life (and not in a good way). I have been through acupuncture, physical therapy, inversion therapy, homeopathic everything, chiropractic (the chiropractor actually refused to treat me after 4 visits because he felt he was making me worse instead of better - that's a first!)

So, fast forward to today. After 4 years of pain management, with visits every 8 weeks, pee in the cup, pay exorbitant amounts of money for them to agree I am taking my medications properly and not selling them on the street or using street drugs and of course, me always asking my doctor "Is there anything else we can do other than pain pills to give me some relief?" He finally says "Yes, I used to do this procedure years ago, but was not happy with the results, but they've now perfected it and I think it will work for you."

Out comes the Boston Scientific Precision Plus Spinal Cord Stimulator brochure. Here's where I need your help. I've got lots of questions before proceeding with this.

1) I've seen a lot of good posts everywhere from people who have had this installed with great success and very few bad results - has there been any negative side affects? Has anyone's body "rejected" their unit? Has anyone had issues with infections after the implant?

2) Since my husband hasn't hit the lottery yet (not for lack of trying), I need to continue to work, which takes me to Australia and Thailand and other places throughout Southeast Asia several times a year. Are there any issues going through airport security? I see that once this is implanted, MRIs are out.

3) What is the recovery time after surgery to get back to "normal" - such as carrying a 20+lb. backpack with computer equipment all over the world, lifting that bad boy into the overhead bins on airplanes (of course it doesn't help I'm only 5' tall, but that's a personal problem); are there any issues with driving, normal day-to-day activities? I try to swim and do water aerobics since it is lower impact on my spine and I refuse to give up even though some days I can barely walk after a workout; (never said I was good at it and I know the other gals in my class think I'm a wimp because I'm the slowest in the water, but hey, they don't have my pain either).

I have several other questions, but I figure I better stop here or I won't get any responses since I seem to be rambling. If there's anyone out there who can help, it's greatly appreciated! And thanks for listening!

T

Howdy T, and WELCOME
 

First off, let me earnestly write.....I am sorry you are here!! Not that I did not want to get to know you, but having come here courtesy of a car wreck where another driver failed to pay attention introduced me to this wonderful place. :wink: The people are GREAT, the care superb, and I come away feeling as though I have been hugged world wide. :) Since you travel the world in your work, it will help realizing everywhere you go there will be brothers and sisters from this place surrounding you. :grouphug:

1) I don't recall any negatives on the Boston Scientific side of the ledger, people who had to have theirs removed and such. Mine is Boston Scientific Precision Plus, which is now, according to their own website, older tech as they came out with something newer.....but then, who doesn't?

The infection I suffered was at the trial, and because of the topical insertion point. Something had allowed a "bug" to set up residence where they inserted the leads, because after trial insert, all is gauzed and taped down extremely securely. It was just there and I did not shower or something inviting bugs into the mix. This infection delayed my permanent implant and was fixed up with a course of antibiotics.

2) Upon implant, yes, MRIs are out. In fact, if you want to give a medical tech or doc a run for the money, just forget to turn off your unit as I did when presenting for a follow on cervical fusion. My stim was buzzing away, and I had forgotten all about it. This was about the time they wheeled in the ECG cart, hooked me up, and proceeded to get a rhythm on the ticker.....only courtesy of the stim, that ECG was going crazy. Next thing, my wife and I are joined by two other docs, one of whom is a cardio, and they are wildly concerned about what they think my heart is doing.

About that moment, I remember my stim remote in my wife's purse. I say, "hey, could it be a bad thing I did not turn off the stim?" Docs are about to kill me. Stim goes off. ECG comes back normal. :o

Airport security, I have been through both the old metal scan device and the newer puffer device. Long ago, I stopped even mentioning the implant. The gizmo does not alarm the "professionals" of TSA [I have my others issues with the TSA cops].

3) You gotta respect all of the post surgical restrictions. BLAST is an important thing to remember and is covered extensively here http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread114142-5.html .

Weeks of careful adherence to the restrictions availed of decent inscarring of the paddles and wires I enjoy so the issue of risk to disturbing those precious pulse carrying electronics are not disturbed. Your doc is best suited to advising just how long to be careful.

So, my implant was late July, and by October I was interviewing for work again. I had been out of the career train for years due to my injuries, many surgeries, and my dependence upon morphine for pain management..... it kinda befuddles a mind trying to practice law. I am now several years out [implant in 2010] and I don't give the leads much thought as I produce a lot of scar tissue normally....... or abbynormally....... [Every see Young Dr. Frankenstein? I liked Marty Feldman :D].

I may not have been into lifting my computer bag into an aircraft overhead in 2010, but I do it now!

4) Oh, I know, you did not label a fourth point, but you made it..... stop with the concern about running on. We are all about help here. :hug: and each of us has our questions, concerns, thoughts, and needs, so just feel openly welcomed to be here and participate to the fullest. We are here for you. I feel blessed to have this place!!!!

Have a better day today T! :hug:z for ya!

whew!!!!
 

Hi T,
I am always amazed at the stories of how we all have come to this disease of chronic pain.....I had to take a deep breath for you and me.
Mark56 covered lots of your concerns....dig deep in the threads and read...I am still learning from this groups experience’s and questions.
Like Mark56, I was injured in an auto accident….roll over…was not my fault or my day to die!
I have a Medtronic Adaptive Stim implanted March of 2012 to cover chronic pain caused from a deep nerve injury in my pelvic region L5 S1. My coverage is from my bra strap to my toes.
I was a textbook case....trial wonderful 85% relief...implant two weeks later….the battery did do some stuttering and needed to be reprogramed after it settled into my R butt check…No infections anywhere…18 months post op and I get about 50% relief for the nerve injury. I do suffer still from pain caused from the implant….my body never felt like it was right… I went back to work too soon…10 days later…deli clerk and had to raise meats UP to a scale…I did not heal well until I was able to quite work and really care for my body. I REALLY thought I was rejecting…it felt like an alien (that is what I called it) bursting out of my back. It hurt to just have arms. After six months of self-care I became much stronger and rarely even felt it in me although fatigue is always there. I hurt myself a bit this summer although I know with more self-care and water aerobics I can get better. I am glad I have it…it hurts….although it relieved me from the debilitating back pain that totally hindered my life…there were no activities other than work….a tradeoff of sorts. Now I mow the lawn and garden and paint and climb ladders again.
It is such a personal journey. Pain scrambled my brain too.
Airport security is familiar with it…I just say …spinal implant…battery R side and move along. I can lift my overhead bag.
Keep swimming….keep us posted
Welcome
Johanna

Thanks Mark and Johanna!
 

Since I've posted this, I've had my psych evaluation, now just waiting for Boston Scientific and my doctor to get the ball rolling. I'm sure as this progresses, I will have more questions. My biggest concern now is the cost of everything. I received a letter in the mail today that I will be losing my insurance again (2nd time this year) at the end of December. It's just so sad that we are just one medical procedure away from losing everything we've worked for our entire lives.
From all I've been reading, I am anxious to get this going. I would love to get off or cut down the pain meds and become a functioning adult again! Will keep you posted how my journey continues...

T

Prayin for ya! May all be well T, may all be well!
Yup, :hug:

Hello T !
 

Welcome to the Bunch! :hug:

You've come to a great place for support and understanding and people who truly CARE.
What an ordeal you've been through! I completely understand how you feel about taking the strong meds. Hopefully this will be the avenue to get you off of them, or at least to be able to cut way down.

There's one thing in your post that makes me a bit 'nervous'.
Your doctor said that he 'used to do this procedure years ago'. If he hasn't been doing this procedure all this time, then he's probably 'rusty' and not up with the times.
Maybe I'm off base with this cuz I don't know your doctor like you do. If you have the utmost confidence in him then go with it. :) This must be done precision perfectly and it's better if your doc is very well experienced in this.
....The 'mother hen' is coming out, so forgive me :rolleyes:

There's another place here at NT with feedback from those who've tried the SCS. It's in the Spinal Forum up top in the 'stickie' section. Not many people know it's there. Most of those posts are from those who just 'passed thru' the forum and didn't engage in the active posting like we do here.
Check it out! You'll get an array of testimonies. Some are ones who had problems. It's good to read these and be aware of the not-so-good experiences as well as the good ones. This might give you some questions and concerns for you to bring up to your Dr.
Here's the link to take you there:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread114113.html

It's great to have you with us! Ask anything and everything you want - no such thing as too many questions!

Caring,
Rae
:grouphug:

sees there T
 

Hey there T,
see what I mean...thank you Rrae for that link!!
I never knew it was there... yipiee...more knowledge!!

And T.....I live about 10 miles north of the biggest pill mill county in America.
When I was in between docs and insurance...my SSD doc reccommended a clinic...it was $200 to be evaluated....$180...after that to see if the clinic doc thought you were worthy of a 30 day script (and you had to go get it filled) and $180 every 30 days there after....I am sure glad I had an "emergency stash".

Johanna

The 'missing link'.....