Nevro Senza SCS implant
 

Hi all, 10 days post procedure which took nearly 3 hours instead of the anticipated one hour and I'm in pain. I just don't know where to put myself. A lengthy background blurb below, sorry, thought it may be cathartic for me...

They only managed to get one lead in, my pain mgt specialist explained he thinks the scar tissue from previous spine operations (5) along with the regular Rhyzotomy and epidurals every 6 to12 months from 2006 and potential bone fragments from my crumbling spine in the thoracic region made it almost impossible to get the leads in. Strangely it wasn't experienced at the trial and he went in at the same place only 4 weeks later. He, my rep Leah and her manager all whom were present at the operation were quite perplexed about it. My rep strongly pushed for him to go ahead with implanting the battery despite only getting the one lead in as her manager and she believe a neurosurgeon here in WA can do a laminotomy and put in a paddle, and that supposedly will give me cover. Nevro apparently don't do the paddle but they are prepared to work with the supplier who does to be able to offer me some pain relief? They are all very disappointed in the outcome so far and my pain Dr so apologetic.

Anyhow, Xmas day passed with me doing little but on Boxing Day I cooked a pork, lamb and chicken roast with non peeled, just scrubbed veg for my 82 year old mother, my sister and her partner and my husband. I shelled the prawns and all work was done standing at the sink and bench top. I also only used bench top ovens and the wall oven (had 3 ovens going) so did no bending and lifted nothing heavier than 1kg, BUT I did bend to reach into the cupboard for a gravy jug and while bending in to look lost my balance somehow and fell backwards landing on my butt!!! I rocked for a second or two and grabbing the bench top pulled myself up. The meat and veg and prawns btw all were done to perfection, if only a little cool as cutting up the 3 meats by my husband took longer than planned! Oh and the gravy was so nice we ran out, my sister bought the dumplings and were lovely. Then for dessert we had Xmas cake, fresh strawberries and cream, my sister took over and cut the cake and got the cream and strawberries from the fridge as by that stage I was groaning with pain and called Balise (time out). Mum cleared the final table crockery and stacked the dishwasher, but I did clear away the entree and mains. Cleverly put each course on the bench by the dinner table so everyone could serve themselves rather than me reaching, plating and serving. So, entree of prawns and avocado, mains of roasted pork, lamb, chicken vegetables and dessert of strawberries and the best ever homemade Xmas cake (not by me) with cream all thoroughly enjoyed!!!

Yesterday, I rested all day and today, my back is weeping, crying to me and ridiculing me. I have to say, at all times while I was preparing and cooking I took all precautions, I did not stretch, reach or lift anything heavy and only bent the once (which resulted in me falling to the floor) so in reality, it's just the standing at the bench top shelling the prawns and the fall that may have hurt me so. The meats all took just about an hour and half to cook and in that time I rested. I set the table and decorated by folding up paper water lily napkins which I also did at the bench top and Xmas crackers. I really did nothing out of the ordinary that I haven't done a million times before!!

I have taken 10mg OxyContin slow release, 5mg Valium (which I hadn't taken for over 4 months) and just now 5mg endone. I've got 20 mg slow release Oxy as well as 5mg Oxynorm and also 10/5 Targin but I really don't want to take anything more. I take Panamax every 6 hours also. I have persistently taken way less oxy than prescribed over the years as I hate what they do to me and at the most nowadays only take 1x 10mg slow release each day. I also never take oxy after 6pm. Stupidly, for me, oxy makes me feel like I can conquer the world and Before I know it I'm out there in the garden, cleaning, doing domestic chores like sweeping etc, walking the dogs, exercising and then suffer when the drug wears off! Not that I'm doing any of that post the SCS implant, I know I'm not to do anything physical for 12 weeks and lift nothing heavier than 1.5kg.

So, has anyone got any bright ideas on what else I can do today for pain relief as my thoracic region is screaming, cervical singing along and lumbar giving it what for as well, mostly though it's the thoracic and it hurts to breathe. Problematic headache also that's been present for 4 days straight now.