About To Start Trial Period on Cervical SCS
 

Hello All -

Just logged back in here again after a year+ more away. I actually posted my return using my Initial Intro Thread - which Gerry kindly replied to. If anyone wishes to see about my background and more, feel free to read about it and what has brought me here to begin with. I'm a Disabled Marine Corps Vet............:eek:

http://www.neurotalk.org/new-member-...-sergeant.html

Anyway, 2016 was a BRUTAL year for me pain wise, undergoing approx 20 surgeries (I count anything involving General Anesthesia a surgery) to help deal with the Chronic Pain associated w my Combat disabilities. So now, at the end of my rope, I am about to begin the 5 Day Trial Period with a Medtronics SCS device and would absolutely love to hear from anyone who's had one? Believe me folks, like to hear the Good and the Bad regardless of how horrible your experience may have been. Or how helpful too of course? :D

Thanks to ALL those here for your support and kind words years ago. Actually searching for some of you who may be here still too! "LovesTerriers?" :confused:

Well, anxious to see what people have to say about this so Im not going in with all unknowns! Thanks for reading friends!

Gunny

I have SCS
 

I have a cervical spinal cord stimulator. Are you getting it to treat just one area?

No / Yes.

It will only be a Cervical Spine SCS - but from about C-2 all the way down. Not sure if this answers your question KServ? Pain has become near killer and Pain Med tolerance is literally thru the roof (Dependence as well) which is what I stated in my post about seeking a Rapid / Ultra Rapid Detox afterward. I can't go on like this! Ugh.

I also found an Old Thread I wrote back when this subject was first brought up by my Dr. and this was that thread. One young lady stated she still had to use 50mg Fentanyl Patches while having the Cervical SCS as well. Are you also on an Opiate Med yourself too?

http://www.neurotalk.org/scs-and-pai...ease-help.html

Would yours be a Medtronic device as well?

Thx for the reply.

Yes Medtronic
 

The Medtronic reps were great. I had my SCS implanted on August1, 2014. I won't lie, the first 8 weeks are really tough. I was in a cervical collar and couldn't turn my head. I couldn't bend, twist, lift or drive(of course). I had a 2 and 4 year old at the time. So, it really sucked! You have to be so careful so the leads don't move at all.

My SCS
 

Mine was to treat RSD in my left hand. And it did help with the pain. I still need pain meds, but this RSD has spread to other areas so the SCS doesn't cover those areas. Hopefully it will cover all of your pain.

Pain
 

This kind of pain is horrible, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I am sorry you had such an awful year we will pray 2017 is MUCH better!!!! I am happy to answer any questions you have about the SCS😄

By the way.....
 

Thank you very much for your service to our country! We don't take care of our vets the way we should! I am really sorry you are in so much pain, and that you have been through so much. I really do hope the SCS trial gives you some relief. I would like to know more about the ketamine treatment you received, could you fill me in please? I am hearing more about this as a treatment that can actually put RSD into remission. But it is still very new treatment for this and I can't find much info on it. Any thoughts from someone who has gone through it would be greatly appreciated!

Welcome back Gunny, 2016 was a difficult year for many of us it seems. I'm with you under general or light anaesthetic (no memory of procedure) is an operation in my book. I only spent 15 nights in total in hospital last year so that was a plus. The negative is I've not been able to get my pain back under control after the November stint of 8 nights when I couldn't charge my stim. The SCS just doesn't seem to be working anymore. I'm in the process af re programming every few days trying to find one that suits but to date no luck. My SCS is a Nevro and been in for 3 years, in all I had very good results and was able to cut right back on meds to 1 sublingual temgesic a day, sometimes 2. Now I'm back on 10mg oxy but hope to stop after I have another procedure in February.
Hang in there, if you can get the right mix of programming & medicine life can be good again. :p

Gunny,

I previously had a failed trial for the lumbar area. Unfortunately, it did not reach areas needed; so I never did get a permanent SCS. My Pain Management doctor did tell me beforehand tho that even with an SCS, I would still have needed pain meds; but thought I should be able to take a lesser amount.

As Kersevello mentioned sometimes the SCS is not able to reach all the areas of pain so some pain meds may be needed. He also mentioned should you get an SCS, you have to be very careful for some time so the leads don't move. The leads need to scar in so they stay in place.

Gunny, You have already been through so much, it's probably worth doing the trial. Hopefully it works at least enough to give you a good amount of relief.

Gerry

Gotta tell you guys.............

Despite the trial and error many of you have experienced.

it is SO absolutely awesome to be back in touch with all of you again - and make new friends here as well who've been thru this stuff and know the suffering we ALL have going on!! Im so stoked to get back in touch with you folks - and reached out to many others from the past too - using the "Email" system thing which hopefully works out if they still have themselves connected via email ya know? Some of which were "Rrae, RSDwCRPS2" "Nicolette" and more importantly "Darcy Reid" who actually started seeing the same Pain Management Doc as mine, which I referred her to and she didnt quite have the same great results as I did. Oh well, we all react differently to procedures, meds, etc don't we?? :)

So anyway , please keep the new folks talking if able to offer anything. And I will stay in touch the best I can with so much going on for me! hehehe. Thanks again everyone!

Semper Fi !

Gunny