Spinal Cord Stimulator
 

Hi folks;

Well, in a couple of days, I will have a Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted to control the incredible pain I get from my neuropathy (idiopathic).

My test was very positive and I'm hoping that this will be the solution for 10 years of horrible pain. Just wondering if anyone else has had this done for pain? Any feedback?

Nancy-H

Hi nancy-h, no, but would love to hear about your results, when you can.

I had mine inserted just last Setember....It's awesome. It takes awhile for your back to heal though. Like most Doc's they downplay the seriousness of the surgery. Make sure you give yourself time to heal. You won't be able to turn it up that strong and laying on your back and even sneezing makes it "jump" up higher. We call it my cattle prod @ my house. The thing also has a "remote". The HDTV references abound. I can tell youthis it has changed my life!

Peter - I plan to report on the process so that others in pain can look at it as another option for them to try.

kithitter - Thanks for the info. doing things too quickly after surgery is my M.O. so I will have to make myself behave! Were you on different meds for pain when you got the SCS? I'm kind of wondering how long it will take to get off some of these meds that make me forgetful, sleepy, etc.

Thanks for answering my thread Peter and Kithitter. It helped me a lot.

Regards,
Nancy-H

make sure you search on it here and in www.hastypasty's braintalk (google for URL). I have heard that it never stops pain completely because you still need to take long acting opiates, but when sucessful you can take much less.
I have also heard that a high percentage of people get it taken out because it does not help or causes problems itself.
Lastly, some doctors over prescribe it thinking they can stop dealing with having to prescribe opiates. This kind of doctor often hasn't done enough studying and you should get a second opinion.
I was happy to hear that you got a test first to see if you would be helped by a SCS. What is the test?
Good luck
Jane

Thanks for the reply, Jane. My test was to actually wear the device for a few days to see how my body reacted. The wires only were implanted and the device was in a case that I wore around my waist on a belt. I had a good reduction in pain so I'm really hopeful.

I am using methadone also. It will be interesting to see what happens to my dosage. Tell me about Clifford Woolfe's nerve pain med???!!!!

Thanks again and wish me luck on Friday.

Take care,
Nancy

Does this work like a tens unit???

Hey all!
I normally hang out at the RSD page, but here I am lurking a bit. I've had my SCS for almost 6 years now. I love it. It makes life bearable. It never takes away all of the pain, but it definitely reduces it. It works exactly like a TENS unit- but internally. My little brother dubbed it my 'bionic butt' because my battery is in my 'hip'. Hip according to my doctors, but it's really your bum. I have had to have a bunch of revision surgeries because the wires can move out of place, but I went through all of the revisions because it was worth having the SCS in place rather than removing it. I could not live without it. I hope that it's as good for you as it is for me!
Linnie

I made it through the surgery!
 

Hi All!

Thanks for your support. Lynns409 - Thanks for your input, that really helps me when I'm in pain. I made it through the surgery but boy was I ever glad to have it over. I was awake way too much of it for my liking. I remember the pain I had when awake but none of their questions about the placement of the device. Then I was really hurting in post-op so the rep from the company didn't get a lot of the programing done because I was just in too much pain. I see her Thursday. (Hubby goes in for HIS pre-op's and gets his device, for lower back pain, on Friday.)

So today is Day #3 and I am very sore. I cannot twist, lift, bend or put my arms up over my head for 12 weeks! I've already broken those rules because you just can't help it.

I must go lie down now. I will check back in soon. I think it's going to be all worth it!

My best to all,
Nancy-H

Hey, just to give you some encouragement- You'll be back to normal after a month. It doesn't take as long as they say. Just no sudden jerking motions! :)
Linnie