Help please: Questions for those of you with Stims
 

Hi there. I am on the Occipital Neuralgia board here and another member who has a stim suggested I post here.

I am potentially getting a stim (waiting on the Canadian/BC gov't to approve one) and had some questions for those of you who already have one. If you would like to share, I would be interested in knowing the following things:

1. How long was the surgery? Did you have to stay in the hospital or go home the same day?

2. How long did it take you to recover from your surgery?

3. Where did they implant the battery box and how big is it? Can you feel it under your skin?

4. How often will they have to replace the battery box? I assume it's another surgery...

5. What does the stim feel like when it's working? Is it annoying or do you get used to it?

6. How do you feel about having had it done? Is it helping? If you had to do it over again, would you?

7. Any advice or things you wish someone had told you about getting/having one?

8. Anything else you want to share about it or your experience?



Thank you for your help!
Prairiegirl

Hello? Anyone???

Hi Prairiegirl ,

This link will take you to a thread on the RSD forum where a member just got a scs redone, she can probably help you with questions-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...407#post401407

a few others on the RSD forum have had stims to so you might post there for more info too.

There's a forum search feature that you might try also - to find posts/threads from the whole community that mention scs or stim implants.
search tool -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/search.php

I just had a permanent spinal stimulator placed on Saturday.
1. The surgery lasted about an hour and a half.
2. They told me to stay home a week from work. (I'm a science teacher) They said it would take about 6 weeks to totally recover.
3. The battery box is in my right hip and is the size of an Oreo cookie. I have the stimulator for the lumbar -thoracic area. I can't tell yet if I can feel it under the skin because it is still bandaged.
4. My SCS is by Boston Scientific and the battery is rechargeable. I have a disc plugged into a charger and they said it could last as long as a month before I need to hold the disc next to implanted battery and recharge it which takes 1-4 hours.
5.You can change the intensity and pattern. Sometimes if I have it turned up, it feels like very strong pins and needles. Othertimes when I have it turned down, it feels like a strong tingling. I hope I get used to the sensations.
6. I would definitely would do it again. I just pray it si going to really make a difference so that I can keep teaching and play with my grandchildren.
Kim