Bumping UP

Q and A
 

Do you have a SCS put in? Yes, I have had two for my left lower leg. My first one was ANS external SCS because I was too thin for the transmitter but then after 3 years my Doctor offered me the one produced by Advanced bionics which is very small. I have had this SCS now for over a year and love it. I have to charge the batter once a week which I find to be an inconvenience at times, it takes around 4 hours to charge and you can not sleep while charging the battery.

If you were given relief from the SCS how long? I still get relief from my SCS about 75% still after 4 years.

Did you still have to take pain meds? I still take pain meds for my right leg which is not RSD related. I also have a back injury from my auto accident which has resulted in Sciatica in my right leg along with lower back pain. I don't believe if I had this problem I would be taking pain medication.

Did the trial work better after the implant? No they are both the same.

Has it affected your mobility in anyway? It has helped me walk better, weight bearing. Also I don't have the edema I had prior to the SCS. And of course the pain has decrease. I still have difficulties walking long distance and still get tired very easy but I'm able to walk with decreased pain. I still have atrophy in my leg, still very stiff when I first get up from sitting for a long period and initiating movement is still a problem.

Of course right after the surgery you have the 6-8 weeks of recovery. My doctor suggested 3-6 months to be very careful to allow the leads to cement into the body. Both times I followed his directions and have had no problems. I do have restrictions with lifting over 5-10 lbs.

I am loving mine.

I danced in my living room today

I crossed my legs while sitting yesterday

I sat with my leg under my butt in the recliner yesterday

I am now trying to get off the pain pills and am weening from them because I started to crash hard

My mobility has gotten so much better

I got two leads put in

I get to tell people that once a week I recharge my buttox

It took a couple of weeks to see what great benefits this is/will be/has been for me

I can walk from my room to my kitchen, no problems

I can have sex again (YEAH!!!)


Edited to add: Mine is Advance Bionics - I too charge once a week - www.controlyourpain.com

1)yes
2)4 years
3) yes i still have to take meds but no where near as many as before
4)yes, my cervical one, i couldnt swallow for 8 months and had a feeding tube and my crps jumped to my leg
5)the implant worked better than tthe trial
6)i went into the hospital on crutches with nothing touching my foot, i left with a sock and shoe on and walked without my crutches. i have been walking around with a brace on my foot to help the muscles to work their way back into position but i am able to go where i want when i want...i just have to stop more often than i used to