I had my Spinal Stimulator surgery this past monday. and I gotta say it's such a huge relieve. I'm still recovering from the surgery of course. but if anyone has any questions about it. I would be more than willing to answer any questions that you might have about the stimulator. I decided to do the stimulator because it was either amputation or ketamine for me. and I thought that the stimulator was my best choice.

I tried to get a hold of anyone that has had the surgery done. and I didn't really find anyone. So I can only imagine that it might be the same kinda thing for everyone else. So I'm throwing myself out there.

Hi Hope you recover quickly and I hope that this brings you relief for the rest of your life.
I see you are from Florida. I was born and raised there in Orlando. I so miss home.

Hello,mi do I fact had scs for almost year and half. It was a really roller coaster for me. First question,why you need ans scs? Rsd and amputations are a big no!!! Rsd is neurological pain and won't get better ever with an amputation , second,rsd covers only chronic pain ,no acute which means bone pain, so can you be clear on that part?
I do have my do to rsd , my lower limb was affected and had a scs implanted on also a limb affected without been diagnose but the dr so my rsd gets worse and ended with full body flares. I was able to get the ins authorization to repositioned on my abdomen, works much better but only covers the chronic pain,neurological only, my problem of bone to bone rubbing stills there.
You have to follow the directions exactly as dr mentioned, no bending ,no pulling, no reaching,no squatting,no lifting anything more than 6 pounds, Southey at least for the first six weeks then all depends on you dally routine , it's hard, and job sometimes won't ever be able to perform.
It works as long as you keep those restrictions very clear. Your lead wire can pulled by accident, twisted ,battery can felt, cables can discounted ,requires a big part of your time being aware of the does and don't . It works yes, is hard to,live with it, yes, you might with the time need reprogrammed with your rep,keep that in mind, also, battery hurts many times and the charging belt makes it worst so ask your rep for a kit of sticky pads to place on your skin after you heal,completely and use those pads to recharge,gets easier ,but make sure you are already heal completely ,at least 3-4 months, all depends of each individual ,I'm still recovering from my second surgery,the repositioning ,hope,helps,you a little and ask whatever you need to know,but let us know the reason for yours and we can provide more accurate help,best wishes from Jesika .

I have had RSD for 4 years, was in a motorcycle accident that nearly ripped my leg off. I developed RSD after that injury. When I found out that I had RSD was when I started going through the pain management program. at the time I had insurance. so it wasn't that big of a deal for me. and then I lost the insurance when I went to college. Graduated. Mind you I didn't take any kind of medication while I was in school, only vitamins, which only go so far. Reason being that it was a wood shop environment. didn't want to be drowsy from the meds and cut off a finger lol.

I now work in a wood shop environment, and I'm not willing give up my life for this curse. I still don't take any kind of medication. Except now of course since I'm recovering from the surgery. But when I go back to work. I still won't take any kind of medication.

So.....

I decided to get the SCS after the trial because I'm a pretty active guy despite my RSD I don't let it control what I do. Sure it overpowers me sometimes and I have to take a break but other than that I'm just trying to live my life. I work a full time job at Dean Guitars (that's the wood shop environment) and I also play bass in not one but two bands. I got the SCS because it fit best to my way of life. It also made me feel good the sensation that I get off it is pleasurable. and it had better rate of success as far whether it helped or didn't help for patients than it's predecessor the "Precision". I got the "Spectra" (Boston Scientific). I have been following the instruction of the post opp to the best of my ability, my awesome girl friend has been getting anything that I drop or can't reach. Helps me up and down, Showering....etc.

I'm a big dude (6'7") so they gave me the paddle instead of the lead, and I guess that it's a bigger paddle than they normally use, because for the trial they used just a regular sized lead and it came out in two days because they didn't account for the amount of torque that I posses when I move, also, my vertebrates are larger than most (go figure). Now with that said, doesn't mean that I can run marathons a week after the surgery. I'm still taking it easy.

I'm still feeling good and I'm glad that I did it.

Good for you Luthier sounds like you did your homework on this and made the choice that seems best for you. Its all any of us can do! I wish you all the best with it and hope that things get easier for you as you and your body get used to it...

Bram.

If you decided to get scs permanent keep in my the recovery time is longer than the trial period,and you need help to do several of your daily routines ,shocker,laundry,dressing, bending and twisting a big no also your battery can migrate and suddenly your signal can get lose or hitting the wrong areas ,that's painful.
whatever you decide we hope works the way you expected, it was hard for me ,I will say is still hard for me to deal with a second repositioned from buttock to abdomen, my left was compromise with rsd and make it worse, my pm dr did not considered rsd but two of his colleague agreed that rsd was already in my good leg now I have rsd in both, a second device might be implanted or cables added depending on what the neurosurgeon decide.
You have to give enough time to heal ,about 3 months for the permanent,that what my PCP which is my ortho ask for me being out work for three months to be heal completely but is being around 18 months and I still not able to go back to work, rsd and scs makes the restriction impossible for my company to accommodate me ,so thing also how you will be affected in the future ,at course is only your section and hope everything work well in the first try,best wishes and good luck from Jesika .

When you got the SCS did you only have one lead connected to it? You can attach multiple leads to a unit depending on which one you have. The one that I have, I think you can attach 2 but with others I think it can be up to 4. They might just have to put another lead in and they might be able to program them separately. I know that's a lot of "mights" and "maybes" but it's worth looking into. Which SCS did you get?

I wanted to add, that as far as the way that my SCS works, it's "stimulating" both legs, groin, and probably 4 inches above my waist line. I haven't been programmed yet, but that's what the trial did too when that was programmed. Now I only need for my right calf, that is where the RSD is centralized, but it feels good so I don't really care that much.