[shimmysho]

September 2013 I was injured at work -- a bad bone bruise on my left shin. Within 6-8 weeks burning, tingling etc started developing. By December of 2013 I was on crutches -- unable to put any weight on it at all or even touch due to hypersensitivity.
January 2014 crps was mentioned as a possibility for the first time but it wasn't until September 2014 that I was able to be seen by a Dr who is actually trained in dealing with this and I was "officially" diagnosed in Nov 2014.
I've done lots of physical therapy, meds, multiple sympathic nerve blocks and am doing loads better than I was. By Febuary 2015 I was doing so well I asked for my work restrictions to be changed from 4 hours a day (with limited walking/standing) to 6 hours a day (resting for 15 minutes every hour).
At this point it's starting to flare up again. Discoloration, swelling, burning/tingling has come back. I'm taking nerontin and we've increased the dosage but don't need pain meds.
I'm continuing with the same work restrictions -- the benefit of doing close to my usual job/routine still outweigh the physical discomfort. My doctor doesn't want to do another sympathic nerve block unless the pain becomes unbearable but is continuing to push the scs as the best treatment.
I've read that it's better to have the stimulator implanted before you get to really hardcore levels of pain -- that it's more effective?
Dr's goal is getting a "normal" life back --- able to work/play with my kids etc.
Looking for any feedback -- I know people who have had scs but their situations were vastly different than mine
Thanks

[Littlepaw]

Welcome Shimmysho
It sounds like you have made fantastic progress are functioning pretty well and not having too much pain. SCS certainly work for some but they are an invasive option. Keep in mind you are looking at a procedure with risks of complication with the leads and potential for more surgeries as well as the certainty of having another procedure at some point to deal with battery issues. To sign up for this in good faith you need to feel reasonably sure that the benefit outweighs the risk. Is there functional improvement, does it hold? Etc. Take a hard look at the data on Pubmed and maybe get a second opinion for usefulness in your case. By all means try a trial SCS first and see if you are even interested.

Sending Healing Love,
Littlepaw

[LIT LOVE]

You might want to search fmichael's posts about SCS.

You also need to understand that doctors have a huge financial incentive to do this procedure. While I think there are other health conditions/disorders where the SCS can have a long term health benefit, I'm not convinced that the risk is worth it for most CRPS patients. While it is true that those that have a positive experience carry on with their lives and aren't actively posting on NT or similar websites, I've read enough posts about spread and problems a few years after, that I'm just not willing to risk it at this point. For someone that hasn't tried other options first, especially Ketamine infusions, I would certainly suggest starting there first. --If you can afford to go out of pocket for some HBOT sessions, that might be worthwhile as well.