I have decided to get the spinal cord simulator. Who here has it and any suggestions on down time from the procedure. The temp one and the permanent. Also do you like it?


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I'm thrilled for you that you've decided to get this. I really think that if it works, you will greatly benefit with it at work. I've only had the temporary one. Took me a few days to recover after the first placement. I can't speak to the down time after the surgery to implant the permanent SCS. I wish you well. Go get 'em! Whoa!

Hi Julie,

I can't speak from experience here but I hope you get good relief.
I would certainly advocate doing your research on what your doc has available. There are a lot of options on how the battery is charged, whether is it wireless, higher frequency, etc. Some of those details can make a big difference in how much it helps and in how convenient it is.

There is an SCS subforum under the Medications and Treatments page where you can find a lot of info.

Let us know when you go ahead so we can send positive thoughts and healing love your way.

Hi Julie,

Here is the Link to the SCS Forum Littlepaw mentioned:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum118.html

Dave.

Hi Julie,

I do not know much about this topic firsthand. I have read the thread Littlepaw and Dave have mentioned. After reading about the experiences of many different people here, I agree with Littlepaw regarding doing a lot of research first.

I hope you are having a better day today, Julie.


DejaVu

Do you have it or did you do the trial and it didn't work for you?


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I did the trial and ended up having it fail big time. Yet, let me say this, I highly recommend you give it a try. Even though my experience was extremely physically painful, I'm glad that I at least tried. Because had it worked, I truly believe my pain would have greatly decreased and I would be much more active than I am now. And this could really help you in your work situation, if successful. One other thing. Yes, give it a great deal of thought. BUT... You are correct, you do have a short time frame in order to set this up and do, for the reasons you mentioned concerning your insurance, and given the fact that you must squeeze a psych eval in the time frame between now and when the surgery must happen, which is before the end of the year. So, you'll have to get after it quick, IF YOU do indeed decide to do it. If it were me, I'd go for it! AGAIN.. I'm no medical professional. I am just speaking from my own experience.

-Spike-

Dearest Juliek72

As others have suggested, please do your research.
I wish I had. I was diagnosed with CRPS Type II upper right extremity end of '12. The last hope for pain relief was the SCS. I so trusted my Doctor that I asked no questions and he offered no CRPS INFO. I just watched the video the company puts out. The trial was 4days in summer of '13. The pulsations offered enough 'relief' that my Dr and I decided to go forward with the permanent. BUT just the painful trial procedure caused burning and pain to spread to left forearm, top of left hand, tops of both feet, and both shins.
To this day, I become so angry at myself for not stopping there. I was know i was desperate for relief, to go back to work, ect ect.

I am going to skip to last week, 10/15, as the time in between is complicated and not pleasant. (The SCS offered NO pain relief like the trial AT ALL. It caused MORE.)

I FINALLY had the SCS and all the hardware extracted. I am hoping the pain i am feeling (burning, aching, stabbing, at times intolerable) at the two incisions sites are just from the surgery and not CRPS upped intensity or spread.
Also, the surgeon said the removal surgery would 'be easy.'
Easy for him!! This has not been easy for me at all.

I was not going to write anything but then i thought, I wish i had read someone else's story. Someone with CRPS, not a fluff piece by the company.
I will be happy to answer any specific questions, Julie, if you have any.
For me the SCS was not a big decision. It should have been.
I wish you well.

I posted a more complete version elsewhere on the site. I'll just add this to my post here, since I was quoted. The minute they flipped on the switch to my SCS post OP, I screamed, cried, yelled, sobbed, and wept for 17 straight unforgettable hours. I didn' know that someone could hurt that badly and actually live! t prayed to God that He would end my life that day. The woman that I was with cried as she watched me suffer, knowing all she could do was pray. Yet, had I not tried, I would kick myself to this day for not giving it a shot. Everyone is different. Some get good results, others of us-not so good. Julie, the decision is yours. According to my doctor, this surgery is successful in 85% of the cases it is tried upon. Yet, as was my case and others too, (obviously) there is always that other 15%. Good luck with whatever YOU decide.

I appreciate all of y'all input. I am doing my research. The thing is if I'm going to do this. I need to do it by 12-31-15. Because I am at my out of pocket max for the year so it will cost me nothing. Or about 5000.00 next year. I need phsych eval so I need to get things moving.


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