Day lilly,

Yea i hear ya about havingsecond thoughts about having the stim.!! I would do it al over again, yes, even to konw what i would be like i am now. You never know what will andwhat wont.! But kudos to you not choosing and standing up to forcefull docs and not being pushed by the medtronics company!!

my doc is just like yours.. except a very strong brooklyn accent..and he is very down to earth and "common" ( you know, not the snobby doctor type that thinnks thier poo doesnt stink) and he sits down with me and talks about his family and asks about mine and very caring even though hes very big and has a cool accent! wouldnt trade him for the world!! You have to stick with the docs you trust, and trust your gut!!

I had the epidural infusion also, but i was in the hosp for a week with it and then had it taken out at the end of the week and all the pain came right back after the meds that were in my system wore off. I would have killed to have it back in. IT WAS AND IS HEAVEN!!!! there are always risks of infections and evreything , but as long as you keep it clean and dont over do things around the house ect, you will be fine!! my doc couldnt get a nurse or anyone to come to my house to do the epidural tranfussion bags adn to mix the meds and chnage the pack that he wanted ( i live and hour and 1/2 away from him and the hosp that i was in) so i couldnt do it, but again , would kill for it again right now. That is why i am having a pain pump put in , in January!! i will be able to have the same meds i had in the epidrual and hopefully start getting my life back!! but i then still ahve a long road in head of me with the funky shaped foot and all!! but at least no pain!!

The epidrual was easy , just make sure you eat before he does it! I didnt eat (rather the nurses wouldnt let me , when my doc told me to) and i passed out really deep and was hard to get me out of the dark for a while.. but it was all fine, it was all because he was messing with the fluid in the spinal canal, adn was back up and walking in an hour!! and eating..lol


I never heard of fasset injections before, what are they???

Have to try and get some sleep! talk to you soon!!!


Amber

I am new to this site for posting but I have been viewing this site for a while.
I am so happy to see such an active site. Thank you all for sharing I have gained a lot of information and comfort from you postings!!!!!!

I have a SCS and can tell you of my own journey with it. Your first question was regarding spreding. I have had spred since the SCS. I was told that it could possibly stop or slow the spreding but is not a deffinate.

As far as recovery time it was much longer that I was led to believe. It was 5-6 weeks before I was aloud to start returning to unrestricted activities.
No driving, no lifting, no bending, etc...

I have some relief from the permanent stimulator (ANS rechargable), I feel I had more relief when I had the trial stim. I have had my pain meds increased since having the permanent stim. but keep in mind everyone is different.

I am inpressed by your vigor in standing up for your self!!!

I hope this is helpful.

jclg

I heard from my regular pain doctors nurse today. She will ask him about what this new doctor said.... and see if I should come in to discuss etc... or go directly to the doctor that he has do his SCS in the nearby city.

She said it all did not sound right to her. She said from how I looked the last time she saw me, she did not think I was ready for the SCS yet.

She did say my doctor is taking classes in facet injections, but would send me to the same doctor who does the SCS for epidural infusion or facet injections.
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Amber, I found this info on facet injections. In my case, I think the neuro wants to try it because there is some significant arthritis in my C-area of my neck, and possibly some deformity. I don't fully understand the exact problem there. I know that upper back/neck/shoulder pain was what sent me to physical therapy where I was injured last year that led to this round of RSD... so he thinks that treating this area may relieve some of my pain - even though it is not RSD pain. Sort of like how trigger point injections help me because they help my myofacial pain.

Jules

"What is a facet injection?

It is an injection of both a long-lasting steroid “cortisone” (like triamcinolone or methylprednisolone) and an anesthetic numbing agent (like lidocaine or bupivacaine) into a specific facet joint of your spine. The injection can be placed inside the joint capsule or in the tissue surrounding the joint capsule. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation, and they’re very effective when delivered directly into the part of your back that is causing pain. Corticosteroids are different than the anabolic steroids that athletes may use.

The facet joint is the moveable joint of the spine that connects one vertebra to another (see Anatomy of the Spine). This procedure is different than an epidural steroid injection, which injects the steroid into the epidural space of the spinal cord.

Facet injections may provide relief of pain and inflammation as well as provide more diagnostic information for your physician. The injection “blocks” the pain in much the same way as your dentist would use an anesthetic injection to block pain in your jaw before working on your teeth. Injections into joints or nerves are sometimes called “blocks.” Facet blocks can be used as a diagnostic test to determine if you will benefit from a facet rhizotomy. The pain relief can last from days to years, or in some cases, permanently."