[Gunny Fitz]

Hi There Fellow Members!

I just read thru a number of the threads on this section and rather than hijack someone else's thread I figured I'd post one of my own and ask that all of you assist me by putting all your thoughts, opinions, and personal experience within my thread to assist me during this awful period!

Some of you may know me, but those who don't are welcome to read my introduction thread which explains my history and reason why I have TBI, Cervical damage, and other medical issues. (Basically I was blown up by an IED in Iraq and cannot believe this pain is still getting worse!) Here is my first post on this website which I was extremely touched by all who replied and helped me ever since! You guys are all the best!

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ght=gunny+fitz

I have been seeing a fantastic new Pain Management Dr who was the Director of ALL Pain Management at Walter Reed / Bethesda for last 8 years before retiring from Navy and going out on his own to help others!
One of the reasons I feel so comfortable with him is that he has seen EVERY possible combat associated injury and done thousands of procedures and treatments for Wounded troops and Vets in his life - those of you who are Vets know what I mean, as it makes one feel as if we have something in common if you know what I mean?

Background:
We have tried EVERY type of Cervical treatment to include stuff like:
-Pain Medication (duh) lol
-Nerve Medications (currently trying Lyrica which makes me too dizzy)
-Many other medications (Topical Compound Creams etc)
-Ketamine Infusions (biggest hallucinogenic trip Ive ever experienced!)
-Facet Injections
-Radio Frequency Ablations (RFA)
-Trigger Point Injections (almost weekly!)
-TENS Unit use
-Massage, Acupuncture, Heat, Ice, and everything else imaginable

**Have the "Coolief" RFA Treatment scheduled in 2 weeks which I have not done yet but am hoping it has better results than regular RFA.

NOTE: I have NOT had any invasive fusion surgeries done and honestly wish to avoid going that route for anything - hence the reason I am interested in this SCS Trial and learning more about the entire thing.

I literally live with cervical pain 24/7 which of course leads to daily headaches and weekly migraines. As stated in otter threads of mine, this has all obviously lead to increased Opiod tolerance and dependency which as of right now - the 10/325 Percocet is about the ONLY thing which helps to alleviate my pain, which is obviously just a temporary mask and is not a long term approach to helping with this entire matter! If I could go back and find the person who made, ordered, and laid that IED bomb in place in Iraq I would take pleasure in putting a round into his brain myself! It is absolutely unreal that I am living with the residual pain from that blast 11 years later! And as I have said many times before, some days when i sit here crying my eyes out from how brutal this is for me - I often wish I had died in that explosion and think of ending all this pain via Glock 23 more and more each time the migraines come to visit!

Therefore, my Doc mentioned the Cervical SCS procedure and stated it was a "last resort" type of thing which can only be done after all other means have been exhausted (Per the Insurance Co regulations). I have tried researching this SCS issue for hours online, watched every video imaginable, and still have not determined whether this is for me. I do like the "Trial Offer" but like everything else in the world - is this just a tease to get us to bite and go for the baited hook like a fish? How many did go for the "hook" and end up regretting it later?

Summary:
As stated in my initial statement here, I am truly seeking any thoughts, opinions, first or second hand experiences from having this SCS procedure done, and hate to say it folks - any horror stories involving this process if there are any? Feel free to send me those via PM if you wish, or ANYTHING you wish to keep confidential feel free to use PM as well ok?

My apologies on such a long frigging post and hope it didnt put you off from the onset? I pray all of you suffering from ANY TYPE of pain find a way to obtain your own relief and wish you all the very best my friends!
Semper Fidelis members!

Gunny

PS. Thought Id attach a pic of my TBI / PTSD Service Dog sitting on my lap in Pre-Op the day I had my Cervical Epidural. He didnt want to get off when it came my turn to enter the Operating Room. He knew something was terribly wrong and also knows how much pain i feel daily!

[EnglishDave]

Hi Gunny,

First, great photo - dogs are SO special. I know they are very important to you personally.

As to your Post, please put the thoughts of taking the Glock Highway out of your mind. I know your Depression and PTSD leads to those Dark thoughts, driven on by the tightening screw of the pains and headaches. We really DO have issues in common, caused, unfortunately on both parts, by wildly different events.

But you have now been given a glimmer of light in the form of the offer of an SCS trial. Believe me, I knew nothing about them 6 months ago, and now, thanks to the Members here, I am educated. I have read all the Posts, all the Threads, everyone coming and going and opinion here is very much Positive. Mark56 is a great proponent, I hope he sees your Post and chips in. He knows it all and shares freely - as do others.

However, there are some negatives. Ger715 is a great friend who has not had a good experience - SHOUT OUT, GERRY!

IMO, as you kindly asked, as you have been given the option of a Trial and the Pain Management Dr you think so much of thinks you are a viable candidate I say 'go for it!' and I wish you more success you can possibly imagine.

Dave.

[Mark56]

Gunny, our mutual friend Dave reached out to me and drew me onto your thread. I read your story...and tears welled up in my eyes. You have given, and given so very dearly. Thank you for having been in theatre. Our son has done multiple tours, as has a friend who nears the wrap up of his full career in SEALS. All of you who served have seen such a hard hard reality..... then YOU pay such a terrible price. Though it may seem little, I am dearly thankful for You.

My journey through pain began not via military sacrifice; instead, I was injured in a high speed car wreck on I-70 commuting one day for a ride to L.A. on an aircraft for my work. I never made it to L.A.

Pretty much all I had to say was documented in my threads you my see in the stickies at the top of our SCS forum. Two posts allowed in the stickies on the top of page 2 give thoughts on surviving surgery under the acronym BLAST and the following post which gives Links to the multiple threads chronicling my journey through surgeries and SCS implant.

Five years ago I received thoracic implant of Boston Scientific Precision Plus SCS. This, I credit as the single life saving event among my 38 visits to the OR to fix my spine. My thoughts had involved either Smith&Wesson or knife as the alternative to pain. Gladly though I got serious therapy to preserve precious life for my family. You have great strength to have avoided a Glock appointment.... and heck, to many other folks are counting on you Gunny. Keep yourself safe.... please.

I use my implanted stim 24/7. I am faithful to keep it charged. It is simple. For me, it works and works well. You know from reading other posts it is not for everyone. Truth be told, it is NOT perfect. It is a means to manage pain. It is not some Cure which will be likely to stop pain.

All of this being said, with it, I have been able to resume my career, and this the most important byproduct, for with me doped up on morphine, I could not work to help provide for my family. We had lost absolutely every dime we had saved. I am now contributing thankfully to our family pedaling back from the financial brink.

You will learn from my Boston Sci threads the experience of "trial use." This path is not lightly taken by onyone, patient or provider. I found Peace from PAIN for the first moments since suffering overwhelming pain those many years. This was my result, and not necessarily yours.....but that Trial is the means to see whether you might be helped by it.

I hope you might read the stuff I mentioned. It is quite a bit, but repeating it all here would be way overboard.

Your dog is a great friend to you! I know he'll help you through this no matter your choice. As for me, if you ask, I will try to respond.

All the best,
M56

[Littlepaw]

Dearest Gunny,

It is impossible for me to express as eloquently as M56 my gratitude for your service and heartbreak at what you are going through. You have had to go through so much and it is just tragic. I am so glad that you have the love and devotion of your wonderful dog to help carry you through.

I too, as so many here, understand the desire for the pain to end no matter what that looks like. I had frighteningly specific thoughts myself in spite of a deep faith, a loving and supportive husband and a teenager to raise. To contemplate ending it when you have much to live for is a statement about how much pain you are having, not your mental health. I do not believe it is a failure to have those thoughts, but that it is an alarm that things are truly dire and you must become even more aggressive about your care for yourself and for your pain.

Therapy was instrumental in getting me out of very dark place. I could not have done it on my own, no matter how stubborn and generally optimistic I am. it took an exceptional therapist and a lot of EMDR treatment to pull me up. I don't know if you have tried EMDR but it is used most often for trauma and frequently unitized for veteran patients. Though I have not suffered the horrors that you have endured, my injury, numerous operations and severe nerve injury were enough. The EMDR helped me move through the the trauma in a way the conscious brain could not process. My load is much, much lighter these days.

The other thing instrumental for me was a very involved nerve repair surgery of 3.5 hours. I know the place one must be in to contemplate undertaking risk to obtain pain relief. I do still have pain, but not nearly as bad. Although I cannot speak to SCS, I can say that when all else has failed we must sometimes make a real leap of faith to have a comfortable life and I support you no matter what decision you feel is best for you. By all means I would at least pursue the trial and see what it brings.

On a devils advocate note....I saw that you declined a cervical fusion. Obviously I don't know the specifics of your injury and I know the level is very important for outcome. But, I personally know 4 people who have required a fusion of the cervical spine due to pain and motor issues and all have had good outcomes and pain relief. Obviously risks must be carefully weighed and surgery is a very personal decision, but as I can attest to personally, sometimes it is necessary and worthwhile. If the SCS does not bring the relief you so desperately deserve, it may be worth talking with surgery about options. The options are very different than they were even five years ago.

Do please let us know how you are doing and when you are going to have your trial. I am keeping you in my prayers and sending healing love to surround your heart and battered spirit.

[Mark56]

You light does shine brightly!

Thank you for going into cervical fusion. Among my several levels of fusion, 3 are cervical. That did ultimately help radiating excruciating arm pain due to the cervical injuries.

EMDR - I am doing a lot of that even now, and I agree with your shared thoughts there, too.

May your journey lead to lessened pain for you,
Blessings,
M56

[Gunny Fitz]

Wow.
I have never experienced the level of help and kindness from a forum before and cannot thank you all enough for these awesome words of support my friends! I will start reading all the info you provided me avenues to soon and actually speak about it with my dr.

Today is Sunday and yet again I wake up in severe pain to take meds which have deplenished so low I now start to panic due to the withdrawal soon to follow. Sucks as many of you know! I do realize this SCS is not the Cure All for my issues but if it brings pain to a level I can tolerate it'd be great. Much more reading to do and as stated I have the Coolief RFA to do in 2 weeks. Will keep you all posted my friends and once again........THANK YOU!!!

[ger715]

As Dave has mentioned; their are the pros and cons regarding the SCS. I did have a failed trial for the SCS in my lumbar area. My Pain Management doctor wanted me to do another trial. I declined.

As Mark56 mentioned, he had many spinal surgeries prior to the SCS. In this area, because of the SCS, he has managed to have reclaimed much of his life.

A couple of years ago Mark did have cervical fusion surgery because of severe arm pain, etc., which appeared to have helped; but still experienced some pain. I asked him if he was considering an SCS for that area, he said he wasn't. Mark would be better able to fill you in as his need to have fusion surgery rather than an SCS.

As so many have expressed; I extend my gratitude for your service for our country.


Gerry

[PamelaJune]

Gunny, my nephew served with the British, got blown up twice and is in a bad way now with PCS, PTSD. We worry for him, now at only 25 retired out and will never be able to work again.

My hat is off to you and yours for all that you have endured and will continue to do so over time. As English Dave says, hang in there, Glock highway is not well served, coming out of the Navy in the 80's my fiancé took that journey. We all still remember it far too well.

I have a Nevro SCS I have had my ups and downs with it, but, in combination with nerve blocks and SCS I have managed to reduce my meds and return to the workplace after a 2 plus year hiatus. My injuries pale in comparison to what you have experienced, but I thank my pain mgt specialist every day for his perseverance and threading the damn lead in the first instance. Do ask and trial, nothing ventured nothing gained. Follow Mark56 BLaST and keep in contact with us all on here.

All brand units will achieve similar results if tolerated but operate differently, mine has no buzzing sensation as it operates on high frequency so other than a reduction in pain, I have no clue it is on. I like that!

[EnglishDave]

Hi PamelaJune,

Nice to hear you are still ploughing forward, workwise.

Dave.

[Gunny Fitz]

Since you are so kind and helpful to me I thought Id bring you up to date on me.

Had 12 trigger point injections done Monday afternoon which always seem to help with the pain for awhile. However, due to running out of my pain meds before the refill date, the Dr would not give me anything to take in the interim (Which is actually a horrible thing to do-though he's already done it 3 times for me before) I am suffering here pretty bad w withdrawals, but the neck and head pain has been good for the first in a LONG time!

Coolief Radio Frequency Ablation set in 2 weeks.

So I sit here debating which of these is worse for me (yes I know one is more or less temporary and the other is not) So thats where I am right now at this moment my friends. Catch up with you soon and let you know the outcome!