[hannah1234]

I have had a SCS implanted. Let me start off by saying that my rsd originated after surgery and a break in my right wrist in December of 2008. I went through a series of nerve blocks and lyrica and pain medicine, and I then decided with my doctor to try the SCS. As soon as I had it implanted, I immediately knew that it was helping my pain. I had my permanent stim implanted in June of 2009 in my cervical spine.

Before I had surgery, my doctor had me put on a bikini bottom of my bathing suit and he marked the incision where the battery would be, so I would be able to wear a bathing suit and not have a 4 inch incision popping out on my butt. He also had me talk to a few of his patients that have sucessful scs and then a few that did not so I knew what to expect both ways. This helped out so much knowing that I talked to some of his OWN patients.

So December of 2009 comes, and my SCS was working wonderfully, when boiling water got spilled on my right arm. My rsd then spread up my arm and across my back and in my shoulder. He did a series of ketamine to stop the spread. Now that my rsd is in my back and ( i think my hip and thigh as well, not diagnosed yet, but we know when we have pain in other places that is rsd pain...) The SCS does not work, it aggravates my back. It is just sitting in me as of now, turned off. About once a month I make sure that it is charged so the battery doesnt die.

My incion site on my hip has not really bothered me until about a week ago, but i think my RSD is spreading there, I have banged my leg on the corner of my bed as I walk by a few times and I think that did the trick. .

I was very happy with the SCS for when my scs was only in my right arm.

Also, when the Medtronics reps came in they were wonderful. One of the girls I used to work with at my old job, so I dont know if thats why they took good care of me but they were wonderful in explaining and not rushing me. When i came in to get reprogrammed, the man spent an hour and a half with me trying a million different settings, and then gave me 30 settings to go home and try, and then I tried all of them as I layed watching tv (kinda nice, gave me something to do) and then i went in and they paired the settings up that helped me the most. The reps were awesome, I have nothing bad to say about the ones in the LA area

We always have the risk of spread, and have the limits that we have to follow when we have this which could be a good thing because I dont think we should be doing that stuff anyways having rsd. When we are at that point of pain, we will do anything. My doctor would not opt or even discuss a pain pump because of my age, and I havent had children yet.

I wish that my SCS relieved my pain, it would help out alot more now, but when it did work I was happy with it. Any questions feel free to pm me.