I have My SCS for Face Pain (T.N.)
I was awake durring part of both trial and then full implant.
I know for others who have SCS for T.N. are most always been during part of the surgery.
I have noticed Mark also mentioned this for his .I have read other stories here and most dont say either way.
A friend that just had her Trial surgery says she was not awake during the surgery.
So how many who have SCS were awake during the surgery for
trail and / or full implant??????

Thanks
PEACE
BMW

I was awake for my trial surgery the whole thing. During my permanant SCS I was under light sedation and then was woke to try it out and then back under light sedation for the closure of it. I do not remember any thing about the surgery accept for what I have been told. During battery revisions 2,3,and 4 I was all the way under with a breathing tube. For my battery removal I was all under too. I still have the leads and was told that if I want it out then I will be all under for that too.

Have had sedation for all of my placements and revisions. Remember parts of each one really well, remember nothing about other parts. Generally b/c I also have asthma, I am given a general with a tube to keep my airway open (ET tube) for my other surgeries.
HUGZ

Generally, the 'textbook' cases are awake with maybe some 'sedation'...but the cases that have more complex issues (like the ones above mentioned) use general anesthesia......
The 'Laminectomy' procedures require more indepth surgical measures.....
Mine was the simple percutaneous lead insertion and I was WIDE awake! Supposedly with some 'sedation', but i sure didn't feel sedated. Every muscle in my body was as rigid as a board because Dr told me to be VERY still. If i jerked or moved, I could end up with a CSF Leak and no one wants a spinal headache... !

The most crucial part of the procedure is when the leads are inserted and the Rep turns the unit on for the first time......you have to be awake and have your 'wits' about you in order to communicate WHERE you are feeling the stimulation. And once it is determined that the stimulation is being felt where it is intended to cover the pain, then they close you up and call it good. But I was under the impression that they would put me 'out' when they made the incision to implant the actual battery. In my case, not. They just kept shooting local anesthesia at the incision site every time I muttered....'ouch!'.

I spent countless hours on line learning about this procedure and thought I had a pretty good understanding.....but when I get to the hospital, they used a few 'surprise' tactics! Each facility has it's own protocol I guess.

When I went to the recovery area, I heard the nurse say they used 100mcg Fentanyl while they were charting my procedure.
So, between the heavy narcotic and the several injections of local anesthesia, I was wide awake and heard everything.......quite a show!

Rae

Having only been part of the way around the block so far, I was awake during the Trial. Awake. A bit of local anesthetic for the BIG needle inserts and the leads, then of necessity as stated by others, awake for the rep to inquire how the works were working. It was NOWHERE NOWAY as bad as either the discogram and the epiduragram I had for diagnostic purposes. UH UH, NO WAY near as bad as those.

It was OK.
Mark56

I was totally awake for the trial. I had the so called "sedation" as Rrae explained. I was told that many people fall asleep during it and are woke up when the Rep needs to ask questions about where you are feeling it so I was under the impression that it would be a breeze and realitively pain free (silly me because is anything really pain free in our lives! Hahahaha!). Boy was it an eye opener for me. I literally felt the needles going in and totally felt the leads moving down my back. I will be honest. It was very painful to me. However, not realizing that I could get more of the sedation (as I was never told "let me know if you feel any pain and we can up your pain meds"), I gritted my teeth and got thru it. So if you do go through with the trial, please do not hesitate and ask for more sedation if you feel pain. One of the main things I have learned in all of this is to be VOCAL. You are your best advocate. I take full responsibility for the added pain I went through. If I had said something, things might have been different but not knowing was my downfall. Educating yourself is the best thing you can do. You've obviously started by coming here and asking the questions first. I did not find this place until after the trial but before surgery......hindsights 20/20, I guess.

As far as the actual surgery, I was completely out. HURRAY!! I made sure I asked three or four times if I would be completely out as I did not want to go through the pain of the trial again. However, I would be prepared if I was to be awake!!! I did have the laminectomy and since I had the trial, the surgeon knew exactly where to insert.

Good luck!

I should have written that I was told I will BE TOTALLY OUT for the permanent implant. Maybe they made sure to tell me that since I JERKED as they were putting in the first of the large caliber needles [sorry, I tend to thnk in terms of hunting devices]. Truly, the JERK was an involuntary body response thing, even though they had put in local anesthetic. I was a good kid after that and clenched my teeth and body. The team said it all went like a charm after that.

Now I am looking forward to the meet with my surgeon next week for scheduling the permanent implant.

Sign me off as WAITING, Waiting...... waiting [But OH, the burning and spasms are back full bore since the Trial leads are gone].
Mark56

When you have the test that determines if you're a good candidate for a morphine pump (that's where my experience is), you'll be awake. You'll know on the spot if it works. After they finally got the morphine in my spinal fluid, the pain eased up so much I was bawling because it felt so good to be without pain. For 4 wonderful hours I was amazed and just bouncing off the walls in delight. Then it wore off - wow did I get sad fast.

The following week we installed the pump and there's been no turning back since. My first pump lasted 5 1/2 years before the battery died. I went almost 4 months without it since I was battling infections and about to have my amputation so it was 6 weeks after my radical pedicare that my second pump was installed. Once again, I was blown away with the difference.

Does a morphine pump resolve all your pain issues, NO. Does it help modulate and even the pain levels out, considerably. I'm still taking oral narcotics, but with the pump I've gotten back more of my life than I would have ever dreamed possible. Please go and have the test. You'll know right off the bat if this is something that will work for you. This isn't something where you need to sit back and wait for the doctors to tell you if they're going to allow it. It will either help on the spot, or it won't, plain and simple. The best of luck, Bob.

Thanks tons for all the info being shared here.
My freind that had the trail she was not awake and I found that to be very differnt from everthing i have known but I am not an expert or Professional not by any means.

My Friend had her trail done by a supposed very top doc out in CAL. and her process was much different then mine and other who have had SCS trail and then the final implant for T.N (FACE PAIN).
hers failed . She was not awake at all durring the trail implant or anything her trail with the leads in lasted 3 days. the whole things was just a bad nightmare as far as process and treatment of her.
And it is because of her I posted this question... of how many are awake durring the trail implant of SCS.
I do not paln to talk of her any further but was just very curious as to ..are most of us awake sometime durring the trial.. or not.
My other friend just had her trail implant on the 27th and felt it working right away.. she WAS awake during most of the trial implant. so ya all get where my question comes from.
Thanks for helping and for the talk and sharing.
I love this new sub forum
PEACE
BMW

Hi BMW- I do understand the perspective from which you originally posted your question, especially in the context of the information you shared. Here's hopes your second mentioned friend finds lasting benefit from not only the Trial but hopefully a permanent follow on, and that your other friend will somehow someway find a beneficial treatment.

Lastly, and equally important is my GRATITUDE that this subforum was allowed and has become such a vibrant, informative, caring group of folks. Thank you to all of you who have a finger in this!!

Hugs all around,
Mark56