[fionab]

After getting over the initial pain from the cervical trial implant, I've noticed it's helping quite a bit Has helped reduce my headache, my jaw tightness/pain, and my neck pain. We're still working on trying to get reduced pain in my shoulders, but hard to tell if part of the pain I still have is due to the fall through the deck steps that I took the day prior to the SCS trial. At this point, I have been able to go 36 hrs. without any pain meds. at all!!! Yeah. This is a big deal for me as I've been on Dilaudid 3 mg. suppositories and Phenergren Suppositories three times a day for weeks now. I talked to my PCP and he was shocked to hear that I haven't had to take my pain meds. I don't think he quite believed the whole concept of the SCS...I had taken the initiative myself to go see my pain management dr....all my PCP could offer me was to go on methadone, which I did NOT want to do. Anyhow, so far so good. Thanks for your kind thoughts/prayers

[Mark56]

Now that is wonderful news Fiona!! I am so happy for you!!

May your Trial lead to permanent work that gives you longlasting POSITIVE results!

Prayers for all the best,
Mark56

[Rrae]

....than hearing such great news! Especially after rising above your accident prior to this appointment! It was looking grim when you first shared about the mishap, but this is absolutely amazing and wonderful!
You've made my day!!

Rae

[fionab]

Have gone since Weds. night at midnight without any pain meds. The trial ends on Weds. and I am seriously thinking about playing hooky...sure don't want to give up this pain relief. I am so surprised at how my whole outlook has changed now that my pain is so much less. I'm laughing, enjoying things...almost feel like I'm on a high of some kind. Not looking forward to going back to the old pain while I'm waiting on the permanent surgery...I'll be back to the grouchy, irritable me. Will be counting the days!!

[Mark56]

Originally Posted by fionab

Have gone since Weds. night at midnight without any pain meds. The trial ends on Weds. and I am seriously thinking about playing hooky...sure don't want to give up this pain relief. I am so surprised at how my whole outlook has changed now that my pain is so much less. I'm laughing, enjoying things...almost feel like I'm on a high of some kind. Not looking forward to going back to the old pain while I'm waiting on the permanent surgery...I'll be back to the grouchy, irritable me. Will be counting the days!!

Hi Fiona- I just had to reach out to you to give you a quick HUG knowing, OH HOW I KNOW that relief you have felt. Not perfect, not a return to absolute pre-pain Fiona, BUT relief. Yeah..... when I was in the trial period people came up to me, knowing how it has been, saying "I can see it in your face.... in your eyes.... you are YOU again!!" Gosh, thinking of that right now makes me want to cry because it has been a while.

Yes, that end of Trial will come, BUT you can push your rep and doctor on the AFTER Trial expectations as you are in the appointment for the review. Tell them honestly how your Trial went. I produced the diary I had kept during that 7 day period. They believed me. ASK QUESTIONS regarding the PLAN, the EXPECTATIONS for their follow up care for you. Hopefully, you will get some concrete representations pertinent to the next step. The permanent implant if that is truly what is indicated.

I am Hootin Hollerin and, well, wantin to dance for you Fiona. What a glorious report!! Keep up the good work!!
Go for it!

You deserve freedom,
Mark56

[fionab]

I know what you mean. I'm almost crying here at the thought of having to go in and get it removed. It has been such a blessing to have this pain relief and remember what the "real" me is like. I feel like I've lost myself for a long time and I think I'm grieving over that loss.

It's been 20 years of pain for me, and to know that it is going to be reduced to where I can live my life again and ENJOY life, rather than dragging myself through life (and at times wondering if everyone would be better off without me), is somewhat hard to believe. I would appreciate your continued prayers as that has been the only thing that has gotten me through this these many years. Thanks again, Mark and Rae

[Rrae]

Was so glad to see an update on your post when I logged on this mornin....
I know it'll be hard on you to have to 'temporarily' give back the 'bionic miracle'.....I see what mark has been going thru while waiting for his permanent....
Just try to keep reminding yourself that you've been thru so much pain all these yrs that, in the grand scheme of things, your waiting time in between now and your permanent will be relatively 'small'.....(Mark, feel free to slap me for saying that )
But really, find the best way you know how to bide the time and 'know' that you will eventually get this back! I hope your Dr keeps you with ample supply of pain meds in between.....
Feed into the 'silliness' here as we wait......It does kinda help
.......Mark even has a film undergoing production as he waits .......but I bet he won't go for my insisting on having Johnny Depp be the A-List lead actor!
I'll have to go check see what he says....

As Always
Rae

[Mark56]

Originally Posted by Rrae

Was so glad to see an update on your post when I logged on this mornin....
I know it'll be hard on you to have to 'temporarily' give back the 'bionic miracle'.....I see what mark has been going thru while waiting for his permanent....
Just try to keep reminding yourself that you've been thru so much pain all these yrs that, in the grand scheme of things, your waiting time in between now and your permanent will be relatively 'small'.....(Mark, feel free to slap me for saying that )
But really, find the best way you know how to bide the time and 'know' that you will eventually get this back! I hope your Dr keeps you with ample supply of pain meds in between.....
Feed into the 'silliness' here as we wait......It does kinda help
.......Mark even has a film undergoing production as he waits .......but I bet he won't go for my insisting on having Johnny Depp be the A-List lead actor!
I'll have to go check see what he says....

As Always
Rae

Too funny Rae- There is no Film, that was only a "I'll bet it would be more likely I could be elected President [now there's a megalomaniacal thought], or become a film star [equally megalomaniacal and less likely]" in the next week statement than the apparent likelihood the date would be set. No movies for me. Now as for that slap...... hmmm....... nah, I'm not into that. How about a ? Besides, slapping is actionable, it's called battery.... you would probably hop on one of your horses and chase me down. Now having Depp play someone who has gone over the edge due to pain, well.... it sounds like a reprise of a Mad Hatter moment for him.

In all seriousness Fiona, do gird yourself and be ready for a wait. Once they remove the leads, it will be over for now, but this will pass. Maybe you will even get your permanent implant before me. Wanna race?

Hugs and prayers coming your way as you wait a while,
Soon, maybe we will all be
Mark56

[fionab]

Not very happy about that. Sat out on the deck last night, just enjoying the feeling of being in less pain. Watched the thunderstorm roll in and stayed there until chased inside. For some reason I thought you already had your permanent implant, Mark. How long have you been waiting? Cervical or lumbar or somewhere else? It comes out at around 1 p.m. today so I'm praying that it won't be such a rebound in pain that it was after the lumbar trial was over....but, as you suggested, I'm bracing myself for it and not planning a whole lot for tomorrow. Will keep you posted.

Thanks, you guys, for your support and encouragement. It sure has helped!!

[Mark56]

Originally Posted by fionab

Not very happy about that. Sat out on the deck last night, just enjoying the feeling of being in less pain. Watched the thunderstorm roll in and stayed there until chased inside. For some reason I thought you already had your permanent implant, Mark. How long have you been waiting? Cervical or lumbar or somewhere else? It comes out at around 1 p.m. today so I'm praying that it won't be such a rebound in pain that it was after the lumbar trial was over....but, as you suggested, I'm bracing myself for it and not planning a whole lot for tomorrow. Will keep you posted.

Thanks, you guys, for your support and encouragement. It sure has helped!!

Hi Fiona- I am glad you took moments as you did watching the thunderstorm just to enjoy the stim pain management. I did simple things like that just noticing, "hey, this is wondrous!"

Nope, awaiting the permanent install on 29 June, a date set yesterday. We celebrated with hoots and hollers. It will be a lumbar install to address the peripheral neuropathy in my legs. I know, it probably will not restore feeling to the areas plagued by numbness, but that incessant burning and spasm routine was handled nicely by the Trial. I am so looking forward to my little remote control again. Yep.

You caught it right that the old will come back once the leads are gone, and I hope you may have some peace knowing the permanent will probably not be far behind. Once mine is in, it will have been 40 days [yes I counted] from cessation of relief to its ultimate restoration. Sure, there will be surgical pain afterwards for a while, but I have much experience in that regard.

Praying for you today,
Mark56