Yay!
 

Thank you Tara!
See how wonderful these folks are! :)

Well, regarding the surgery/recovery.....Tara said it well.
I have the percutaneous (under the skin) lead placement. Tara is speaking of the more involved type of lead placement where they remove a small piece of bone in the spine to secure the leads. This is the 'Laminectomy' and it is a more stable way to have the leads placed with a much lower chance of lead migration.
You've been thru serious back surgery, so you are no stranger to what is involved. The basic emphasis while recovering is to take it easy (the incisions of course will be sore for a week or so and ice packs will be a welcome relief).
No bending, lifting, twisting (BLT's).
Listen to your body.

This is all about regaining a quality of life and (hopefully) to not have to depend on so many medications. It is not a 'cure', but it sure has been an improvement to the life I had while imprisoned within my own home due to the pain and depression it brought.
Before I got the SCS, I felt as tho life were passing me by and I'd watch my twins come and go and I felt like a complete loser. High doses of pain meds did help in getting me thru the days and getting them to and from school and such, but nothing compares to actually being able to DO things WITH your kids. I do still take breakthru pain meds, but at least I have been able to get away from the high dose Fentanyl patches and my life doesn't revolve around the pharmacy the way it used to.
I'm still on the mend and in a learning curve with everyone else and that's why we've all become so important to each other. We share every piece of advice or issue we learn along the way and this forum is priceless.

I'm sure you've been reading thru the threads here which are full of the details we face (with some silly humor thrown in for good measure :rolleyes:)

Just continue doing alot of reading the posts people have shared and, like Tara emphasized - make SURE you have a GOOD Dr whom you trust and who is well-versed in these procedures.

You certainly won't be alone as you go thru the process.....
:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

Hi. I have myappt this thursday with my pain Dr. to discuss the SCS trial. If I am approved to do the trial is there a long process to starting it? I know it depends on their schedule etc but are there other things to consider? also how long did you have to wait between the trial and the surgery? are there things to consider there that I am unaware of?

Hi Twimmon....great to hear you have an appointment with your pain Dr.....

Initially when you speak with your Dr and discuss the procedure for the SCS the is a psych evaluation that has to be done. Have you done this already?
If so and when your insurer gives you the 'ok' it then depends on the Dr's schedule as you say yourself.
My evaluation was in November 2009 but my trial didnt take place til April 2010 due to the evaluation report being 'misfiled'.....an administration error on the psych's side. Once I had the trial and it was agreed I would have the permanent implant it wasnt until Aug 2010 before that was done. Again the delay due to my Dr wanting to wait a minimum of 6 weeks post trial before he would perform the permanent implant. But then he had his holidays so thats why it was longer. However, I know that I have read of some posters having their trial done and within a few weeks having the permanent implant done. My Rep(Ive an ANS SCS) did say that my particular Dr did take a long time in general (6 weeks min) before he would implant the permanent SCS. That some other Dr's would go ahead almost immediately. So I had it done Aug 5th which is just over 11 weeks ago now.
Once its in the recovery time is slow and well I found it quite sore. As you have had lots of back surgery, you will be familiar with the pain that goes with these operations. It isnt as severe but its still quite sore. So be prepared for that. I must say I wasnt as prepared because I didnt find the trial so bad I assumed that the permanent one was similiar:rolleyes: But it wasnt it was sore. It took me about 3/4 weeks to get past the tenderness of the incision sites, but I often get a twinge now and then at both sites. It also took some weeks for the inflammation to go down. As my Rep said to me, you come across as being 'brave' so make sure that you take it EASY :rolleyes:which I did, no bending , twisting, stretching, lifting etc.....its hard but worth it!
As Rae said there are lots of different threads which I also used to tell me exactly how I should be at different stages. Wonderful help too. I came on her at week 2 and have stayed since;)
So good luck on Thursday.....take care :hug:

Wishing you the best!
 

Your appt this week will be a VERY important one. Hopefully someone is going with you? (2 heads are better than 1 :rolleyes:)....and write stuff down!

Not sure if I pointed you to the 'stickie' thread at the top of this page.....it's FULL of very important and easy to comprehend information......check it out!
Here is the link to some basic FAQ's:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post689330-12.html

And here is a very impressive info site that Fiona found:
http://www.nationalpainfoundation.or...e-technologies

Best wishes!
Let us know how it goes!
Rae

You guys are so wonderful! I am both excited and anxious for my appt tomorrow. Yes, I have someone going with me, my husband has been @ every single appt since day one. he was there in the ER after my accident and was the one who broke the news of my injuries etc when I regained consciousness. I have a whole list of questions for the Dr and I am sure we will be there awhile. I am so eager to do the trial, I just want to know if it will help me! I think that once I know that there is in fact a light at the end of this tunnel I will be able to settle down and semi-patiently wait for the process to move forward. This is my first "real" winter since my accident as last winter I was still in a brace and on heavy amounts of pain meds so I was truly unaware of changes in my pain as the weather grew cold but this year I am on NO pain meds and TRULY, TRULY aware of my pain and how it is changing with the cold weather and it is only October! I have many weeks before the real winter cold sets in and many months til the warm weather comes back. I would so love to be able to be more active and right no I am so limited by pain in addition to my injury, neuro-deficits etc. My twins will be 3 in less than a month and I would love to be able to take them outside to play or take thm for a walk or push them on the swings. If everything goes smoothly (and timly) I could be in store for a completly different spring/summer next year. Fingers crossed!

Good luck
 

Hi Twinmom:hug:

The very best of luck to you for tomorrow. Its good that you have your husband going with you too. What WOULD we do without them!;) I too hope that one day you will be able to bring your beautiful twins out to play and lead a more fulfilled life. Keep us updated :)

Wish me luck! on my way to the BIG pain Dr. Appt!!!!!:)

Good Luck today Twinmom.....hope all goes well for you :hug:

Sorry for the delay in getting info up, I have limited internet conx as we live WAY out in the country and only have dial up available! and with tein 3yr olds running a muck it can get difficult finding time to get online.

I went to see my Dr. last Thursday and I really like him a lot, he listened to everything I had to say, answered all my questions and we put a plan together that I like and it looks like things are going to move pretty quickly. He ordered bloodwork and Xrays which I did that day. I am scheduled for my SCS psych eval on Friday as well as an MRI. followed by a series of diagnostic medial nerve branch blocks that will be done 24 hours apart the week of the 15th ( I had to skip the week of the 8th because I am going to be away for two days for my anniversary - first time we have done anything since my accident) and then I have a follow up with the Dr. on the 2nd to go over all my results and schedule the SCS trial which can be scheduled as early as 11/29! He also gave me 2 new meds; fluoxatine 20mg daily to help with my "bitchiness" and Trazadone 50mg @ night to help me sleep. I stopped all meds in March 2010 because of all the side effects and the feeling that I was always chasing the side effects of one med with another med and the cycle was never ending! so far I have been taking both new meds for 5 days and have not really noticed any changes though I know it is still a bit early to tell.

I have been waiting since March for an appointment to see this doctor and had to have 2 appoints with his PA before I was able to see him and I was worried that everything was going to take a long time to arrange and schedule especially with it being the start of the holiday season and I am so happy that things will move so quickly and am almost a little bummed that I have to skip the week of the 8th! though a little get away is truly needed!. Thank you all for your well wishes! I will keep you posted.

Best,

Nikki

Great news
 

Hi Twinmon :)

Thats great news. You have everything set which is fantastic. It looks like its all systems go. By this time next month you will be truly on your way. Yes you do need a break and I hope you both have a fantastic time........

Jackie :)