I joined here about two months ago by posting "New SCS recipient, want to stay active." Time to post an update with some answers. I have been mountain biking twice a week for 23 - 30 miles at a time. The first time I went out I hurt so much I seriously considered quitting biking. Perhaps I became too soft after two months of virtually no pain. I've since dialed up the SCS and I also take some pain medication before riding. I'm not pain free but it isn't too bad. However, I do feel pain for the next several days. So I will have to decide on an acceptable level of pain vs. not riding at all. I have also already fallen off the bike twice, so far with no adverse effects.

I just started back lifting weights last week. I do mostly seated machines and free weights with my back supported. Due to the positional shifts while lifting, e.g. in overhead movements and straightening my back, I have to turn the SCS so low I can barley feel it. Otherwise I get a pretty good jolt.

I'm still cautiously deciding how much I can do with this SCS.

SO GLAD to hear from you Wherewolf!

Your ambition amazes me! My eyes almost popped out of my head when I read that you've FALLEN a couple of times!!

There are a couple of SCS'ers here who are going thru some pretty bad times because of falling and it messed their SCS up pretty badly and now they are having to get revisions.
PLEASE consider taking life a bit more slowly for now!! Do you ride on level terrain or do you do trail biking (bumps, curves, slopes) ?

If your SCS is working good for you, you want it to STAY that way!
Once leads get pulled or migrate for whatever reason, there are some hard times ahead, not to mention a few regrets of how good you had it in the beginning. Just caring! I've seen too much I guess.

It breaks my heart that I can't take care of my horses the way they deserve, won't EVEN think about riding......maybe SOMEday......but my complete focus right now is to get as pain-free as possible and not have to take all those meds that messed with my mentality.

Just please be careful

Your testimony is an amazing one! People seeing this can realize the potential they can possibly get with getting an SCS......we want our lives back!! You are living proof that this can happen

Please keep us updated.
Love hearing from you
Rae

Did you have physical therapy a while after your SCS implant? My pain mgmt. dr. says he has his patients do it, and he ONLY allows them to work with a physical therapist who has been trained on working with patients with SCS units in them.

I'm wondering if one should go that route before venturing onto endeavors that are more physically demanding, not only to rebuild one's body back up but to have a sounding board for what activities one can do, at what time in recovery etc. It's great that you want to get back out there and grab life, but am concerned that you may overdo it and hurt your implant. Just a thought (and concern).

As far as Im aware I dont think I will be having physio. I have to admire you for trying though. I cant believe you are on a bike and lifting weights I can barely lift myself!! BUt as the others say do take it handy. Some people on here have had terrible trouble with their SCS after falling.
but well done for the effort you are putting in!

I hope you've had your SCS long enough for scar tissue to form around the leads, or else you might be looking at migration of them ~ and that means more surgery. Please be careful and don't get TOO ambitious. LOL I don't think you want to go back under the knife. LOL But you sure are energetic! I only had my SCS for 6 months - it had to be removed. But that thing wore me out! LOL I think it tired me out as much as the constant pain did.

Anyway, best of luck ~ you're one in a million! God bless. Hugs, Lee

Nice to see everybody so concerned. After eight weeks my doctor told me to resume mountain biking and he noted that the purpose of the SCS was to get me back to normal activities. I ride real mountain trails, e.g. above Lake Tahoe, but nothing like the Mountain Dew commercials. I've never done jumping and I certainly would not start now. But falling is part of mountain biking, and it will happen occasionally. I was told I'll have to decide what I can do, and what level of pain I will accept. But I bought a new bike as a reward for most of the past two years off the bike. Can't wait to take it out this Saturday, rain or shine. If interested you may follow my progress here.

My Medtroninc rep is a former Physical Therapist and he gave me some caveats with respect to weight lifting. I keep my back supported, I minimize bending over and twisting, and I've given up my dreams of Olympic glory

I suspect how you come out of SCS surgery has a lot to do with how you went in. I've been pretty active the past 20 years and I hope to continue.

Good Glory Be to God! I'm really happy for you Wherewolf! You are amazing!

You deserve to be an olympic champ!

If doc gave you the green light - then HECK! GITTER DONE my friend!
It's wonderful to see such a fantastic testimony as this!

Thank you for keeping us updated!
It's midnite where I live, but somehow your post makes me wanna get off my
lazy a$s and CLIFF DIVE or BUNJEE JUMP! .......

Rock on!