Hi Saffy!
I saw your post in the "Member Introductions" and wanted to thank you for sharing your story! Although I am so very sorry the reason that brings you here, I am SO glad you've found us!
Getting an SCS is a pretty big deal and much uncertainty involved. But having others to talk to makes such a big difference.
You will find so much wonderful support and care here and it will be great getting to know you! We are like one big family and always looking out for one another.

The internet is such a wonderful thing when it brings folks like us together.
I come from a small community in the middle of the USA and I had absolutely NO one to talk to about getting the SCS and felt so alone in my battle.
This forum has been a saving Grace to me and I am so very appreciative of everyone who shares and contributes.

I see you are finding your way around ok and have met a few of the wonderful folks who make this forum what it is.....

I just wanted to send you a welcome thread so you'll be easier to 'find' here amongst all the other posts. You'll get wonderful feedback!
Ask questions or concerns you have and we'll no doubt learn new things from YOU as well!

It's great having you here !
Rae

What a wonderful welcome .. thank you so much !

Am sure you'll all soon get fed up of my questions ... heheh !

Wow .. what a lovely lovely welcome. It's just starting to sink in that I really am being put forward for a trial. When I first when to see the Pain Specialist in April he didn't think I was an idea candidate as the sciatic pain doesn't always go all the way down to my toes (mostly it goes into the buttock, thigh and knee) .. He referred me for a second opinion and with one thing and another, I didn't get to see the neuro surgeon till September. I really didn't think he would say yes .. when he did, I could have hugged him.

So .. it's the Nurse Specialist on the 8th November .. What sort of thing should I be asking her?

Saffy! This is a really good forum and everyone has a lot of information from their experiences! I have had my stim since 2008 and am about to have surgery number 3 to get different leads put in (the same thing Sarah is having). I am so sorry about your pain and I hope that the stim helps you with it. Feel free to ask as many questions as you want because everyone is very helpful and supportive! I ended up having to get my stim because I was injured in a car accident. It really helped me alot and I was able to walk and exercise and have my normal life back again. It helped me with my back and leg pain and I was off my pain meds after I had the permanent stim put in. Of course, it is not an overnight process and did take awhile to have things heal but everyday I just got better and better. I was also scared going through it the first time because I did not know anyone that had it done before and at time I did not have a very good doctor. The stim has been a huge blessing for me and when it works right I dont have to use my walker or the wheel chair. I am not around as much right now because I am also trying to keep up with my college classes and my surgery is going to be scheduled after they check my heart on the ct scan tomorrow. I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to the group. Like I said, feel free to ask us questions, and you can also ask me questions too on forum or messaging. Take care and I hope that what I shared will help a little bit too 'sTara

Regarding things to ask at your appointment....

Not sure if anyone mentioned the valuable information that is at the top of the page in the little 'stickie' section.....
Scroll through the posts up there and you'll run across one with the most frequently asked questions, and there's a website you can click on that really explains alot about the SCS.

Hopefully the SCS will cover the sciatica pain that haunts your leg....they have high success rates for nerve pain/radiculopathy in legs and feet....
As far as the back pain....that'll probably be a 50/50......I know that they will be able to set a program for you that covers the lower back area, but whether or not it helps with the failed back syndrome, not sure.

One important thing you may want to get clarity on is which type of lead placement your Dr is wanting to do. The percutaneous leads are placed under the skin and are anchored into the 'dura' (meaty area).....this is a much simpler procedure, however the risk of lead migration or pulling the leads out of place runs higher than if they do the more involved type of lead placement, which is called the laminectomy. This type of surgery has to be done by a neurosurgeon (here in USA, not sure about UK) and it requires removing a small segment of bone from your spine to place the leads through.
Don't let that freak you out tho. MANY here have had it done that way and it pays off in the long run because there is a much lower risk of your leads moving, especially since you are still young (you and I are almost the same age and we ARE young! ), so if you plan on being somewhat active, this is a good way to go.
I myself have the percutaneous lead placement and am doing ok with it. I'm getting a good 75% coverage in the legs (burning neuropathy).....but I am having some lower back issues and recently had xrays to see if we can tell what's going on. Haven't heard back yet.

So, try to find out which type of procedure they are wanting to do....
Percutaneous or Laminectomy.

Hopefully you'll be able to cut down that list of meds you are on, since many of them aren't helping you.

Again, check out the 'stickies' at top of page.......lots of good stuff up there.
And there is a good thread regarding the Psyche evaluation somewhere down the line .......just scroll through all the posts and you'll run across it. Lots of folks put in their 2 cents and it really isn't anything to 'worry' about. It's mainly for the sake of your insurance company. This is a very high dollar procedure and they want to make sure you don't have unrealistic expectations of what the SCS can do for you.
Some people become very intimidated by having to get the evaluation, but it has nothing to do with seeing if you are 'crazy' .....

Hope this helps.
I'm excited for you.
Rae

Here's a link I found that mentions the SCS for failed back syndrome (amongst other conditions).......it was encouraging to read.

http://www.apmsurgery.com/Procedures/SCS.html

Wow great link Rae thanks. That's so helpful for anyone thinking about the SCS. That's the one I have. The ANS. Interesting to read how its good for Failed Back Syndrome but yet it doesn't help backs as much as arms or legs. But certainly worth a read

I saw on Jackie's thread that you are very nervous about the upcoming psyche eval......DON'T be! It's really nothing to get nervous about. I mean, yes, it seems a bit intimidating, but just relax! Be yourself!
Just basically be calm, look him/her in the eye and let them know that your quality of life is very poor and you are looking for improvement in your quality of life and hopefully to not have to take as many meds......
Make sure they are aware that you know the SCS is NOT a 'cure'....and that your expectations are not as such......you just want to be in less pain so you can care for your family and participate in life!

The red flags they are looking for are things like......if you've had suicidal tendencies, or are expecting the SCS to do miraculous things for you.
They will probably ask alot of Q's about your home life.
Just relax.....I promise, it's nothing to worry about.

Rae

All will be well.
I just know.
z
Mark56

Oh thank you all so much for the support.

I'll as the Nurse at my visit what leads they will be using .. though it was a neuro surgeon I saw last who said he was willing to operate so wonder if this is a clue.