[tinkster]

Hello! I would like to say its nice to meet everyone! I have spent a little time reading some of the posts and thought it was high time I made a post myself.

I had a successful trial spinal cord stimulator in November of this year and I am suppose to have the perm one placed on Friday the 10th. I was really nervous for the trial, had no idea what to expect whatsoever, even though they diligently tried explaining it to me. All that kept resonating in my head was "we will wake you up in the middle of the procedure and ask you questions" hmmm can I just opt out of that part!

One thing thats amazing to me is the lengths chronic pain suffers will go to get some relief. I, like many, have been through quite a few of them, from a fusion surgery (failed) to many epidural injections, oral medications, physical therapy, creams, heating pads, meditation, patches, etc.

I have already been told by my doctor to expect a fair amount of post op pain, but at least that will go away and hopefully the SCS will relieve 50 to 60 % of my pain like it did in trial.

What I do find frustrating is dealing with what I call all the red tape leading up to the surgery. I am truly blessed with wonderful insurance, I did not need prior authorization for either surgery, now convincing my doctors office and the people at St. Jude (the ones providing the stimulator)

, is quite another story. I have not really experienced anything quite like it. At any rate they finally sent the un necessary paperwork over to the insurance company and I should have a time to report for surgery next week.

I will say that my rep from St. Jude has been truly wonderful. He has kept in touch, called daily from the trial, was in the OR with me and has really been a true patient ambassador. The implant I will be receiving has a battery life of ten years, I charge it once a week for 30 minutes. Is that pretty comparable to what is out there from other companies?

One final question, I was thinking of ordering a medical alert bracelet, saying I have this implanted and NO MRI, does anyone else wear one?

Thank you for reading my introduction and nice to meet everyone.

L.

[Rrae]

How Wonderful to have you!
You'll find so many caring wonderful people here!

I'm glad your trial implant proved positive for you! Yes, the 'red tape' is crazy and it seems it just drags on and on.......
This is such a high dollar procedure, so I reckon this is the main reason for much of the red tape.....

Regarding your question about an ID bracelet - yes! It would be a VERY good idea to get one! As a matter of fact, we were recently discussing this issue...... here is the thread with the details of this discussion...just click here

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread131635.html

Please keep us updated on your progress!
It will be great getting to know you!

Rae

[Mark56]

Sarah actually brought this up quite a while ago as a good move, and.... well..... among everything else, I spaced it. You WILL be issued cards to carry in your wallet identifying you as an implant recipient with all of the due warnings and such. But the bracelet makes more sense since it is right there in the open.

Yep,
Mark56

Hi Tinkster

So good to hear from you. I am so glad that you decided to come here and chat to us about your SCS

SO glad to hear that your trial was a success and that your permanent isnt too far off either...Good luck with that.

You mentioned that you are getting your stim from St Jude. I dont know where you are based, but Im in Ireland and I too have a stim from St Jude Medical in the UK. My stim is an ANS SCS........ I got a card which states I have an implant and that I cant have MRI's But I too got a medical bracelet.

Here is the link of the supplier of my one

http://www.universalmedicalid.co.uk/

Im sure there are lots more too , but I found that having the bracelet was a better option so that in the event of an emergency the bracelet was obvious and explained my medical condition.

I found the Rep that was used an absolute treasure. She was in the operating theatre with me and afterwards also. Unfortunately as they are based in the UK I only get to see them maybe once every 6/8 weeks if and when they are coming over to Ireland to do an implant. But Ive been reprogrammed a few times now and I do find it a wonderful help with the burning and stabbing pains I endure in my legs. So Im hoping that you too will have some great relief with your pain......you certainly have come to the right place. THe people on here are so welcoming and will give you the best of advice. So I hope you continue to keep us updated with how you are getting on and especially when you have your permanent implant.

Take care

Jackie

[tinkster]

[QUOTE=Jackiey;722726]Hi Tinkster

So good to hear from you. I am so glad that you decided to come here and chat to us about your SCS

Thank you all for a warm and heartful greeting, it was very much appreciated. This seems like a wonderful group.

I hope I get my surgery/arrival time on monday or Tuesday but don't really expect to hear anything until at least Wednesday. I still don't understand why the company and doctor would not verify benefits and realize I did not need an authorization. In fact I was told I absolutely positively had to have a psychologist evaluation for this, to quote the office gal "its one of the single most important pieces of paper we will need to proceed", come to find out my insurance did not require that at all! Not that the psychologist was not enlightening and the staff and office cheery and friendly, I just had better things to do with an hour of my time and a $30.00 co pay lol.

Jackiey: you said you have a stim from St. Jude as well. Mine will have batteries that last ten years and I charge them once a week for 30 mins, is that how yours works too? I could not agree with you more about the reps, mine is and has been a real saint. I had no clue they went right into the OR with you. He was with me in the room when I woke up from the medication and he stayed and explained the device all over again (he had explained it prior to going into the or) and then he explained it all to my husband.

I can't believe in just five days I will have the perm one. My doctor says everyone is different but the perm procedure is painful and expect to have a good deal of post op pain. I asked himi if my regular pain meds would cover the pain and he said no, he would write me for something stronger for the first few days. Just how painful do you remember your perm scs surgery being and for how long? Thanks..

L.

[Mark56]

Comparable to a post fusion surgery for about a week after then things started to calm. I took all pre-existing pain meds, the neurontin 3000mg and the Morphine, and seems like it was percocet or vicodin on top of it as a meringue, you know. Really to make me groggy, and I was for sure, oh and there was sleep med to make certain I would sleep.

You are going to hurt quite a bit for at least a week post op and then bit by bit improve. I could send you my washcloth for the gritting if you would like. Just kidding, get one from the post op nurses, they will write it off as a loss or something you took home.

Praying,
Mark56

Tinkster my rep told me that my battery should last up to 15 years if its used properly. He told me to let the battery go down 1/3 of the way before I charge it up fully. So depending on how high/low I have the settings, Im actually recharging my battery about every two days, or three if I dont remember

I found the fusions to be WAYYYYYYY more painful than the permanent implant. Yes its painful and for the first few days in particular. I was also given antibiotics to make sure that I didnt get an infection from this 'foreign' body in my body other than that I took my regular pain meds and Im still using some of them. Havent been able to get rid just yet!!..but yes the pain will subside as the days/weeks go on. I did find the incision sites particular tender, especially the one with the battery. but everyone has a different pain threshold. I do think I have a high threshold and didnt find this operation as painful as the Spinal fusion ones, now THEY WERE painful. But as you have had fusions you will know exactly how painful they were , have to say I was a bit surprised how mobile I was after the first day!
Just make sure you listen to your body and take it easy and do exactly as your told. The few weeks will pass before you know it you will up and out and getting back to some form of normal life again........

Jackie

[tinkster]

Originally Posted by Jackiey

Tinkster my rep told me that my battery should last up to 15 years if its used properly. He told me to let the battery go down 1/3 of the way before I charge it up fully. So depending on how high/low I have the settings, Im actually recharging my battery about every two days, or three if I dont remember

I found the fusions to be WAYYYYYYY more painful than the permanent implant. Yes its painful and for the first few days in particular. I was also given antibiotics to make sure that I didnt get an infection from this 'foreign' body in my body other than that I took my regular pain meds and Im still using some of them. Havent been able to get rid just yet!!..but yes the pain will subside as the days/weeks go on. I did find the incision sites particular tender, especially the one with the battery. but everyone has a different pain threshold. I do think I have a high threshold and didnt find this operation as painful as the Spinal fusion ones, now THEY WERE painful. But as you have had fusions you will know exactly how painful they were , have to say I was a bit surprised how mobile I was after the first day!
Just make sure you listen to your body and take it easy and do exactly as your told. The few weeks will pass before you know it you will up and out and getting back to some form of normal life again........

Jackie

I know what you mean about the pain with the spinal fusion, omg. It really hurt. I had mine early in the am and they got me up the next day. But first they took me down for xrays, I will never forget this. Some dumb nurse ( i know thats not kind...but) came in the room and instead of taking the time to unhook my pain pump so they could take it with me she just unplugged it and off I went without it. I was down in xray about an hour and half and in a WHOLE LOT of pain. I was really really mad at that woman at this point. The xray thing was painful anyhow. I get down there and they tell me they are going to strap me on the table (they were not kidding) and the table would stand me straight up, not to worry I would not fall, and they would get the xrays. Lets just say I was not whistling dixie.
Well they go to stand me up the first time, all strapped down, and the my cath leaks, all over. So I am now wet, cold, in pain, strapped down, and really upset! Can you imagine. They have to page a nurse to come down fix everything and then stand me up again on this table to do the xrays. Unfortunately the nurse did not bring my pain pump with her!
What gets me is if these people had to go through this, they would not do some of the stuff they do. Now I had some nice nurses, don't get me wrong, but I surely wanted to stick an iv pole up that nurses ****** you get the picture. lol

The first time the therapist came in that day to get me out of bed, WOW.
It was really bad, I mean it hurt to just roll over. But once out of bed and moving about a bit, it did get easier, bit by bit slowly. I had alot of trouble with my right leg because of nerve damage but as far as the back healing, slowly and surely.

So, anyhow, I have my back brace, I have all my christmas shopping done, I am set, just waiting for insurance company to send word to the doctors office and St. Jude that I did not need authorization anyhow and then waiting on a time for Friday.