I'm not sure how the cervical sensation is, but the way I describe the feeling in my legs is a soothing 'tingling'......kinda like the feeling you get when your foot or arm falls asleep and that tingling feeling you get when it 'wakes up'.....something like that, only not as 'annoying' and intense
I absolutely love it.

Fiona - GREAT info! I'm so glad you threw that nugget of wisdom in there because yes, it certainly is a 'letdown' when they take that soothing away.
Indeed make sure you have your pain meds filled up, so you can fall back on them after the procedure. Then....it's a matter of waiting for 'the DAY' to get the REAL deal!

BTW, I did not feel a THING when they pulled the leads out after the trial. In case you are nervous about that. There's nothing to that.
But what Fiona is referring to is something to really pay heed to. There will be that 'down time' that you're gonna have to deal with.
I remember Mark going thru a pretty bad time of it while waiting for his permanent implant.

I felt nothing either when the lead was pulled out after my trial. I was expecting it to be SORE but it wasnt. I too had some pain flares worse after the trial than before, but had my meds on hand too......

We will all be thinking of you too

I don't really have any pain meds. I take Lyrica (300 mg a day) Cymbalta (60mg) and Mobic. They seem to keep the pain manageable but yes, I do have times where I just want to curl up in a ball in a dark closet. I don't like the idea of heavy pain pills though because I have to be there for the kids, hubby (& my dogs). The meds I take are bad enough. I've always had a high pain tolerance but I think what gets me is the constant. I know my family doesn't quite understand how bad the pain is, they think my arm just hurts. Well, yes it hurts, it burns, it feels like the skin and muscles are being ripped off, giving birth was easier than this.

Enough venting, this has been a wonderful group. I've really been able to get through all the issues RSD has dealt me by turning to these boards. My stress levels have been high the past months and I guess that's what is making my pain so bad. Last May, I lost my home, 6 dogs (show dogs ) and everything but the shirts on our backs to a fire. It has been a VERY hard road but people have been amazing. I am so grateful for that! I have 2 pups now (7 mo & 11 mo) that are related to the ones I lost, and a 3rd pup (also 7 mo.) that is my husbands dog but really a "momma's boy"! They have been VERY easy pups and awesome "therapy" dogs to us.

I really hope this scs works. I want to get back to training my dogs, showing them & running in agility trials again. They keep me sane!

Another question I have is since I won't be able to shower and wash my hair, is there any kind of dry shampoo that you guys used or how did you get through that?
Patty

So sorry to hear about the fire and losing your dogs. I just love my dogs and it had to be heartbreaking to lose yours. You've been through so much, I pray that this implant will give you the relief you need

As far as the hair, I taped a garbage bag over the leads and over my upper back, and then I put a towel around my shoulders and neck area and had my husband wash my hair using the long extension shower head as I bent way over the tub. I put towels on the floor to catch any splashed water, too. Was a big hassle, but after 3-4 days of dirty hair I couldn't take it any more. If possible, you could maybe wash your hair over the kitchen sink if you take all the precautions to make sure your incision site doesn't get wet.

I am so sorry to understand so much was lost through fire, and yet a great blessing endured..... in the lives of you and your family. I went back and re-read your whole thread, and had failed to realize you have twins. This is a twin packed thread! Rae, you, and Cleo and I have twins [we had them twice], and one thing I definitely know is rebuilding is a test and a task hard from which to rebound, and you all are engaged in it as a family, if as ours, pulling together, binding more closely, and if faith is part of the equation KNOWING God is helping along the way. We have been astounded at the relief and release of our community of faith pulling alongside us and it has been wondrous.

Now to your hair...... well, since I am a guy, I might just suggest you pretend to be on a week long camping trip, put it in a scrunchy or pony and tough it out so there is no risk of bending and moving a lead..... but, then that does not sound too compassionate. Maybe your husband will help you over the kitchen sink so you can carefully lower your head over with Fiona's left over plastic bags surrounding you and let him minister to you in love by washing your hair carefully as you manage to remain still and protective of your wiring harness. I have been there, and done that after my wife had surgery. It gives the guy a feeling of love and helpfulness that just tightens the natural bond.

On the removal of the leads at end of Trial, for me it was a tugging sensation after hearing the snip of the sutures that held them in place and they were gone. The pain was immediately roaring as it always had pre-trial and I was actually glad for the morphine I was prescribed [though thrilled now to have fully withdrawn from all pain management meds due to my stim].

Regarding how it feels..... well, I have used TENS, and its prickly pear stinging sensation..... the a topically applied Neuro Stimulator, which was much beefy-er than a TENS [the tech said it was a TENS on steroids] and it did help provide a deeper more stimulating and controlling wave relief. But there was NOTHING to compare to the wondrous blessing of having the SCS stim in place whether during Trial or Permanent. As for me, I feel kind of a shivering feeling from within, not tingling, and since I am a lumbar patient, it emanates from my low spine all of the way into my legs [even some in my lower legs, which due to permanent nerve injury feel nothing otherwise]. I PRAISE GOD THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS INSPIRED IN HUMANKIND because it has SO helped me and is allowing my quest to re-enter the full time practice of law. Gratitude, I just feel a LOT of gratitued for all of the medical heroes who helped me along the way [goes for you too Pooh].

You may want to ask for something to assist with pain management between Trial and Permanent if it is going to be a go for you, maybe the doc will have an idea on some med which will help you maintain alertness and yet dull the pain.

I am pulling for you, my friend, and prayer is a part of my gig, so you are in there, too,:smileypra y:
Mark56z

Patty you have been through much in the past year, Im really sorry to hear about your home and your dogs. I know how dogs can become part of the family. We have 3 White Westhighland Terriers and I would be lost without them. They have been my lifesaver of the past 6 years. We lost one of our dogs in 2009, it was traumatic to say the least, so to lose 6 must have been just dreadful for you all. I hope everything works out for you and your family too. This SCS will be a godsend for you if it works Patty, so Im praying for you that it does.

When I had my trial I only had it in for 2 days....but when I had the implant and obviously you cant shower for something like 3 weeks, well for washing my hair I bent over the bath as much as I could and like Fiona I too covered my incisions (they are in the lumbar region) and my husband washed it with the long shower connection. Whichever you find comfortable Patty its really up to you. Im not too up on dry shampoo's sorry.......


Jackie

Patty, I am on my3 rd unit and this is the best fix I have found for my hair. I sit on a stool IN the tub and "hunny" wraps a shower curtian around me. He then uses the hand leld shower to wash my hair. Now him combing brushing it was the trick
z

The loss you've suffered.....leaves me speechless. I am so very sorry about what the fire has taken from you.
That is just way too sad about losing those dogs....

As you can see, there is no lack in the support you'll get here.
Like I've said before, each person here is like a beautiful unique GEM!

.....the dry shampoo......I know it exists, as I've heard of it.
Not sure how to get ahold of any, other than do a google search and go from there.....

You and your precious family are in my prayers
Caring deeply!
Rae

Hey there Patty!

First let me say that I had a Cervical trial but since my procedure didn't work out like a regular procedure would my trial sensation is different then the regular. Because my doctor could not get the lead past a certain point(I have Kissing Spine and the area she needed to get to was to tight even for the smallest lead) she had to go under my skin and directly place the lead where my pain was. Because she did this my sensation was that like a TENS unit. I had 5 different programs and each one was different so if my body got annoyed with a setting I would just change it and I would be perfectly fine It felt really good to me. Also, since mine was a peripheral scs implant I didn't get the "tingle" that the others discribe but I know what that tingle feels like because while they were trying to find the right area for me I got to feel that tingle from my lower back to my feet and it was a wonderful sensation and it is COMPLETELY different in sensation. Not a bad different but just different. I got awesome results though and got 95% to 100% pain relief. Of course everyone is different but I want you to know that even though I had to take a different route I still had a great outcome and I know you will too!!!! Just have faith!!!!

Also, just wanted to let you know that when I was doing my 7 day trial I used Batiste in "Blush" for dry shampoo and you can get it a Sally's beauty supplies here in the US or online. I only used it for 2 days and then I HAD to wash my hair and my hubby did it for me. But I have black hair and as long as you use it as directed and brush it through you won't see any white in your hair. I still use it for when I need a quick fix and don't really have time to "style" my hair. It gives great volume too!!!

I wish you the best of luck!!!

's
Treca

Oh, and one more thing. Like others have said I did not have pain either when my lead was taken out. No sensation at all. It did feel really good to me though when they took all that tape off though!!! LOL...My whole back was covered in really wide and long tape. It almost covered my whole back...I was ready for it to go so it felt really good coming off. It felt like a nice long scratch on the back like when someone scratches your back for ya!