[janj77]

I have been reading posts for about a hour or two, & have found alot of excellent information on the SCS.

Some background info . I have had back pain (undetermined) for 3 yrs now . Gone thru 6 Radio Frequency procedures ,& at least a dozen epidural shots. I am on 150 mg of Lyrica and Norco.


My pain dr mentioned the SCS to me 2 weeks ago. I then took the psych test last Wednesday & recieved the results today. Which were happily normal.

I am scheduled for the trial on March 23. No information was given to me at all about this except " you will do a trial for 3-7 days".

When they do the trial , Is it an outpatient procedure or a overnighter? Are you awake? I have alot of questions that the dr doesnt have time for unfortunetly, but the information i have found in this forum is a Godsend!
Thank you.


Jan

[Rrae]

So glad you've found our wonderful little forum, but of course I'm so sorry that it's pain that brings you here.....

Glad to know you've been reading thru our posts....you'll learn much just by doing this. The good thing about this is it is 'REAL PEOPLE' talk.....not the commercialized mumbo jumbo the manufacturer websites offer.

My pet peeve is with the doctors who are so willing (and even PUSHY) about doing these SCS's, yet they won't take the time to sit and answer questions and inform the patients better. This is in your case (as was in mine)....

These are VERY VERY high dollar procedures and these doctors need to explain these units thoroughly.
My question to you is: What is your relationship like with this doctor?
Reason I'm asking is because if he didn't give you hardly any information on this, it could raise a 'red flag'.....Will he 'be here' for you AFTER the implant has been installed?

I'm just seeing that these units are really being 'pushed'......and the 'follow thru' care is very substandard in my opinion, from my own experience and from what I've seen in many others.
Just make sure your doctor explains things to you and pin him down for answers as far as - will he be here for you if/when you need maintenance visits.
Don't let him rush you in to this. He's anxious to get his huge $$ kickback

The trial will be a good indicator as to whether or not this will be of benefit to you.

It'll be great getting to know you, Jan and others will join your thread to support you along the way...

It's so good to have you!
Rae

[Mark56]

Wow, I was at once on 1800mg lyrica, vicodin, valium, and such, and then 3000mg neurontin and morphine and more.... and this is all before the doc finally said he thought I would be the perfect candidate for one of these procedures. I am amazed they are taking what I was told is the final solution for all of my stuff without giving you more up front to explain what is going on......

Well, anyway, mine was an outpatient surgery for the Trial done by my physiatrist and the company rep team tagging in my back while I was essentially awake, being told, "Now, don't move".... but it all went well, then I was in recovery and hog heaven because I could tell right away it was working for my situation, and I so badly wanted off of the drugs.

You need a heart to heart with the doc to make sure and for certain all of your questions are asked and answered. I typed them out took them in and asked them with my patient abiding doc... one cool guy. One of my heroes.

So, time to get the doc to listen to you and talk before jumping on an OR table.

Pray all goes well for you Jan,
Mark56

[janj77]

Thank you for the reponses to my initial post. I am still debating whether to have the trial or not. I called the office this morning to get a idea of how long it will take... I was told a total of 4 hr. from getting there to going home. Does that sound right?

Also in another post a lady mentioned " not sure if you all had to stay awake for the first two hours of the surgery but it was the most horrific pain I have had to suffer beside the accident itself and that darm discogram " Now i am fealful of more back pain. I hate pain....lol Sometimes it might be easier i think to just pop the meds.

Are there alot of regrets for the trial? Thank you for your responses.

jan

[Mark56]

Absolutely not, no regrets. This was a good decision on the part of patient, doctors, the company, and the insuror which has cared for my needs. Pain, well, since I got this way in a car wreck, and pain has been a constant part of my life since then, although now it is managed by this blessed device.

Sure there was about the amount of time you mentioned from the time I arrived at the surgery center until my wife drove me home. Pain, yes, there was pain, but then the purpose was to all the insertion of the leads with me sufficiently awake to give lucid responses to the Doc and the Rep as the leads went in under fluoroscopy and then the stim programs were beginning to be "tested" within me. Could I feel this? How about that? Does this help? We finally arrived at Ahhhhhhhhhh........ then they wrapped me up and sent me to recovery. Was it as bad as discography was for me? No way!! But bear in mind there is pain and that it will pass assuming your professionals are doing the right job and your body cooperates. You are an active part of the team at this moment.

If I had it to do again? Well, then, sure!
Prayin,
Mark56

[Rrae]

Hello Jan!
As far as the pain (from the procedure), it is only temporary...
The main goal in getting the SCS is to get back a quality of life.....

What type of back pain do you suffer from?

I know you've weeded thru alot of posts.....here is a very informative link that may be of help in walking you thru the process and what is involved.

Check this out:
http://www.nationalpainfoundation.or...e-technologies

Do you feel confident in the doctor who will be doing this?
Has he done alot of these?
These questions are paramount as to whether or not you're likely to have a successful outcome.
If he's experienced and good at doing these, he'll make sure you are 'numbed up' ......

I'm getting an uneasy feeling about this guy - since he doesn't seem to be offering you much information.
Maybe you do have alot of confidence in him....yes? no? If so, perhaps I'm just not picking up on that....but I really do feel it's priority that you feel like you're putting your spine in competent hands

Like Mark explains, it's the communication that is KEY. Your Dr has to get those leads in the precise spot......and then the Rep has to know if you are getting the stimulation exactly where you need it. They will depend on you to communicate this to them.....

Keep us posted!
Rae

[Lisa in Ohio]

Hi Jan, I had my trial this past December and a permanent implant in late January. I was sedated heavily while they were placing the leads ( it is for RSD arm pain so they had to go all the way up my back to my neck), and then they "woke me" for a short period of time while the doctor and rep found the sweet spot. It was somewhat uncomfortable while they were doing this, but as soon as they found the correct spot, I was back asleep. The higher they go in your back, the more nerves they encounter and neck placement can be difficult. Before the procedure, I ask my doctor what I needed to know, and he gave me so much good information and really prepared me for the procedure. When I woke up, the rep fine tuned the unit some more. I had two large dressings on my back, and my back was very tender after the trial procedure. Percocet seemed to help with that.
The worst thing was that I had to try to keep my head and neck still, and NO SHOWER for a week. Then they had to take all the tape off that they had stuck all over me. I would recommend soft pants to wear to the procedure and have enough at home afterwards. I have found low-cut yoga pants have worked best for me. Even though I am way over the age for junior clothing, I found the best ones in the juniors' department at Kohl's for about $14.99. Let me know if you need any more info, but I am really glad I did this. I have drastically reduced my medication, and have been a little bit more active since SCS. Lisa

[Rrae]

Thank you for this!
Your doctor (and the rest of the medical team/Reps) sound like real winners!
Wish they ALL could be like this!!

This is great to read!

[janj77]

Thank you for all the replies. I really appreciate the time you take to help people out.



I trust my Dr. completely.. I admit he is not the greatest on aftercare, but i trust him with my spine. I have not heard of a rep mentioned at all until i read the posts here, .?

Last month when i went to my pain dr. I told him i was at the point that something more had to be done about the burning in my back. I am 49 & do not want to spend the rest of my life on narcotics. That was when he suggested the Stimulator. I found the psych exam to be much easier than anticipated. I wish i would have found this forum before I went , because there was nothing to be afraid of.. lol D.r condensed the 1 hr follow up visit to 5 min, saying there was nothing to be said besides everything is normal.. It is soooo good to hear that.

Right now I am just waiting until the 23rd to do the trial... Thank you all for listening.

Jan

[Mark56]

Sounds as though you are in a good place at present. You may not actually meet the rep until the day of the Trial, and this is not unusual at all.

May all be well with you,
Mark56