Dear Nan and Saffy
 

Time draws ever closer for your moment with the professionals. One thing very clear about this community of caring people is that many of us are filled to overflowing with faith, and we have found that God granted grace is well and truly the means to enduring all. Sure, we have our moments of being down, but we pray for one another here, and, given our participation public, you have prayers being lifted up on your behalf from 'round the world.

No one is alone, for all are watched over by He who cares most, then we who follow that call here, pray for you as well.

Prayin,
Mark56:circlelove::Heart::smileypray::grouphug:

Nan
 

Nan I too had two failed spinal fusions...L4/L5 L5/S1 disasterious...anyway I too had the metal removed thinking that was the problem, unfortunately it wasnt. In fact Ive now what is generally known as Failed Back Syndrome. So I know exactly how you are feeling. I too had all the injections, rhizometies, Ketamin infusions all to no avail. As I said previously, the SCS I have, its a St Jude Medical...I like In Ireland too.....it is very good for the awful pain, burning I get in both legs and occasionally it helps my back. Im sure you got good results from your trial to be going forward for the permanent one, so thats a plus, you know what to expect now once its in. I really hope that you will get great relief. People have told me that I dont have the 'drawn' look as much as I used to have before the implant. I too feel more 'relaxed' and I definitely do a lot more than I have done previous to this, and at times of course over do it...but sure dont we all:rolleyes:

I hope you get lots of answers here, I know you will and remember any questions or fears that you have just ask and Im sure you will have a response in moments!!

Take care Nan

Jackie :)

here i go again
 

Thanks for the info Jackiey, how long was it before you were up and movin around? did it take the full 6 weeks as i've been told? your info has really helped me, and do they get you up the day of surgery like they did with the spinal fusions? and last were you able to get off all your meds as some has stated.:D

Nan I was operated on at 3pm and was up to the bathroom at about 2am! I was rather sore and uncomfortable but I really wasnt expecting to be up like that especially after the awful pain of the fusions. Then when I went home, after 2 nights, I did move about but let everyone in the house do everything for me. I went out for the occasional walk to keep myself mobile. I didnt find the pain too uncomfortable. I had my medication and patches also. I couldnt drive for 8 weeks, thats was a bit of a pain, as my daughter had just had her baby and I wanted to be with her all the time. But overall those weeks werent too bad. It really depends on yourself and how you cope with the pain and discomfort. As regards the medication, no I havent gone off all of them. I still rely on my painkillers and anti-inflammatories because I dont get enough relief from the SCS in my back itself. Yes its good for relaxing my legs while I lie on the couch or in bed, but not so much while Im walking etc. But there are posters here who HAVE gone off all medication, Mark in particular. He is remarkable in how he has withdrawn from all medication. Mark had the paddles implanted. Are you having the leads or paddles Nan?

Hope that helps

Jackie :)

im having the leads so i've been told. even if i could get down to half my meds that would be gggggreat. And yes Marks story and progress is wonderful not to mention he's soooo inspirational. He's been a big help during all of this. thanks for the info. Oh yeah, did your meds increase after your surgery or did they pretty much stay the same.

Well apart from my usual ones I was also given two lots of antibiotics and some antihistamines also. I also used some of my lidocaine patches around the incisions. I only started to wean off some of my meds over time but definitely cannot be without them all the time.

Hopefully you too will be able to get rid of, if not all, some of them :)

Hi Nan and Jackie!!
 

Being similar to Jackie in post surgical care AND because I had endured an infection after the Trial surgery, I was prescribed a full two week course of antibiotics following the Permanent Implant. Guess what? No infection on the second go. Since I already had pain management meds, there was no additional pain management med prescription.... I just continued the same until two weeks post surgery when we did the first and only programming of my Boston Scientific unit. Three weeks after I "went live" my physiatrist began to help me wean from the pain management meds.

I understand my story is not exactly like the story of all others, but WOW I feel blessed having this device. Perfect? No. Blessed? Yes.

Caring for y'all,
Mark56:grouphug:

thanks for that
 

ok kool, it sounds as though you had a hiccup or two but yet all and all it was still worth it. This is all very encouraging and keeps me downright optimistic.

Kool:cool:

saffy, i dont know how you feel but my surgery is tuesday morning 7:30am, i hope you and others keep me in your thoughts, cause i'm tryin to stay calm but its getting harder now that i'm down to the wire. I do hope i'll get some real relief and can do atleast a few of things i use to be able to.

Hi Nan!! Fear Not!!
 

For Behold, we look after our own and flood you with prayers, thoughts, care, and concern as we look toward your forthcoming surgery. Tuesday 7:30 am East Coast U.S. time, and we will be on it. OK?

Each according to our human peculiarities do get to return to some of what we used to do before pain overcame our lives when the surgery is successful. This is not to say that all experience and proclaim success, but we do go into it, I think to a person with those pre-surgery jitters you are experiencing. I know I did. "What have I gotten myself into now?!?!?!?!" You know? Of course you do, because you are there. But, then I lay down and prayed and knew SO many others were doing the same for me and a sense of calm overcame me.

The day of surgery, about 10 folks from our church were there at 6am crowding around my prep bed to pray! Now if that isn't cool, I also noticed my prep nurse joining in.

Just give it your best, lay off the aspirin [you should already be doing that] and drink lots of water over the preparatory days to plump your veins [it helps people like PoohAC insert those very special IV lines more easily]. Then get good rest the night before.

Write to us all you want and we will write back with answers, helps, thoughts to the best of our ability. Go for it. That is why we "gather around" and then rest in the assurance from Around the World YOU Are Not Alone.

Prayin,
Mark56:hug::hug:ZZ