[Saffy]

Oh my! I've just picked up the phone and spoken to a guy from the physio department who wants to see me before I go in for my Stim. I said, "Well you probably know more than me when I'm going to have it as I've heard nothing apart from it being July"

It turns out I am 3rd on the list and .... I am pencilled in for Wednesday 18th May .. which will be my 50th Birthday! LOL

I was complaing to my family that I have never had a party for any of my major birthdays and I think they were planning one for my 50th .. OOPS !

Seeing the Physio on 9th May in Sheffield. What happens with this guy ?

[Saffy]

We were just about to book a holiday today too .. to Greece for a week commencing 5th June .. as I'd been told my trial would probably not be til July .. typical! Gah!

So .. it looks like I will go down to theatre on the Wednesday .. have the Thursday to trial the thing, and if it's helping, back down to surgery on the Friday afternoon to get the full implant.

I've been told the SCS will only help with the leg(sciatic) pain .. but not the back pain from the facet joints - yet I read on here that sometime it does help lower back pain ..

I've not worked for a year now as my job was in retail and involved the day to day running of a small convenience store on a holiday park. I LOVED IT! I didn't love having to lift crates of milk, bread and newspapers .. and to keep bending down to low shelves and the Neuro Surgeon said he would not even consider operating on me if I kept on with that type of work.

So .. what to do? I guess I shouldn't be rushing at things as I've got to recover from the op first, but I do wonder about future work. However, if the SCS doesn't relieve the back pain I am sort of at a stand still .. although don't get me wrong, to relieve SOME if not ALL the leg pain will be immense!

Perhaps I should just sit back, and let time do it's thing ..

Hi Saffy

Oh thats great news about both your BIRTHDAY and the operation too. My birthday is 3 days after yours...but I hit the bit 50 last year!!! a party eh....fantastic......

I dont really know why you would see the Physio guy

I too have both pain in my legs and back. I was told before I had my trial and implant that it would only really benefit my legs and not my back, have to say thats exactly right. I get great relief in my legs, especially like now, while Im lying on the couch with my laptop, It feels like someone is massaging my legs BUt I do need it for my back so much more and unfortunately I cant get the sensations that far up , only when Im lying like this........I need to get it up that high for when Im walking and moving around. Having another tweaking session on 26th April so who knows it might happen..

As regards your work....hmmmmmmm a toughie. Im now out of work over 6 years because of my back. I was a Relationship Manager in the Bank AND I LOVED IT TOO....it was an awful shock to me that I couldnt return to work. Now I know that I cant go back because I cant sit or stand for too long plus any heavy work or repetitive activities are just out for me too. I know you are anxious to get yourself back to work, but please give yourself some time to get used to the stim and get over the operation too. No rush!!

Im fascinated that you are having your trial done, but for one day and then the op the following day, how wonderful. I had my trial for only 2 days but had to wait for FOUR MONTHS for the implant as my Consultant was away and with one thing and another it wasnt possible before then.

I wish you the very best of luck and hope that it all works out well for you and that you will feel great benefit from the trial and then stim..

Keep us posted

Jackie

[Mark56]

Well, surgery is not exactly a cool way to spend a birthday, but in 2006 I had one of my deep back surgeries to remove bony spine growths from an earlier fusion. It was a great birthday present!

So...... how about the back. My stim is Boston Scientific and the paddles are mounted at T8/T9. I get stim sensations all of the way from my waist [the natural waist, not like the low hips where designers are saying jeans should be worn nowadays] down through my thighs [I am numb below the kneees]. Thus, depending on what you receive, where it is mounted, and the means by which it functions, it is possible to receive lumbar sensations from the SCS. I do. I am sorry Jackie does not. That is truly a bummer.

Regarding work, I worked as General Counsel to a large corporation before my car wreck, and now that I am withdrawn from all pain management meds and manage the pain with my SCS and my cushion, I am hard "pounding the pavement" visiting people I know doing much networking in an effort to regain employment. This is my goal. You may not be able to perform convenience store work any longer, however, you may be able to do something else! PoohAC is a Registered Nurse and works in operating rooms. RRae is an office administrator for a Radiological Oncology practice, and KZLRogue has been golfing. Perhaps you and I, and Jackie for that matter can find some work if we can zero in on the right thing!

ZZ
Mark56

[Saffy]

Finally getting back to you guys. You know what it's like .. some days you dont want to communicate and stuff?

Anyhoo .. today I received my official letter from the Hospital asking me to attend a pre op assessment .. they take your bloods, ECG, answer any questions and so on. It takes all day as most of it is spent hanging around waiting for the official people to get spare time to see you. Another questionairre to fill in. (Will try and take a copy of it somehow so I can show you people what is on it.

That's 5th May .. so I guess it looks like it's right .. that I'm scheduled in for the 18th May. What a 50th birthday present, hey? He He!

I'll let you all know what happens on the 5th May and who I see and so on. I'll try and get it all down in detail and put it on my blog for everyone to see and connect to.

I'm sort of .. buzzy inside .. nervous .. excited. I know that, from what Mark says, I will notice immediately if this is going to work for me. I'm not holding any hopes .. just taking it as a wait and see, so that I wont be disappointed.

Mike and I have decided that, as we are both 50 this year, we are going to go on holiday somewhere extra special, just the two of us, in November/December .. and I've always wanted to go to The Maldives, so that's something to research. How do you think I would cope on an 11 hour flight? Better saving it till early the following year?

[Mark56]

5 May will be a good day! Prayin that all goes well with you, your Trial, the results, and if appropriate your quick and ultimate permanent implant. Do be mindful of the need to follow with care the post surgical instructions, especially BLAST - No Bend, Lift, Stretch, or Twist [if you need something for the A, put in Armwrestling].

Regarding a LONG postsurgical flight, I would suggest you be in touch with Irljenn aka Jenna, since she flew from Ireland to San Diego, USA. She has had the experience. Fionab, Jackie, and RRae have each flown, but I am not sure of the flight durations.

I think I would rather
Prayin for ya,
Mark56ZZ

[Saffy]

Sad news from me today. My Step Dad died on Thursday morning at ten past eight. Mum had been married to Arthur for 12 years, so he'd become a close member of the family, especially to my youngest daughter who was only 4 when my Dad died.

It's Bank Holiday .. so we can't do anything about a funeral for a while .. then of course, there's another Bank Holiday next weekend for the Royal Wedding .. lord knows when we are going to get the chance to say our final farewells.

My deepest sympathies Saffy at this very sad time

[Saffy]

Thank you Jackiey .. we are trying to find the good in his end. He did have Leukaemia for many, many years and it was getting to the transfusion point. He'd already had one, and after being rushed to hospital on Tuesday, was scheduled to have one yesterday.

It's funny .. Mum and I went to see him on Wednesday afternoon .. I got him laughing as I askef if he could possibly shave my legs for me next time I came to see them if I put them up on his bed ! I also called him Daddy, my Step Daddy for the first time in the whole 12 years Mum and he have been married. (My Dad was my hero, so he had HUGE steps to fill .. and whilst he never could fill them, he gave my Mum 12 years of love and companionship, which means an awful lot to our family)

He died of oxygen deprivation as his blood was unable to hold any, not matter how much they tried to get into him ... so I guess he just lost conciousness and went to sleep. No pain ..

I believe in "something" ... I don't know what .. but someone somewhere certainly gave Arthur his life back for a whole week, as a couple of week's ago he was up and about in the morning painting, cleaning .. the lot .. as happy as anything. He was given the gift of good health for a while, and that is a nice thing to think about.

God Bless Arthur .. You annoyed the heck out of me at times I have to be honest, but we also had many good times. I'll never forget how you went and paid the vet costs when Felix (my rabbit) died, without telling me; so I wouldn't have to go through it.

Big softy you were .. sleep well. xx

[Mark56]

It was only recently courtesy of your sharing of a photo that we learned of and saw Arthur with his home built Puffer for BBQ delights. Loss of any loved one is a time that is heart and gut wrenching. So hard, so hard. I know that I came to deeply love Cleo's step-Dad, for I recognized how very happy and complete he made her Mum, and yet one afternoon after surviving all of the chemo and radiation relevant to cancer, he passed while sitting at the kitchen table as his heart just gave out. We ALL anguished over his leaving, and I spoke at his memorial service. All of the family turned out. It was a good sending.

We are people who do have faith, and though you are unsure, if I may I will assuredly pray for you and your family at this time. I will fondly reflect on Arthur and his Puffer around which we built electronic party frivolity as we contemplated "gathering" at your home for BBQ. May Arthur truly rest peacefully and may God grant that your family be comforted at this time.

Caring so much Saffy:circlelove :
Mark56