stressedout,
i have a rechargeable medtronic. if you use high voltage. you don't want cut open replace battery.
good luck Ron h

Hi Showdy,

It's great to hear you are getting some relief from your trial. Hopefully things will move quickly now so you can have a permanent one, it may not be a cure for your problem but if it helps with the pain and helps you get your life back it will all be worth it.

Take care and God bless

Sophie xxxx

I recently had a cervical paddle lead implant, and then a revision surgery because the lead moved. I was in a cervical collar for 6 weeks, with no bending, lifting of more than 5lbs, or twisting. The first time around they were able to get excellent coverage, for a few weeks. After the lead moved they were unable to ever achieve the coverage. Now it seems to be making my pain worse so I'll be going back to my neurosurgeon and programmer this week to see if we can do something to help. For now I have to leave it off.

From my understanding, cervical implants are much rarer. You may want to ask your doctor how many he has done. When I did I found out my first doctor had NEVER done was, I was going to be the first. I found a different surgeon with much more experience. I may not be happy with the stimulation but I'm certainly happy not to have had to many additional complications that can occur.

Please feel free to PM if you have any questions. I wish you the best of luck with your trial. I felt for a few weeks the wonderful pain relief it can provide.

Eli
http://rsdburningsacrifice.blogspot.com

I couldn't find a doctor local that would even recommend having it, I found one 4hrs away a neurosurgeon that had done three with success and he is sending me to a pain management unsure about him haven't met him yet Monday will be the day for a consult , so right now just what I have read and discussed here is the only information I have , I just am unsure what to do since my I have been on my own for 6mts now I do know what to do I cant keep this up.I really think that I should have stayed on the meds due to I could have at least done some things but under the circumstances I got tossed aside like they were playing with dolls they didn't seem to care if it hurt or if something got broke.Ever since I couldn't get a pain doctor local to see me and help. I found a new neurosurgeon and all he did is set up a consult for the pain management go figure.And I give it to him he tried local first but once again they said no "wouldn't give me or him reason" so now I will drive 5hrs to see if I can get the SCS trial.

My new doc has a great reputation and he genuinely seems to care. He has done cervical leads. We've talked about the rarity of cervical scs and has answered all of my questions. First time I've felt good about a doc in a long time. Instead of saying"you need to figure out ways of dealing with it, its not going away. You have a permanent disability. " when your barely forty those words hurt almost as bad as the real pain. This doc is giving me alternatives to dealing with it. Thanks Ron for sharing with us and I think I cant pm until I have twenty posts. Believe I read that somewhere. Please keep responding everybody, I'm learning more and more everyday.
Thanks, Show d

Showdy,
During my trial I got good results but at a lower setting. I do have to turn my scs up higher now with the perm. one. I don't quite know if it's because the lead moved a bit or what. I do know it works though. I have to agjust it when I am in different positions, especially lying down. I turn it down low but I never turn it off. I don't have paddle leads.

I have a Medtronic rechargeable battery. Since I ussually have two programs running at the same time I have to charge it once a wk but when I first got it I only had 1 program and only needed to charge it every other wk or maybe even a bit longer than that.

I've been having to deal with workers comp and it's not fun at all. They actually had their IME dr's say I was faking. Why would anyone fake this monster? I have been in constant 24/7 pain for two and a half yrs now, I just want my life back. They are even giving me a hard time getting to see a psychologist to help me deal with the anxiety etc. I had a great job, now none. I feel like a burden on my family. Sorry about venting.

I'm happy with the scs but I do get stiff neck from it. I hope you have good reps to ddeal with. Mine were very nice but I had a different one for the perm one than for the trial. They don't tell me much but I did ask alot of questions at the time. Now I questions about what permanent restrictions I have?

Does anyone else get nervous during a lightning storm?!

Hi Stressed, I can't say that I have felt extra risk in the presence of lightning. I figure since I am not a tree, and I am not holding a golf club, I probably have about the risk that any other person has in Lightning. Following that thought for a moment, ever since I was a child and that first silver filling went into my teeth, I reckon my mouth could have become a Lightning risk,,,,, but I just never thought of it, then or now [and now I have those gold crowns in my mouth, being older and all. Gold is darn near the best electricity conductor among metals, so I guess I won't fret about the SCS as a Lightning rod].

Nope, dealing with Worker's Comp is no picnic AT ALL. THAT is precisely WHY I hired counsel to help with my complex case for I feared what would become of my health in the future dealing with this [and my care regarding the wreck has been enormously expensive]. I did get a chance to shake the hand of the Worker's Comp company lawyer and thank the company through him for having authorized my SCS and all of the rest of the stuff through the years. HOWEVER, that is a big however, we still wait, and wait, and wait for finality. Not quite sure what is going on.

Now, as to Independent Medical Exams........ I have gotta say I was stunned by the opposite conclusions drawn by the IME doc when compared with my Huge file of treating doctors' findings. I will never trust an IME. Ever. H E QQ the IME expert who testified in my SS hearing had NEVER EVER treated a patient with my conditions and yet said his opinion was I did not qualify. No foundation for such an opinion, just that it was his opinion. I thank GOD the judge was actually listening to the supposed IME when he testified. I nearly fell off of my chair. [would have liked to reach through the telephone line and strangle him as well] but then, I digress.

Showdy, it is terrific, and I mean TERRIFIC you have found a doc who is working well for you and your case!!! I have had so many terrific care givers, I too feel a debt to them for helping me survive the last six years and four months give or take a bit.

Eli, I am just grieved that your paddle lead has given you fits after working for you at first. I have been blessed with my paddles and glad for them having read how migratory wire leads have tended to be for others. I pray that your doc is able to render true help in addressing your issue.

Praying for all,
Mark56