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Mark56 · 07-08-2011, 06:26 PM

Hi WDT- The sensation I feel with the Boston Scientific Precision Plus SCS is a tingling in my lower body as though I am cold and have the shivers. The sensation somehow produces an effect referred to as parasthesia, a confounding of the nerves which prevents the pain usually felt from being transmitted to the brain. The cool part of my implant is that there are no wires exposed or to attach, and the remote accesses my four programs and the varied strength of settings on the device kind of like pointing a TV infrared remote at my hip and pressing buttons for commands.

The device DOES NOT shut off the pain producing quality of the nerve issue in you body. Instead it confuses the signal so the brain cannot register pain. When I turn the device down quite low, I still feel the pain as though it was still there like when I was taking meds. If I experience a pain spike; that is, pain which surpasses the settings on my device at the time, I turn it up until it handles the pain. No longer am I a patient consuming pain meds. I withdrew from them last August.

So, look at the SCS as a potential pain management device as a different means of pain management compared against meds which you have been taking. It does not work perfectly because it is human designed, but I will tell you, it has been a great way to have my life restored. Thus, I think of it as a restorative device.

I am sorry your doctor referrals have turned out to be duds. If you have a neurosurgeon with good hands who comes well recommended, then you are probably in a safe place. I felt very very blessed to have the doctors who cared for me in Denver, Colorado.

Big Hug for ya,

zzzz
Mark56

wdt5150 · 07-08-2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophie_

Hi WDT,

Must of what Mark and Karen (Saffy) have said I completely agree with. I bet the doctor that told you you were a pain addict hadn't a clue what he was talking about, I bet he's read the books, looked at the patients but as for pain, he doesn't understand it, he doesn't understand what it does to a person, he basically hasn't a clue and I bet if he was try to walk in your shoes for a day he wouldn't last 5minutes. My reaction to him would be right then i'm off!

I've been there done that I can tell you, my biggest problem when I was 21 was that they didn't believe someone of my age could have such a huge problem let alone require a discectomy, ten years later, same problem different chapter, this time I wasnt taking any crap from them and I suppose being a woman with tears in my eyes they couldn't call me agressive but lets say my husband wanted to pull the head off one doctor for they he spoke to me, he told me the pain was in my head. How f** king dare he!

To cut a long story short I spent many years in Ireland trying to find a doctor who would first believe me and second was able to treat me (it's all in my bio if you fancy a read) I eventually found this pain physician and he agreed the SCS was the way to go. I had it installed in December just gone and the outcome is truly amazing. I've managed to cut back on my pain meds and im up out of the bed and walking everyday. I'm even back at work. I basically got my life back.

Since then I have had some tweeking sessions but I believe this is normal, my doctor did tell me it would take about 18 months to get things right and so far he hasn't been wrong.

As for the physc eval, mine was a piece of cake, she basically asked me about my pain my support, did I fully understand the technology and did I understand that this was a piece of metal that would be inserted into me. I didn't find it a problem, she did ask me about the meds, I probably siad yep, i'd agree that I wil have a little problem coming off them but i said i will cope and that I am a strong willed person with lots of support. I didn't lie but she seemed to understand the pain.

I hope this helps, were a good group here and ask us anything ya like, you don't say where you're from? I'd love to know it makes a difference from each country.

Take care

Sophie

Sophie I think alot of doctors have been pushed by corporate so hard , now days it is a clinic or group with a senior doctor in control and corporate tells them what they must do also there is no ethics involved anymore I am in Mississippi and have been retired from fire and rescue for around 3yrs the thing I can say I know what it is like to have people that have problems and injuries and we never treated them like they were a idiot , one thing is to help and understand that they didn't ask for it even when the a dui wrecks it was still a human and they all hurt I just don't understand why doctors act like they don't have the time or have to explain things. I am scared about the SCS and hope to get approved at the same time , to me knowledge is best for anyone.

wdt5150 · 07-08-2011, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark56

Hi WDT- The sensation I feel with the Boston Scientific Precision Plus SCS is a tingling in my lower body as though I am cold and have the shivers. The sensation somehow produces an effect referred to as parasthesia, a confounding of the nerves which prevents the pain usually felt from being transmitted to the brain. The cool part of my implant is that there are no wires exposed or to attach, and the remote accesses my four programs and the varied strength of settings on the device kind of like pointing a TV infrared remote at my hip and pressing buttons for commands.

The device DOES NOT shut off the pain producing quality of the nerve issue in you body. Instead it confuses the signal so the brain cannot register pain. When I turn the device down quite low, I still feel the pain as though it was still there like when I was taking meds. If I experience a pain spike; that is, pain which surpasses the settings on my device at the time, I turn it up until it handles the pain. No longer am I a patient consuming pain meds. I withdrew from them last August.

So, look at the SCS as a potential pain management device as a different means of pain management compared against meds which you have been taking. It does not work perfectly because it is human designed, but I will tell you, it has been a great way to have my life restored. Thus, I think of it as a restorative device.

I am sorry your doctor referrals have turned out to be duds. If you have a neurosurgeon with good hands who comes well recommended, then you are probably in a safe place. I felt very very blessed to have the doctors who cared for me in Denver, Colorado.

Big Hug for ya,

zzzz
Mark56

Thanks Mark56 that helps I am in Mississippi and I hope to have this new doctor approve it he is in Louisianan and I have never been to him but he came highly recommended so Monday is the day I will know more got the call today to be there Monday I really hope it goes well missing church and activities that when on meds I was doing some but since I dropped them I just cant seem to make even sitting up an hour.

wdt5150 · 07-08-2011, 08:18 PM

Glad I got the call to see the doctor Monday.
It will be a long drive 4-5 hrs each way but if approved for the SCS unit the feedback from everyone is a high note compared to what I have been researching so thanks to all.
I will let you know how it goes and hope someone learns from my research and finds this place cause this has been a blessing from GOD that I have prayed for.
If I may ask I would like to know your experiences with the trials even though it puts me to tears I have tired to make every one of my kids events and some times I can make it about a hour in church I cant miss it I just feel it has made me a better person to push it as much as I could,I am a very stubborn person when it comes to someone telling me I cant do something,hmm.
I have paid the price sometimes and mabey pushed it to hard but when the meds were there it can make you do stupid things so to speak , another reason I am looking for help with pain not another drug.

wdt5150 · 07-08-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saffy

You must be worn out from dealing with the pain with no meds. I've cut down on mine a LOT and I still feel drained by the amount of emotional energy it takes to try and keep from taking a heavy pain killer in the knowledge that it may help disassociate myself with the pain.

In saying that, I've had a bad couple of weeks and given in .. and spent most of the days in bed or moping around the house .. that's not a life.

I think you are a definite candidate for a SCS .. and although it wont take the pain away, it could distract you enough to be able to cope better.

I'm out on whether it works or not, as I had mine implanted in May this year and have yet to be able to use it as the coverage isn't right and they can't put it right without another operation. I was given a choice, either opt out now or try a different lead.

I feel that the sensation I am getting (but in both legs, not just the one) could benefit me ... therefore I'm giving it a go, despite all my family not wanting me to.

I hope it works for you ,
The pain is very draining and I thank the Lord for my family cause they have stuck beside me through everything and I have missed a lot birthdays , holidays and so on.
I tried to make it up this year but once again I ended up at the hospital and that drives me crazier than anything I am tired of the hospitals over 80 times I have been put in hospital a week to two weeks at a time in 2 1/2 years that's crazy maybe they need to check the doctors heads.

Mark56 · 07-08-2011, 09:13 PM

Hey WDT- Regarding the Trial, my thread has a bunch of that down on a day by day basis and you can find it here: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread117854.html

Regarding pain and faith and missing out on things, well that is pretty much covered in the thread too, but I have had a deep dependence upon God for a long long time, and I believe God has seen me through so much that all I can say is I feel blessed. I missed out on some school plays, family movie nights at the theatre, sports events because I just hurt too much. I refused to give up going to church, because I felt it was God carrying me through the pain and I wanted to worship. I had sung on the worship team for years and played bass. Those I had to drop [although now I am back to singing as Rae can attest]. So, I would lie in the pew, my head on my wife's lap, and tears would fall from my eyes the pain was so bad. I finally missed a Sunday or two right before the first of my deep back surgeries because I was screaming in pain by then and nothing was functioning anymore.

Even so, with pain, God has been my constant companion as has my wife. The young ones, well they did drive me around when I needed driving, but the pain I suffered eventually drove our daughter into counselling because she began to feel so down that I hurt as I did. For a while she could not acknowledge and was angry with God, although I let her know that without God, without the many prayers I received things could have been MUCH worse.

I have been praying for you, and hope you will be embraced in His arms as your appointment time approaches so that all may ultimately be well,
Mark56

z

Sophie_ · 07-08-2011, 09:26 PM

Hi there,

I hope this works out for you and you can look forward to getting some pain relief and your life back.
Pain is very tiring, draining and as for the depression it can cause, it's just terribly unfair, I dunno why i asked God so many times, what did I do to deserve this, in the depths of ugly deep pain with the tears streaming down my face. It's not easy, thankfully my husband and family have been a great support.

Like most people, I've missed loads of work, birthday parties, weddings, girls night outs etc, this is hard but thankfully this year I've started to go back to these things and it feels good.
I think you're right in what you say about some Dr's, they are orientated by greed and the private payout they receive from the companies, they tend to push for a device that might not suit you. I guess that's where your research, common sense and sheer stubbornness can help.

As for the trials, I have a Medtronic SCS and I too feel the sensation of it working but it's not a horrible sensation, more of a tingling sensation. The surgery in Ireland for this was a day procedure and it was done under sedation rather than a g. anaesthetic. Its supposed to be left in for about 5 days to a week to see if you get some relief. Unfortunately there was a problem with the technology for my trial and it didn't work. My Dr decided to proceed with a full implant as he knew I'd benefit from it and so far he has been right.

I hope this Dr works out for you, let us know how it goes,

Sophie xxxx

wdt5150 · 07-08-2011, 11:14 PM

Does anyone think I should ask or talk about how the meds masked the problem with the new doctor or does the policy don't ask don't tell apply?
With the history of meds and what the doctors have put in the records "which some information is not correct just their opinion" I know I was there , all I was told to bring mt Mri CT and xray reports and disc but they didnt want any medical records not sure why.
I dont have anything to hide but I have noticed with other doctors the minute I mention the meds I was on they say I dont prescribe opiods and it offends me cause I didnt go there asking I went there to get help by what ever means hoping to not be given meds but something to have a better life.
As you can tell after 3yrs first surgery was in Nov.2008 I still don't understand what to do,I can say the first 2 yrs I really don't remember much due to I was in the hospital so much .
This bothers me cause when I was in the field we trained so you was prepared for the things presented to you all you had to do is listen and observed the rest came as the scene unfolded.
I have yet since my old PCP flew south met a doctor that seemed somewhat willing to look at the whole picture and gather the information needed to make a call in my best interest.Even when I found out about the SCS it was my idea and one doctor against it and another for it ?
So now Monday going to a new doctor , and another thing that has caught my attention the neurosurgeon set this up and a pain management is the consult but it seems the post I read is telling me if I have a good neurosurgeon to trust him? So I am unsure who is suppose to be doing the SCS unit?
I know here I go again this is me worrying have I made a good decision or bad.

Mark56 · 07-08-2011, 11:35 PM

Asking any doctor to put their hands in you for any remedial help as for me, I had to let them know...... let them know so they could know how best to help me. That is about all I can offer on that point.

May all be well with you,
Mark56

wdt5150 · 07-09-2011, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark56

Asking any doctor to put their hands in you for any remedial help as for me, I had to let them know...... let them know so they could know how best to help me. That is about all I can offer on that point.

May all be well with you,
Mark56

I agree I have always tried to start with history , just seems some don't really want to hear it, I guess funny in a way , to me I think I will pray and carry everything with me and if he wants it the it shall be . I know when I first met my old neurosurgeon I laughed at him he was funny and direct but seem to care and explain everything to me and my wife , when he switched to another clinic with another group he got rude and acted like he didn't have time for anyone.Strange how people change over time. Thanks for your answer it does point me in the direction I need. I just have thought I have been so open about every thing maybe I was over loading them.

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