Hi Vivster, i was just wondering how things are going for you, we had surgery about the same time, im struggling a little and was wondering and hoping that you are having a better time recovering, Im 12 days post op and feel terrible today i hurt from my shoulder blades right down to the base of my spine and all around my rib cage. Still waiting for follow up apt with reps to have more settings (only have one at the mo). Sending you hugs for a speedy recovery Love Mel :) x

More thoughts Melly
 

Especially if you are slender..... really slender, the tissue through which the wire connections between computerbattery pack and the leads or paddles could be ultra sensitive and SORE like heQQ if your physician was forced to push the wire leading device through muscle tissue.

My surgeon explaine the method of wire threading for implant and to avoid a foot and a half incision in the back between the laminectomy and the pocket positions is precisely this..... a surgical steel implement akin to a large nail spike is driven beneath the skin through the tissues to thread wires between one opening and the other. Think of running a knitting needle through from one opening to the next, dragging the wiring along.

I learned when muscle tissue is traumatically disturbed, as was the case in my deep back surgeries for fusion et al, the muscle tissue remains ULTRA painful and irritated a LONG TIME after surgery. Every move after fusion was as though I was literally pulling my body in half. I would stick a washcloth to prevent my shrieking from being heard as was not the case for my next door patient room neighbor who quite easily shared his shrieks, screams, moans and thus all through the days and nights I was in hospital. I wanted ruby slippers so I could click them saying "there's no place like home, there's no place like home" but Judy Garland's feet were probably NEVER my size and it would look too weird for a guy to wear them anyway.

So, now I have given two possible perspectives. On your thread, fear of infection, and here, realization and recollection of my EXTREME pain after my muscle tissue was literally scraped from the spine and retracted out of the way to open the surgical field for fusion et al. Now, take such overwhelming muscle pain and consider the possibility in your situation. The difference? I was kept in Hospital on a morphine drip living somewhere whence a yellow brick road appeared and I was flying so high, I am surprised I was not restrained to the bed...... oh, wait a minute, I was restrained to the bed, literally tied down. Yup, uncomfortable does not came anywhere near describing that situation. Not at all.

Prayin,
Mark56:grouphug:

Thanks Mell, Mark Sandy Kay and Rrae :)
 

(hope I got everyone)... I'm back at work today, even though I feel in a "guarded" state. Just moving arms enough to drive slowly to get here.
It was SO WONDERFUL to get the staples removed on Friday, and my rep tinkered more with my program to give me more of a mid/low back buzz. The prior program just went up to my rear. I will have her tweak it a bit more Thursday, as I feel a bit in my tummy, and want more on my right side.
I LOVE MY purring kittie. (sometimes when I hold my young cat, I can't really feel his "motor" as much, since I have my own "motor). OK enough silliness.
It has been a fast two weeks. The first week was pretty much a blur, and last week was much better. The stim is doing a good job at helping the pain and ache. I do feel some burning at times in the left leg, that reminds me that the pain is still there.
Thank you everyone who has prayed on my behalf! I continue to think of everyone here. The support and empathy is truly felt here. :hug:

Wednesday update
 

Hi all :hug:
Went back to work Monday - which went pretty well. Yesterday afternoon I started getting pain (muscular I think) around the incision area, so I left work and rested at home. The pain pretty much subsided with muscle relaxant. Today, after being at my desk, I left for home again after lunch. It's starting to worry me (of course) that I did something to enrage the muscles, or mess up my installation. (grin) But, I do feel the stimulation in the same areas, but - like I said - it's very uncomfortable.
My co-workers seem surprised that I needed to leave and rest after sitting. My significant other is not very understanding either, even though he has had back surgery.
My followup appointment is tomorrow morning at 8:45, to check the incision, and hopefully get the go-ahead to shower like a grown-up. I pray all goes well, and I'm not too disappointed. The surgeon mentioned that he does NOT like to go back into patients who mess up their leads. I'm getting more worried as I type this.
Thank you so much for reading. Blessings to all :grouphug:

Viv, it may just be soreness from increased activity and sitting upright. I remember on Thanksgiving, a few weeks after my surgery, I had a whole lot more pain afterwards and for that whole weekend. I was sitting in folding chairs and hard upright chairs after being used to mostly being on my soft couch, and I'm sure that's what did it.

If you're following the BLAST restrictions and didn't do anything to cause the leads to move, which I don't think that sitting at a desk would, and you don't feel any differences in your stimulation, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Hopefully a few more days with the muscle relaxant/anti-inflammatories will bring that muscular pain down for you :)

Viv, it saddens me to read what you said about your peers and signif other not understanding. :( I know exactly what you mean and that's what makes this such a 'lonely' battle. We all suffer from a silent pain....no one can 'see' it and most people don't even TRY to put themselves in our shoes to try and understand. I've had to fight off some bitterness toward some of my circle of people. I mean, if one of my best friends was going thru this I would do whatever I could to try to comprehend what this is. I would be online looking up RSD, SCS, PN. It's very degrading when we are left to feel like we are whimps, or even lazy :eek:. We just have to keep our head up and remind each other that we ARE strong. It takes a very strong person to be able to carry on day to day with the conditions we've been dealt with.

Try not to worry ok. Your visit will go fine I'm sure. Your back is acting up because it's been 'invaded' and it's ticked off. Heck, I still battle these horrible spasms and I'm 2 yrs out. I never had back spasms prior to the implant. Even so, I wouldn't change a thing because of how well the SCS works for my lower limbs. The life I was living before my implant was hell on earth.

btw I think that's pretty 'tacky' of your doctor to say - about not liking to go back into pt's backs if their leads move. :mad: What an arrogant thing to say!
Consider him CYBER-SLAPPED from Rae! yeah...the visual on that brings me great satisfaction! :D

Try your best to relax....this pain you are feeling sounds like the 'storm before the calm'. Once you get over the hump of the surgical issues, it'll get much better

Rae
:hug:

Coal for Their Stockings
 

This is not Star Trek, and you are not healed immediately.... goodness, I still strive not to overdo and my surgery was June 2010. You hang in there VIV, and know we pray and hope for you a blessed resolution to this situation. I am working albeit a long time after my surgery... and I feel so blessed. People still take good care of me, helping carrying things due to my cane, so I pray yours all will come to realize you are a special person in need of help, comfort, cheers of success, and grace.

Praying for you girl,:circlelove:
Mark56:hug: