[pippy longstocking]

Help,
What do they do with a paddle? How is it different? Also, how do I do these restrictions when living alone?? eeek

[Mark56]

Instead of doing what was done in the principal's office in the seventh grade, they remove a small portion of backbone, referred to as a laminectomy or partial laminectomy, insert the paddle into the epidural space near the spinal cord, and secure it in place. Paddles have many electrodes on them capable of emitting electrical signal according to the commands of your remote set at the time of programming.

Limitations...... easy..... BLAST, no bending from the waist, no lifting, no stretching as in reaching far or high to retrieve something which was pre-surgery not a limitation to your body at all, and no twisting, meaning do not plant your feet as though to face your body in one direction, then twist at the waist either direction as in the motion when getting out of the shower to twist rapidly to retrieve a towel, because it is cold and you wish to be dry.

BLAST, remember that, and you have no trouble, no trouble at all with making incorrect body moves which potentially mess up the surgery for which you waited long and hard. Oh, and to arise from bed, remember the Logroll- lay lengthwise near the edge of your bed, then gather your legs up as though to sit, drop your legs over the side of the bed, as using your arms, you lever yourself up into seating position. Once you are stable, have help, or can arise holding onto support as a cane, walker, or piece of sturdy furniture. carefully use your abdominal muscles and quads in your legs to stand up straight. First time will hurt, after thet, it will become progressively better.


Mark56

[yellow]

Make sure you prepare your house before the surgery. Try to put as many things as possible mid-level, not too high or low because that will be the easiest to reach. So if you could anticipate chores or things you'll need to do during the coming weeks as well, you could try to think up ways now to work around them, and that way you could "practice". For example, one thing that I realized before was that I would not be able to reach down into my clothes hamper to pull clothes out of it so I had to find a new temporary one to use for now at a higher level. Or I moved cups down that are on a high shelf so I could reach them when I was alone.

Can you squat? If so, this will help you in picking up things that are low. I'd also recommend squatting practice to build up the strength in your legs these few days before the surgery. You can also go into a lunge position to get things lower as well if that is physically possible for you. A reacher/grabber is also a great idea and I'm sure would come in very handy.

Also, just be aware and be careful. I'm 4 weeks out from my surgery today and what I'm struggling with now is that since my back is less painful and my movement is more normal, I find it harder than ever to obey the restrictions, and there are still some times that I'm just not thinking and start to to twist or make some other forbidden movement before I remember. This is a big reason why my doctor gave me an abdominal binder to wear as well- to make me more aware of my movements.

It's definitely daunting to hear about these restrictions and how long you have to follow them. It was one of the biggest things I was worried about. But soon you'll get into a rhythm and find out what works for you and what doesn't, and then things will go more smoothly. Best of luck!!

[Mark56]

Yellow hits the home run! Planning ahead by placing needed things at a mid level for reachability. AND [I know, never start a sentence with a conjunction] squat and lunge. Those exercises will definitely be part of the post surgical follow up physical therapy anyway. So take ahold of a friendly piece of furniture and pratice gracefully squatting several reps at a time before hand. This practice will begin to create a habit I follow to this day, and my surgery date was 30 June 2010. Lunges...... awkward but truly doable befoe surgery, reaching out with one leg and going down with the opposite knee. You can lunge all of the way across a room and back.

So YELLOW, High Five!!!!! nah, wait a minute you are still too close to surgery at four weeks our, how about Mid Five!!!! Yeah, that should feel better,
Mark56

[Rrae]

Hey Pippy! They pretty much covered the bases! What a wonderful crew!

Try not to get too nervous as the date approaches. Keep reminding yourself of how you feel (physically) and what you hope and expect to obtain by getting this unit. As a matter of fact, here is what I did and I was glad for it.
I wrote myself a 'letter' explaining in detail of how bad off I was prior to getting the SCS. I explained every physical pain and what it was like to live like that 24/7. I explained what this did to me mentally and that I wasn't able to do things with my family. I would just sit on the couch and watch my peeps coming and going. It was heartbreaking.
I tucked that letter away because I somehow 'knew' that there would come a day when I would try to second-guess myself as to 'why' I got the unit. In case there was a 'bad' day that would roll around and I might try to convince myself that I made a mistake by getting it. Or if recovery from the surgery was too painful that I would weenie out and regret it.
Indeed it worked. I referred to the letter a few times and I know from the bottom of my heart that my life is much MUCH better now!
Sure, it seems a bit 'creepy' to have this thing in me, but as time went by I became very grateful for it. And I would make fun of it with my friends and crack jokes about it - just to keep the atmosphere light and have a sense of humor.
Now I'm not sitting on the couch watching people come and go....I have a LIFE!

Ok, enuf of the philosophical preaching

As you go thru a normal day prior to surg, just take note of your routine and make things easily accessible (waist high) on counters, etc, like the others have mentioned.
And I'm sure someone has mentioned the 'Reacher/Grabber' doo-hickey, yes?
I STILL use mine to pick up dirty socks from my twin son's rooms......not because I can't 'bend'....
..but because I can't bear to TOUCH the stinky things!!

You're gonna do just fine, I just know it!

Rae

[Mark56]

The cornerstone time capsule concept!! Rae's Letter! I mean, how often do any of us have the forethought to write a letter to self when facing an important decision so as to later take a retrospective view with that all so valuable 20/20 hindsight. For me, it was poetry. I wrote and wrote, because there was down right FEAR while knowing AGONY as my constant NOT COMPANION but RULER.

Think of it. A patient suggested by their physician to write a pre-surgery letter to self for consideration later on. Gotta tell you, just out of the positive far reaching GOOD results in my case. I would look back on a letter I might have written to myself from my current context thinking "and YOU feared THIS?" But my case is atypical of most writers here as I am one so successful to have been able through the technology to withdraw from all pain management meds.

Mind you, when I was pre-wreck and living life large my mantra was not to even take a Tylenol tab unless that headache was just so @$%# BAD. I did not like takeing meds which would or could affect my rapid thinking and such. The wreck was about to teach me MUCH about pain management.

SOOOOOO, in retrospect, I am Blessed to have been offered SCS. I feared its implant. Following the Trial op though, I was.... like.... HOW SOON CAN I HAVE THIS DONE?!?!?!?!?! So much so the doc reminded me there have been patients who so did not want the removal of the Trial unit they failed to show for the appointment to remove the Trial leads. Can you imagine? The police had to be called in on a warrant basis to go find the patient to force the removal or face charges of theft of property, and as valuable as this stuff is, it is likely a felony varying jurisdictino by jurisdiction.

Bottom line, if you are contemplating Trial of SCS or even Permanent Implant, write a letter to yourself, or write it to Rae and hold it safe for later to compare against the realities you experience if you ultimately did decide to take advantage of the surgery.

I wish I could have had this in 2006 rather than waiting until 2010.
Yup,
A convinced user of SCS,
Mark56

[Rrae]

Why, THANK you, Mark, for portraying me to be endowed with such wisdom
Truth of the matter is I write these 'letters' mostly because I'm a very forgetful Oaf!

[Mark56]

Uh, Uh.
Not,
Nope,
You got da stuff, Rae, just VERY humble, and that is OK,:Blush2
Mark56

[Sandy Kay]

Rae, what a great idea. I wish I had written a letter describing where I was coming from and what I hoped the outcome could be. I guess I'm a little different going into the trial and subsequent implant. My life had deteriorated so much that I was excited and willing to try just about anything. I I had traveled from Ca to the east coast seeing specialists trying to get relief. My pain controlled all aspects. Looking back, I thought I was able to hide my pain from family and friends and jeust power through it all. What I was doing was withdrawing to avoid having to always back out of life or sit on the sidelines.
The meds became my companion. Like Mark, I too have almost gotten off all meds. Instead of counting the hours till my next dose I now go days with out meds. I thank God daily for the miracle of SCS.

The idea of the battery in my butt still is hard to get used to. It has become topic of many jokes with friends. It's nice to be able to laugh about it.
Sandy

[Rrae]

You sound SO much like me! I drug my feet for 1 1/2 yrs before getting the implant because it seemed like such a creepy thing to do, but like you, I had literally tried everything (including things like accupuncture, chiropracters, supplemental therapy, and I even had a lady look in my EYEBALLS (iridology) to supposedly find the problem ) Desperate indeed.

And yes, trying to hide the pain. I discovered in hindsight, however, that despite all attempts, the pain shows in our eyes.....at least to people who know how to see it. I shyed away from friends, friends shyed away from me...
But the best thing of all is that we are able to 'laugh' about it and make jokes. I truly believe that is the number one defensive mechanism there is.l

I'm so happy to hear you speak so highly of what this has done for you