SCS & Pain Pumps For spinal cord stimulator (SCS) and pain pump discussions.

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Old 01-09-2012, 08:17 PM #1
CoralToe CoralToe is offline
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Default Date set, ready to go!

Last Friday my insurance officially approved the full SCS implant - so I'm good to go. I am scheduled for this Friday (Fri the 13th.....I'm not superstitious - but the date does make me a little nervous ) at the wee hour of 6AM. I am a BIG fan of early am surgery times - as the surgeon is fresh, hasn't not fallen behind on other patients, and most importantly I don't have to suffer an inordinate amount of time sans food/liquid - so I am very happy about the 6AM time slot. My trial was done at 3pm - and by the time I was done I had a "lack of caffeine" headach from Hell. Anyways, I am slightly nervous (I know its gonna hurt before I get better), and mostly excited to begin the journey of getting some of my life back. I know I haven't been here long, but would appreciate some thoughts and prayers for my big day
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Old 01-09-2012, 08:53 PM #2
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Default Hi Coral!

Congrats on getting your date set!

I have two ideas on how you could look at the 13th:

1. Maybe it's bad luck for your pain, not you.

2. I don't know where you live, but I live in Eastern (sort of) USA, and when I think of places like Japan or Australia, it seems like it's always already tomorrow there. So are they still having bad luck there when it's the 13th here, or do you think it rolls around the globe with the time zones? Of course not--that's silly. Also, see #1.

Wishing you the best on your Friday, wherever and whenever that is.
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Old 01-09-2012, 10:46 PM #3
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Thumbs up

Now THAT'S my kind of reasoning Joan

Heather, it dawn't matter if you've been here long or not.....you've hopped aboard the SCSer bunch, so you're in Deep now! We used to call ourselved the 'BUTT BUZZERS, but that isn't politically correct anymore since there are so many more body parts involved.....AND there is even a 'NON buzzing' implant from our friends abroad!

I wish you the best as your big date approaches
I'm especially anxious to hear how the programming goes! This is such a huge deal....just keep reminding yourself of the better quality of life you are striving for. I actually wrote myself a 'letter' in case I had any second thoughts or regrets. I wrote in detail of how horrible my life was with this terrible burning, piercing pain.....just so I would 'remember'....
Needless to say, I haven't had to refer back to that letter because without a doubt I've made a wonderful choice by getting this little unit!

We're here for ya! Always will be. I have a feeling you'll be teaching US a thing or two! We are constantly learning from one another.

I'm excited for you!

Rae
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Old 01-10-2012, 05:54 PM #4
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Will be praying for a quick and successful surgery! Soon you'll be buzzing along with the rest of us.

Just one tip (here I go again...always adding my 3 cents..used to be 2 cents, but what with inflation and all). I wasn't prepared for how my pain dr. handles things after the surgery. How he handles it is he puts the implants in, and then I only saw him for the surgery follow-up visit. Every office visit to the pain clinic thereafter I didn't see him at all , just the implant rep. He became my new buddy whenever I went cuz' his job was to talk to me about the coverage I was getting so he could tweak it for me. I wasn't prepared for this and I think they fell down on this part, not explaining to me that the dr. implants them and then I'm passed off to the implant rep. for regular sessions of tweaking.

I finally came to realize that the dr. was busy off in the other part of the bldg. doing procedures on other folks and if I wanted to talk specifically to him I had to tell them. Just a heads up in case your dr. works that way.

I know others on here have said that they regularly saw their dr. after their implant, but I tended to see the implant rep. more than anyone else after the surgery was done. The dr. would pop in once in a while for a minute, but the main time was spent with the rep.

Don't worry about going in too many times to get tweaked. The rep. may ask you to give it a week to see if the new adjustments have helped, but go in as many times as nec. until you get the best pain control for you. It'd be nice if your rep. was as good as Mark's and let you learn how to tweak yourself! I'm under the impression that more of the reps. are starting to do this, but at the time mine wasn't.

Also, make sure you have enough pain meds. on hand, just in case it takes a while to find your best settings on your remote.

Again, praying for a great surgery and less pain in the future
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Old 01-10-2012, 07:34 PM #5
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Thanks for the tips! Always welcome. I think I posted this in another thread - but I am already pretty vocal with my doc about what I need out of her. Sometimes she forgets - and then I remind her, and its all good. We actually got our degrees at the same school (OHSU) in Portland OR.....hers an MD and mine a PhD....so we have a bit of comraderie there as well. I am also lucky to have a great rep. She let me program myself for the trial, and we will be doing the same for the permanent.

The one thing I'm really worried about is post-op pain. After my last foot surgery a year ago - Nothing I had could touch the pain, and I ended up in the ER truly knowing what a "10" felt like on the pain scale. I also was not anticipating the amount of pain I was in during the trial. Now with the full implant requiring incisions - lets just say I'm nervous. I am guessing most of you can relate when I say that I have been in so much pain for so long - playing the delicate balancing act of enough meds to be able to live, but not so much as to be a zombie.....that anything that disrupts this precarious balance (like surgery) makes me anxious. At least this time I know there is a light at the end of the long tunnel! I see my doc tomorrow (its my normal monthly appt), and will discuss this issue with her. She has already said she will Rx post-op meds....so hopefully they do the trick.
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Old 01-10-2012, 11:23 PM #6
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Default Go For The Finish Line Coral

Program it, Program it, Program it!!!!

We are gonna convince the establishment one way or another. I am so glad your rep is working with you!!

Post surgical pain will be high.... plan on it! Doc should prepare you with additional pain meds in addition to pain management meds you have been on, because the process DOES disturb tissues in a couple of ways. I slept post surgery. Used the LogRoll to get out of bed. Developed BLAST since no one had given me an acronym... just BLT from fusion days. Add the S for No Stretching, and you are home free. Ease yourself down and up in the restroom. If you have a handle in the room to grab, use it, or get a cheapie cane at Wal Mart to help up and down. Remember to "Stay ahead of the pain post surgery." Walk in your house. Stay mobile if you can.

This, too, shall pass into oblivion and you will hopefully find peace with the permanent stim!

Prayin for you and the doc,
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Old 01-14-2012, 01:51 AM #7
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Default I'm officially bionic :)

Hey all! Just wanted to post that I had the surgery for my full implant this morning. Everything went smoothly, and much easier than the trial. During the trial my doc had some problems getting through some scar tissue - and this time seemed not to have that issue. Interestingly enough - she had the rep tape the procedure with her iphone to use for teaching/educational purposes...I've asked for a copy - so can post it up here when I get it from her.

The trial was also easier in the fact that I was much more strongy sedated. I vaguely remember coming around enough to confirm that the stim sensation was in the right spot - but it was only one time, unlike the trial in which we went back and forth between awake and sedated about 3-4 times. I also made sure to ask for extra pain meds - and that has helped alot! For the trial I could barely move for the first couple of days; while this time I can walk slowly around the house as needed. Don't get me wrong - it still feels like someone kicked me in the back near my kidney (where the battery is), but its at least bearable this time!

Finally, my case took somewhat longer than expected, so my doc and rep had to leave for their next case as soon as they were done with me. My rep unlocked all the neccessary settings and loaded up similar programs to those I had for the trial. Its not perfect yet - but I get to program myself at my post-op next Thursday. In the meantime, my foot is buzzing away - and working as expected

So - thank you all for the encouragement, answering questions etc. It really helps to have folks like all of you around who have "been there, done that"

-Heather
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Old 01-14-2012, 09:52 AM #8
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Thumbs up Heather

Great REPORT re your surgery. Get up, move around. Walk the house. Stay saft. Keep on top of the surgical pain.

Then with your post op programming session, Go For It. They have said you may take the wheel, and it will dawn on you as you manipulate the computer with rep's supervision, firstly, this is not so hard, AND the all important secone hope- the dawning of your realization you CAN dial yourself in effectively regarding exactly the programs you need for your repertoire.

May you know success,
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Old 01-14-2012, 01:50 PM #9
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Laugh Yayy Heather!

What great news! Like a true champ, you breezed right thru it
I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say after you've programmed yourself!
ALSO looking forward to see the teaching tape that has been recorded from your procedure! That is very exciting - a first!

Take it easy on yourself. I pushed myself too much too soon and ended up with a migrated lead

Congratulations Heather!

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Old 01-14-2012, 08:23 PM #10
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Thanks for the support guys! I am much, much more sore today - but hanging in there knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I m really excited to see the video. When I first started looking around and researching SCS implants, I searched you-tube over and over to try and find a good video of the procedure. Hopefully I will get a copy at my first post-op visit next Thursday. Once I get it - I may need an admin to show me how to post it here
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