Hello everyone, I've missed you all a lot! I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, I've just been really busy with a 23 hour course load. Between that, weekly trips to the doctor for bier blocks, and physical therapy 3x a week, I don't really have leisure time. The good news is, though, that I'm leaving Friday for a week in Cozumel to relax. I'm very excited because I need this trip badly!

Which brings me to my first question. I'm a little nervous going through security in an airport where not everyone speaks English. Have any of you had any experience traveling to Mexico with your SCS? They move everyone through so quickly at airports, so I hope I won't have any trouble explaining my situation to them. I have my Boston Scientific card as well. I'm also thinking of just leaving my remote in the room when I'm down at the pool or beach, because I'd hate to have anything happen to it. I'll just try to have it at a setting where I don't think I'd need to adjust it.

I'm also wondering if anyone still experiences pinching in their backs after having their stimulator implanted. My initial implant was in November and the revision was in January, and I still get pinching pain in the area of the implant as well as where I'm assuming the wires are. It's not an every day occurrence or anything so it's something I can live with, just wondering if it's common or not.

My SCS has been working well to reduce my knee pain. I have been having more issues with charging lately, and they think that's because it's come closer to the surface and also tilted some. But the advice is to put more layers in between my skin and the charger. I have started a running program, though, and it feels great to be more active again! What's really a problem now is my wrist, which you may or may not remember the RSD has spread to. It has deteriorated quickly, and I went through a series of nerve blocks and then a series of bier blocks, but neither gave me any lasting relief. The next steps are an inpatient epidural infusion or another SCS. I tried the epidural infusion with my knees and while they felt great in the hospital with the epidural in, as soon as they took it out the pain came back. So I'm reluctant to go through that again with the risk of having the same results. But at the same time, it's less drastic and not permanent, which is why I'm really considering trying it for my wrist.

My doctor asked me if I'm ok with 2 SCS implants and I told him that if that's what it comes down to, then I am, but I'd like to try other options first. The thing is, we know now how this treatment has helped me with my knees, which is why it's being brought up. Everyone tells me how they wish they could just program my stim now to reach my wrist, which would be wonderful if it could work that way. I can't accept living with all this pain, so if it comes down to a second stim then I'll cross that bridge, but the idea of having another one implanted is not an exciting one, let's just say...

So my last question is for more information about cervical implants? I know there's not as much information out there because less people have them. Is it true that you can't move your neck for the 8 weeks? How was your recovery? Also, I know there are a couple people here who have 2 implants and are happy. I'd love to hear your input if you could as well.

Thank you