Herein we continue the chronicle of an adventure undertaken in 2010 as I arrived here to inquire about what is all of the journey regarding SCS going to possibly bring to the life I had known before as one who was dependent upon pain management medication as the means merely to survive from day-to-day. Meds continually for me were an unacceptable legacy for life. All of that original material is found here: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread117854.html where a faith filled journey following a horrible I-70 wreck turned my legal executive career inside out.

Now, please continue the path with me as we take on the next chapter of life managing pain into my upper body where the right arm has been a very serious source of concern. God is good, and Thursday, merely the day before yesterday, a diagnostic and temporarily relieving multistep surgery both left us KNOWING exactly what was causing my right arm to die, instill in me a means to cope for the time being, and within the next two weeks learn next steps.

Pain has been a journey on an undulating landscape of trials, tribulations, victories, bittersweet partings of things once capable to a previously fully athletic body now partly bionic through the wildly successful blessing of God's inspired Boston Scientific Precision Plus SCS miracle which I believe I was the first self programmed unit user on this little blue oasis in space.

My career fully regained, multiple state license to practice extensions now pending so I may effectively provide counsel to my clients, and the sheer joy such a blessing from on HIGH which has brought this status of renewal to my life has been the flow of energy driving this thread to a newer address whence old is preserved and new takes off into a greater adventure of Faith filled experience.

Join me in the walk forward to life beyond the limitations of pain, live the life we were each meant to embrace, and take up the mantra of greeting all whom you meet with the words "I am blessed, how are YOU?" and you will as well learn life is only beginning as we lead the way into a pain filled world needing to understand life is more than the drudge of enduring, but is a blessing filled environment by which we each inspire the other.

I am excited as can be....... are you?
Blessed and Praying,
Mark56

Mark.....Your life as you once knew it; we were informed. Then tragic wreck on I-70, followed by years of surgeries, pain and suffering. Then hope with the implant of your SCS..withdrawal of all meds; including narcotic. Followed by despair, depression and success. End of meds. A story in itself for all to read.

Life continued...getting back from a world of pain and suffering; attempts at restoring your former legal success, although not the person you once were, physicallly; but spiritually have come to a place where you let God completely take over. Take over He did.

We here on NT, joined in on your ups and downs; only to see you once again know how "blessed" you are. Blessed in ways you never dreamed. But, once again, horrible foot burning, pain, suffering was attacking you...gout was the diagnosis. Then unable to use your arm...more pain and concern. What would life be, moving forward??

Up-to-date....Surgical procedure on arm performed; hope restored. Arm appears not to be lost; but can be treated with much success. A life of "blessings". Blessings for all to share. "Blessings"....ours as well.

A life continued.....(Maybe one day an all inspiring book published?)

Mark..... we will share with you, phase 2. Blessed we all are indeed !!!

(Gerry)

Anymore news about your arm? I had the impression there was a good chance that the pain and perserving of the right arm showed great promise.

Concerned & Praying,

Gerry

I am so grateful to have found this forum and it's predecessor Boston Scientific Mini Rechargeable SCS 1. It took me 4 days to read the first forum but i found myself clinging to every word as though it was written just for me. I know this not to be true as i am convinced that it has helped untold numbers get through some really tough times. Thank you Mark56 for sharing your story and thanks for all who have chimed in and have shared your stories and overwhelming support for one another. In the past 4 days i have laughed, cried, and most of all come to know each and every member of this forum as someone dear to my heart.

Mark, i am sorry to hear of your current situation with your arm. I know these must be dark days for you but I am clinging to the words of your doctor. "I can fix this!". So, I join in support of victory over this as you have overcome others in the past and await in anticipation for the messages of hope, love, and understanding that will surely fill these pages.

Hey Mark - I thought I had read your Boston Scientific Thread #1 in its entirety....but decided to click the link once more for posterity. In so doing, I saw that the date of your first post (as well as the date of your appointment to discuss SCS with your doc) was on 3/29/10. I have no idea how I missed this before - but that was the date of my penultimate foot surgery - and my b-day. So it seems we are "connected" in yet another way my friend

Also - I am not sure who all the mods are over here - but I think that thread deserves to be stickied at the top of this forum - I'm just saying

Glad you now have an answer regarding the arm pain - and hope that now that the problem has been identified, you and your docs can move towards a solution.

Welcome, Dee....I am new also. I totally agree with you--as I read through Mark's odyssey, and the experiences of others, it gave me hope and warmed my heart to know that we are indeed not alone. It's nice to have a place where people understand that you are not trying to cop out of life, rather, we're just trying to HAVE a life in spite of daily pain that can sometimes wear us down. Thanks for echoing exactly what I've felt here!
Jan

Just this evening, we have returned from our road trip to bring visitation to our parents, song to a wedding and worship, AND were able to stop to visit for a couple of hours with Fr. Syl, my wife's priest during the time of catechism and that all important bridge over from childhood to the teen years. It was such a blessing to do all, and especially to see Fr. Syl. His health is waning and he is still ever the servant of Christ, celebrating mass every Sunday for those who gather with him in his mountain beauty picture perfect place to honor God. Precious these times were!

The two procedures accomplished last Thursday did precisely what my dear Dr. S had hoped, and he had picture perfect clarity through the fluoroscope to view the problem impingement of the C7 nerve root. Next week Cleo and I will see him to learn what is next, as the nerve blockers emplaced wore off through the night last night, and driving home was especially painful. Yes, we did pull off of the road thrice to allow me to rest, but rest was fitfull as pain is as it was before last Thursday. Even so, Doc is sure he can treat this issue, and we look forward to the news realizing the meantime will be a time of pain. At least I have the Windows 7 Speech Recognition suite and a trusty headset to dictate.

I feel so blessed to know you all are blessed to have the benefit of this continuing chronicle as a means to realize pain need not be allowed victory over us. Hi Dee [I have a niece by that name!], welcome to this region of the universe! I look forward to reaching out to you as you may have questions. Goodness, I am already trying to figure out how to set up virtual Java with Jan so we can chew some Espresso. Rae will have some cool image for us to latch onto for a virtual coffee party. Maybe we can even do it out at Pooh's ranch in Nowhere [a very real place] somewhere between here and thar!

I feel blessed y'all,
Arms a hurtin, so going to turn in,
Praying as always,
Mark56

P.S. Goodness Coral Toe, I did not realize we were so close in the continuum!

Thanks Jan for the warm welcome!

Thanks for the welcome Mark! I am being processed for a Trial SCS. Your posts thus far have been quite helpful as have those of others that frequent this forum. I do have questions...many of them, as well as fears of which I will share in the coming days.

Hope your arm is feeling better soon!

It is amazing to learn of the fullness of the fury of the elements when caught in a midnight storm, the likes of which are beyond the understanding of any old timers around these parts. Last night we were watching a disturbing movie about an airliner crash in Alaskan wilderness and a chase of all survivors by wolves to a disappointing conclusion. It was interrupted in the middle....................

Rain had begun to pelt the roof. Heavy rain, the kind which soaks into the earth, nurturing all which is greenery with life giving moisture. The droplets increased in intensity and tempo, the lightning begins to flash and crash in dramatic counterpoint to the rainfall.......

Crash!!!!! I see sparks out of the left peripheral vision not knowing it is fire leaping from the outlets in our daughter's bedroom. The walls vibrate, and a photo montage with poetry written by my dear Mother in Law about our wedding securely hung on the wall, falls to the floor with the vibration..... the smell of electrical fire is emanating from our bathroom in the master suite..... we have been stricken by lightning, the only such home to be hit in the metro area to our knowledge....... thousands of dollars of electrical work and electronics are rendered instant bulk JUNK. A millionth of a second, and it is indelibly scribed upon our minds as an event to pass on to others as a WOW moment in time.

Funnel clouds are turning in the sky above our home, and yet we are so very close to the mountains.... the so called all protective mountains which have purported to keep twisters out of our lives, and the mountains stand as mute sentinels to the march of lightning and hail bearing twister clouds while the cacophony of tornado sirens and spoken warnings over the Emergency Broadcast System of the city cry unintelligibly to citizens who cannot hear due to the severity of the storm. We now know all of the money spent to install and regularly test those blasted sirens and speaker systems are funds wasted because during the severity of the storm nothing could be heard or understood. They work just fine in dry weather......

Our home is safe. Electrician has visited and rendered assistance. Replacements are underway while insurance is notified.... God is good, for we were kept dry and safe within our brick and stone structure and though there was fire from outlets, nothing burned but electronics and wires.

The arm? Oh, it hurts a regular 8 out of 10, although yesterday at work was a well of tears for the pain was 9 out of 10. Co-workers say "you are not made out of steel" but I am not willing to be beat by the arm. I dictate away. That works. Next week we see Doc to learn of both the true diagnosis and the proposed remedy. For now, pain is the reality, and it is tremendous. Agony. God is merciful and helps in this time of need. I am blessed.

My Boston Scientific Precision Plus SCS? None of my external electronics were damaged by the lightning.... the destroyer of lightning. The recharger was plugged into one of the most expensive power strips money can buy, as was most everything else in the house. Even so, my Boston Sci was not knocked out, and I just finished the recharge cycle on my generator. Butt buzzing away.

Today in the bright morning sunlight with six inch drifts of hail alongside roads, I drove to Ray's house taking Blueberry muffins, plates, napkins, a birthday card and sang happy birthday to his wonderful smile!! He became 93 years young today. We shared scripture and friendship, a blessing for sure.

Life is a blessing,
Thank you Lord and for those who pray,
Mark56