[cancun]

Hello, I'm not sure where I should post this. My husband had a spinal cord stimulator implanted on July 27, (approx. 12 days ago). We were under the impression it was a same-day surgery and that the expected pain after surgery would be similar to that of constipation. However, he experienced excessive pain right after surgery and they admitted him. He was in the hospital for 4 days and although he was discharged he is still experiencing a great deal of pain (in his abdomen). Most of the nurses at the hospital said they never had admitted a patient before after this type of surgery.


We is seeing the surgeon in a few days to have the stimulator turned on.

I was wondering if this high level of pain for this amount of time was normal or not.

[Spiney95]

I can't answer your question as I never got beyond the failed trial, 15 years ago. Someone will be on to answer soon. I will be watching as I am having a new trial on Tuesday, hoping to have better results this time. Best wishes and hang in there.

[Mark56]

Was the implant done in Cancun, I ask because of the handle you used, or in the U.S.? I know because I have had ultra serious surgery of the low spine twice before the implant years later; thus, I had something by which to compare.

My implant was done as a one day procedure. We were in a surgery center attached to a hospital from 6 in the morning to just after 6 in the evening. We were released not because I felt like running a mile, but because the surgeon hopes his patients will be able to return home due to fear of infection if remaining In The Hospital.

Even though we returned to our home and put me to bed, I was in pain similar to having the prior serious deep back surgery and my own bed at home was no more comfortable than a hospital bed. I was miserable for the first few nights and did not sleep well just as at the hospital, then my pain began to lessen significantly into week two, to the point that by end of the week when my Dr. appointment arrived for programming my stim, I was uncomfortable but not out of control in pain.

I ask which country your husband was in as he experienced implant, for I have heard both plus and minus stories about hospital situations in the country neighbor to our south. This is not meant to alarm you though.

Each individual is going to experience pain unto their own particular profile. For some, pain tolerance is higher, for others less. Your husband's doc should be all over this, both as insurance hates paying for hospital nights for a procedure they consider "less significant." While pain requiring four night hospitalization in your husband's case even seems much to me, for with my most serious of surgeries, I was booted out of the hospital after two nights.

I don't know whether this is particularly helpful Cancun, but I am around if you have questions, AND I will commence praying for you and your husband.

Prayin,
Mark56 gentle zzzz

[yellow]

I can say that the pain after an SCS surgery is much worse than constipation. There is a very severe, sharp pain afterwards because a whole battery implant as well as leads are placed in the body, and leads are tunneled through the body. This is a lot of disruption. I and many others here have been admitted overnight after surgery. Four days does seem out of the ordinary, but that could have been because he said he was in a lot of pain and they wanted to keep him more comfortable on pain pumps in the hospital. I know after both of my surgeries my doctor asked me the next morning if I was ready to go home, and if I had told him I thought it would have been better to stay, he would have gladly kept me longer. If there were any complications or infections as the reason for keeping him longer, they surely would have told you, so I do think that was probably the reason

It is frustrating when it's not what you expect, though, I know.

[Rrae]

....and welcome to the forum!
I'm sorry about this pain your husband is experiencing.
I was curious to know where they put the battery unit? You mention he has this pain in his abdomen and I'm wondering if it's the IPG unit causing this pain.
Have the Drs gave you any explanation why they kept him for those 4 days? Perhaps they were concerned about a fever or possible infection.
I know how frustrating this must be.

I hope you can get some clear answers very soon.
Make sure the docs are aware that he still has this high level of pain.

Please keep us posted!!

Rae

[Sandy Kay]

My implant which was one year ago this week for abdominal pain was done on an out patient basis at a surgery center connected to a hospital. In at six home before three. For me, the pain was extreme into week three, but I have never dealt with back pain only abdominal pains. My friend who had an scs implant a few months later called me at week two and said why didn't you tell me how painful this is? She had already had two very invasive spine surgeries. I told her I didn't want to worry her and didn't know how she reacts to pain. Long story short, lists of pain into week three.

Hoping you husband finds relief of pain and a successful outcome from his scs implant.

Sandy Kay

[cancun]

Originally Posted by Mark56

Was the implant done in Cancun, I ask because of the handle you used, or in the U.S.? I know because I have had ultra serious surgery of the low spine twice before the implant years later; thus, I had something by which to compare.

My implant was done as a one day procedure. We were in a surgery center attached to a hospital from 6 in the morning to just after 6 in the evening. We were released not because I felt like running a mile, but because the surgeon hopes his patients will be able to return home due to fear of infection if remaining In The Hospital.

Even though we returned to our home and put me to bed, I was in pain similar to having the prior serious deep back surgery and my own bed at home was no more comfortable than a hospital bed. I was miserable for the first few nights and did not sleep well just as at the hospital, then my pain began to lessen significantly into week two, to the point that by end of the week when my Dr. appointment arrived for programming my stim, I was uncomfortable but not out of control in pain.

I ask which country your husband was in as he experienced implant, for I have heard both plus and minus stories about hospital situations in the country neighbor to our south. This is not meant to alarm you though.

Each individual is going to experience pain unto their own particular profile. For some, pain tolerance is higher, for others less. Your husband's doc should be all over this, both as insurance hates paying for hospital nights for a procedure they consider "less significant." While pain requiring four night hospitalization in your husband's case even seems much to me, for with my most serious of surgeries, I was booted out of the hospital after two nights.

I don't know whether this is particularly helpful Cancun, but I am around if you have questions, AND I will commence praying for you and your husband.

Prayin,
Mark56 gentle zzzz

No, the surgery was not done in Cancun (its our favorite vacation spot) it was done in Milwaukee at St. Luke's. My husband is just now being able to sleep through the night without having to get up to get more pain meds. He is going in tomorrow to have his stimulator turned on. Hopefully, the surgeon an Medtronics will be able to answer why the excessive pain. Thanks for your feedback!

[cancun]

His surgery was done in Milwaukee at St. Luke's, which is a reputable hospital.
Prior to this he has had 3 other spine surgeries (the last one he had rods and screws put it to stabilize his spine), 5 arthroscopies on his knees (one of which he stayed awake for to watch), and a double hernia and we have never seen him in this amount of pain. Our daughters agree for him to say his level was a 10 it was most likely closer to a 15 for most everyone else.

One of our main concerns is that he runs slightly anemic (which they knew about) and we were afraid he bleed more during surgery or that he was still bleeding internally. However, his surgeon chalked up the excessive pain to the fact that he needed to void, but when that problem was addressed there was no relief in pain and he was still hallucinating. After, 18 hours of excruciating pain we threatened to call 911 from his room to get the hospitalist in. He at least started to look into finding him some pain relief.

What bothers us the most is that, if what the nurses said was true (they never needed to admit other scs implant patients prior to him), no one there looked into any underlying reasons why “his” pain was excessive. Last night he was finally able to sleep through the night without having to get up and get meds. (13 days after surgery).

After talking to someone else they had a similar problem with excessive pain, it was determined that she had a reaction to the pain meds themselves, so at this time that is what we feel is most likely what happened.

He is going back tomorrow to have his stimulator turned on and will be going over these concerns and get a list of medication he was on.

[cancun]

Originally Posted by Rrae

....and welcome to the forum!
I'm sorry about this pain your husband is experiencing.
I was curious to know where they put the battery unit? You mention he has this pain in his abdomen and I'm wondering if it's the IPG unit causing this pain.
Have the Drs gave you any explanation why they kept him for those 4 days? Perhaps they were concerned about a fever or possible infection.
I know how frustrating this must be.

I hope you can get some clear answers very soon.
Make sure the docs are aware that he still has this high level of pain.

Please keep us posted!!

Rae

His battery unit was placed on his backside.

[Rrae]

Originally Posted by cancun

He is going back tomorrow to have his stimulator turned on and will be going over these concerns and get a list of medication he was on.

Hoping things went well today when they turned on the stim. Perhaps they'll piece this all together and really 'listen' to your concerns so that he can get the relief he needs.

I'm sorry he's had to go through all of this pain.

Rae