My dr had not told me what to expect for the SCS trial on Friday. Can I get others journey threw their experiences? Put to sleep, feel anything, etc.?

Thanks
Ashley

Shame on your doctor for not explaining!

When friday rolls around, make sure you get detailed information on what he will be doing to you. Good communication is KEY to a successful trial. You will need to know what he will be doing to you while on the operating table, so that you can do your part in accurately describing where you are feeling the stimulation, or if you are 'not' feeling the stimulation where it should be. It's a 3-way teamwork when the moment comes for the Rep to turn on the unit, but it's you who will call the shot because only you can feel the stim.

Normally, when you get in the OR, the anesthesiologist will put you in what is called a 'twilight daze', meaning you are not all the way out of it. Rather, you'll be sedated just enough to be able to comfortably withstand the procedure, yet awake enough to be able to know what's happening and able to communicate to the OR team, and the Rep from the manufacterer of your SCS.

For me, during the procedure, there were a few times when it became uncomfortable as the local anesthesia seemed to wear down and I could feel the needle and/or the incision. All I had to do was mumble 'ouuuch' and he'd shoot me with more local to better numb the area. They are usually pretty good in keeping the patient comfortable. Again tho, this is why it's crucial to have good communication.

We'll sure be anxious to hear how you've done. You'll get plenty of caring feedback every step of the way.

When you first go home from the procedure you may feel a bit overwhelmed because of the procedure itself and trying to decifer the surgical pain vs your original pain condition. Completely normal. Allow your body to be 'mad' at first, concentrate on laying on ice and rest the first day or so. In no time tho, you'll be up for tinkering with the controls and doing things around the house to get an idea of how you will fare with this. By day 3, I was completely in LOVE with the whole thing and thrilled once it became apparent that the stimulation was covering over my RSD/neuropathy pain.

Hope this helps somewhat
Others will be along to share their experiences.

Rae

My trial was easy. They put me out. I was woken up when they placed the leads to make sure I could feel them. Then back to sleep to finish up. When I got in recovery, they turned it on. I had four programs I believe, maybe five. Anyway, they gave me a diary to record the program and pain relief, was I able to do more, take less meds, etc. mine lasted seven days, and they took it out. Then it takes anywhere from a month to three to get the perm implant if it's successful. I was lucky. My trial was 6/14 and my perm was implanted 7/10. Unfortunately, I had a lead revision due to a nasty fall in August, but other than that everything was great. I hope your trial gives you as much relief as I got! My perm hasn't quite gotten there yet, but still scarring in for the second time and dealing with serious complications. Lots of luck!!!!

TK

There was no twilight or sleep for me in the Trial, as the insertion was by Local Anesth... but then they treat guy people differently..... you know, leather and all of that.

Even so, it was not bad really, and when I had the discogram and epiduragram, the realization those procedures where underway was astonishingly FAR MORE traumatic.

Comaratively, the SCS Trial was really way cool, and when the connections were established the tech, whom I had met surprisedly on that morning, was Johnny on the Spot to perform magic with the little electronic gizmos and widgets they had placed in the epidural space. That first twinge of stim reality was an interesting event, as it buzzed as is the case with Boston Scientific technology to date. Then with the computer appended, I began to feel those first tentative "steps" toward becoming as though a part of the Borg Continuum.

Tweaking in Recovery thereafter was the cat's meow as I was able to truly comment on feeling this and that after the OR moments began to fade into history..... Heck, I was ready to go for ice cream thereafter. I kid you not!!

Early days in the one week of grace I was allowed told me THIS was the path of restoration of portions of my life I had until then feared forever gone.

I will pray all will be well for your Trial. Be sure to follow the restrictions of Doc on too much over exertion as there will not be much holding the Trial in place. Even so, do try it out! Go to a movie. Eat out. Ride with someone else driving the car. LEARN what may be in store for YOU!

Fear not,
Mark56