Nanc, I didn't know that paddle leads could ever be put in without a laminectomy. That's really interesting! But how scared you must have been hearing that right before you went into surgery! Thankfully everything turned out well, and hopefully your husband learned never to ask a question like that again No, my doctor hasn't discussed the paddle leads with me. I wonder if it would make a difference for me? At this point if the leads need to be replaced, which hopefully they won't, I think the new 16 point leads are a good option for me since there will be double the options to get the right coverage where I need it. It's really good to know, though, that if I do end up getting the paddle leads at any point that I wouldn't need to have the laminectomy.

The more I have time to process it, the more I feel that this surgery is going to help me and I feel good about it. It's hard when no one can give you any kind of guarantee (since the x-rays don't show anything obvious), but I'm glad there are several options to try if the first doesn't work. My first revision went well and I have a good feeling this one will too

I'm most worried about my schedule, which is a bit insane these Spring months due to graduate school and a whole bunch of field experience hours that need to be completed. But I know I need to just place it all in God's hands and He will help me through it.

Yes, I gave my husband major grief for doing that to me. It was bad enough that they were having major problems getting the IV in and because of those delays, they let my husband come back to see me and the dr was in there...it was chaos! Then my husband starts these questions for the doctor, scared the crap out of me!!

The rep told me that they were concerned at first about the paddle lead going in and then it slid right into position...he said they were high-fiving each other in there. I get really good coverage from the one paddle, although I can't remember how many points are on it. I know that they have different paddle sizes. If I needed it, I could get great stimulation in my mid-section...back and abdomen, areas but at this time I do not. My rep said that so many of her patients would kill for the kind of coverage I get I am happy to have the paddle lead vs. the two percutaneous leads, they tend to migrate easier and now I don't need to worry about that part of it so much.

I am sure you will do fine with the procedure, recovery and your hectic schedule. You are such a strong person, I admire you!

All the best,
Nanc

AGREED! Nanc is right on, Yellow. You've come thru the other procedures in the past with flying colors (even when things didn't go quite as planned) AND you manage to juggle school at the same time!

You are SUPER-woman in my book!

The

Dedicated Student

In spite of pain

Award

Do we get to have a party now?

Thanks so much to all of you, it means a lot I am determined, sometimes to a fault. But I have my spring break from classes not the week immediately after the surgery but the one after, so that'll allow me some more time with recovery without feeling guilty, which is a good thing And I'm trying to line up as many of my hours as I can before the date. The great thing is that working with kids is always such a joy and blessing, so it never truly feels like "work".

It was funny at the end of my appointment Tuesday that my doctor asked me if I still get the pain in my back when I'm laying on my stomach, because I had tested that just the day before for that reason! I thought that before I agree to any surgery, I better make sure I feel it on my stomach or it'll be pointless. Maybe I have been through this a bit too many times if I'm thinking like that...

I had a revision last month. The battery replaced and leads moved up. Working great, not even a reprogramming yet. Now, if I could get rid of the narcotics without withdrawal issues life would be almost perfect! Anyway, leads higher up is much better!

Yep NJ, prunes. Did I say................. prunes?

my friend
is there any thing you can share
or did this go right over me head
ha ha
but seriously
are you serious mark?

that someone who cares


by the way i love prunes
try them after being in the
freezer

my dear njbackpain
as someone who worked hard for my
sobriety 20 plus years i am in awe
at you all
my decision not to have any more surgery
is a decisions that was long and hard
my doctor in the end recommended
a pain pump and this is how i found
these wonderful true real persons
who are experiencing success with SCS makes
me fell so good to know there are
these stories
still not enough for me
not to many stories about
pain pump and that entails
continuing drugs NO THANKS
my success rate was 75% mechanical
and the hope to be taken off the hard core drugs
i'm on (not so lucly in MY case)
however in your case
i pray for you coming off your meds
i pray your withdrawal symptoms
passes quickly as i am a slave to mine
extremely upset after all my years of
mental clarity i am in a fog by the end
of the day
so with all that said
i hope and pray your tapering
down on the meds you don't suffer
those terrible horrible withdrawal
it be replaced with a good feeling
in your tummy and thru your body
the Lord lift some if not all the pain
in that too
you have been very helpful
in your story
i wish the pros who make these
powerful drugs we are on like myself
the fact is i am a heroin synthetic addict along
in the sense we all understand and
with all the other meds is depressing
and wondered why "they" haven't figured out
the formula to help us in our withdrawals
makes me nuts and because i will have a
long relationship with my pain specialist
does not sit with me well
my surgeries outcome not good
seriously took my life from me
my bliss cooking gone
and so on
my experiences with all the excruciating
test i had to help him with my surgery
was senseless in my outcome
don't ever want to have a disco-gram
or a meylogram or the umteen emg
this lady is done done done
oh and by the way
did i tell you i'm done

God Bless
may he comfort you
as our JESUS CRIST
suffered all forms of
pain not only on a physical
level
a great man

someone who cares
thinking of you as you taper

I'm glad it's going so well for you! It's funny because in my first revision they moved the leads down, and that was the answer, so just the opposite. Now they think moving them up a little (not as high as they were before) might help. Needless to say I'm a little wary about that option actually working. But who knows? Based on everyone's stories here alone we can see just how differently these devices react in different people's bodies. It's really pretty interesting!