I officially have my second revision for my thoracic stim scheduled for March 14th. At least I was prepared that this was a likely possibility ahead of time so I can't say I was surprised.

The thing is that the pain in my back has been more to the left lately, in between the leads incision and the battery pack. My rep that I was working with today had the idea that she thinks it has something to do with the battery pack itself, and my doctor agrees that it's a good possibility.

So here's the plan: (1) They'll check to see if any of the connections with the wires to the battery pack are loose. Something may have become unscrewed a little bit, and this could be causing the pain. If so, all they have to do is tighten it and it will be very simple. (2) If that's not the problem, they'll move the leads up, waking me up and seeing if they can get rid of the pain while still getting the coverage I need. He said something about moving them up where they're tighter in the epidural space. But I might lose coverage in my ankle this way. (3) If this doesn't work, the final step would be to implant a whole new device. The good thing is that Boston Scientific has a brand new device that has 16 points on the leads instead of 8, which would give me a lot more options for good coverage so that wouldn't be problem. But it would be starting at square one again.

So since there is a good plan in place, I'm optimistic that some level of it will help me. No one still has heard of anything like this. But it's clear at this point the problem is not one that can be fixed by programming.

In the meantime, he prescribed me a muscle relaxer just in case that could do some good to ease the back pain when I have the stim on. So I'm crossing my fingers it can help.

I haven't heard the new 16 point leads mentioned here yet, and I know Mark was just talking about new devices that will probably be coming out. The rep said they put it in 2 patients so far at my hospital and both have had great results.

It is what it is, and I'll get through it, hopefully for the better. My first revision was a blessing with the good that it did, so maybe this one will be the same.

Hi yellow. Sorry you are having to go through another revision, but it sounds like there is a good plan in place and I am sure it will all work out for you. Hope the muscle relaxer helps you in the meantime.

I have a question for you - do you have percutaneous or paddle leads in the thoracic stim? I ask because I originally had percutaneous leads and one migrated and was causing awful pain in my back. The doctor thought that it was stimulating the muscles, tendons, etc. because it was in a different position. That is when they decided to remove them and replace with a paddle lead. It was much better, although I do still feel some pain/spasms there from both stims, which means I have to keep them both lower than I want to, but it is much better with the paddle lead Did you guys discuss switching to a paddle lead? Because I already had leads in place, they did not have to do a laminectomy. They were able to use the same path of the other leads.

Oh, wanna hear something funny? I am in pre-op prepping for the revision surgery and my husband asks my doctor how many surgeries he has done like this (with this type of lead) or is she the guinea pig? Dr laughed and said, yeah, "she is the guinea pig". Then the rep says that I am the first in the state to get leads like this. Oh boy! Good thing I trusted my doctor The reps did tell me that my dr had just gone through the extra training for this surgery...Like I wasn't nervous enough, I could've knocked my husband out for this one

Anyway, keep us posted on how things go. You are in my prayers.
Nanc

A guinea pig, eh? Oh my! What a thing to find out at this stage of the game! I bet your hubby wasn't exactly expecting that response, was he!

Thanks for your description of the migrated lead. That makes it easier to comprehend regarding the muscles and tendons getting 'zapped'. That's exactly what was happening to me with my lead that came completely dislodged. Even tho it was not connected to the dura anymore, it still had 'juice' zapping at whatever was where the electrodes were lying around.
I totally believe that's why the muscles back there continue to spasm when the unit is on.

WELL, Yellow you're no stranger to this, that's fer sure!
I'm glad they have good plans laid out. I hope it won't get as far as plan #3. I'm gonna pin my hopes on PLAN #1. Easy fix.
BUT, if it does go to plan 3, then hey, you'll end up with a record-setting 16-point leads! And they've already performed this on 2 other patients, so you won't be THE official guinea pig!

Man, I swear. So many people have got these units nowadays, it's like second nature to the docs by now.

As always,
You are in my prayers!

Rae

WAIT one darn minute Nanc, I thought I lived in the wild west, where cows have the run of main street in some of our towns and such..... You live near the SEAT OF POWER..... I am surprised the power doesn't just ooze over on y'all. So what is that about you being the FIRST in the state? It wasn't April 1 was it???????????????????????????????????????????????? ?

Oh, well, I am going to go into the back yard and bonk my head on a tree....
like in the cartoons,
Yup.

At least we know you are Yellow and strong, and definitely NOT yella.... yeah. We will be holding you and your Dox in our prayers that revision goes well and produces excellent results all 'round.

Prayin,

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.

Haha!Yeah, the rep told my husband and then me later that I was the first in the state to get this type of paddle lead, not sure what makes it so special or different...I didn't ask No, it wasn't April Fools Day

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?