Hi scarbran,

I don't know why your doctor would say things to scare you like this.. geez who does that?! Anyway's I just had my SCS implanted a few weeks ago and honestly it really wasn't as bad as I thought. Since you have been through multiple surgeries I am sure you will cope just fine with the surgical pain. The most uncomfortable part for me is the pain in my rib cage or just between/below shoulder blades but this isn't from the incision it seems more like pain from trying to stay straight and not being able to bend or stretch.. like someone mentioned earlier 'a bad runners stitch'. The 3 hour car ride home was also uncomfortable but that was expected and resolved once I got out of the car. The battery site still causes some discomfort when I go for walks or my pant line is pressing on it when sitting .. but I am sure that will continue to get better over the next few weeks. All of the discomfort felt from surgery is nothing compared to the pain caused by the CRPS 2!!

Good luck and might I suggest finding or at the very least questioning your doctors intentions by his/her scare tactics.

God bless,
Tessa

Tessa has a good point on the doctor although all mine said was that he increased my dosage because I would need it.

For me it was very painful ...my one and only open me up back surgery ---the pain between the shoulder blades and I went back to work at 10 days and I don't think I healed until I quit working 6 months later.

It is such an individual decision...the pain over rides logical thought at times...read all you can.
Johanna

Sorry hanabananna to hear how painful your SCS was! Glad to know though that you were able to quit working and have since healed up. Do you plan to return at some point or have you decided not to? Sorry if that is to much of a personal question.. I'm wondering if I'll be able to go back to my job.. and trying to think things through.

.. I don't think it was as painful for me only because of the 11 other BIG BIG surgeries I had during the previous 1.5 years.. surgical pain became sadly normal for a while..

The one thing I am learning quickly is that one minute things feel tolerable and the next WHAM.. out of the blue everything changes. Ugh. I did go in today and got my SCS tweaked and added some new programming. lol.. I wasn't even aware of it's capabilities until today.. happy, happy JOY JOY. Wondering if anyone has used medical marijuana for breakthrough pain and if so, what was your experience? I live in WA so it is not illegal here and although I have been told by many to give it a try, I am still hesitant. On the same hand though I would think it would be better than opiates or higher doses of neurontin to cover the flares? What do you think?

So glad to have this board full of wonderful people!!

I have learned so much here...so very grateful to have found so much knowledge in the threads.
My SSdisability came thru straight away so I hope to take another 6-12 months to get stronger..I miss work.
So sorry to hear about all that surgery...happy on the tweeks---you were worried...your rep is your best contact now that the surgeon has done his work
That WHAM happens to me too when I over do...sets me right on my ***.
I do use MM for nausea...it also worked when I had to deep breath thru serious muscle spasms...my mind could drift. As far as for pain breakthru I found it to make me feel the pain more intensly....it did make me sit and rest or do something creative without much physical involvement so in that way it helped keep me from being "antsy". I respond very well to Loritab and have been on it for 4 years now....I am very lucky that if I get too much in me...I just vomit. I am using my SCS low and constant and doing that I am able to cut back on the meds. I do not get flares...just low back spasms along with the injury pain.
Such a journey...I am a survivor...most of us are...as I get stronger I am just so alive again.

Johanna

Hi Tessa - we really are the same! My three magic bullets for me are my SCS, marijuana and massage. With those three, I am almost completely off all my pain meds, and working as hard as ever - and still have energy to go play after. As last time, send me a PM if you want more info....I am very good friends with a mmj dispensery owner in the Renton area, and he has worked with me to find what works for my pain