Howdy Messy!
 

All will be well with your trial. The purpose is very transitory and truly just a look into whether you think it worth it to go the distance with the real McCoy in the full on surgical implant.

I did not feel nervousness 'bout the trial effort. I had been through so much by then and the pain was outa sight......so I was a go for the "gimmee this thing right now" temporary gig. It worked. It was FANTASTIC!! I could do things such as EXIST and not want to die. We went walking....not far, but enough and under own power so as to give it a test of the ability to reach out and touch my PAIN in a very real way. I WAS SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Ka - ching]

So, fast forward several weeks [because my trial site became infected an wet with pus] after healing up from the trial attempt. It was the night before surgery for the implant. This was going to be the serious part. The life long test whether I could handle having some foreign electrical gear in my body.... Funny, but that night after making sure of the preparations, taking final meds, trying to calm down to sleep I was WIDE AWAKE with trepidation... After all, what had I gotten into, and what if this expensive venture proved to be a flop??? :eek: :thud: :yikes: :Doh:

Finally the ever elusive rest caught up with me. I fell fast asleep, and before I knew it, 5 a.m. arrived. Get up, get ready, head out to the surgery center. Pastor came. Friends and family gathered 'round. We prayed. That gal RRAE here and several others "carried" me through the event keeping vigil over the whats and howzits and R Yuh OKzzzzzzzz and lo, and behold, the surgeon [who has since fired me as a patient for he only wants to treat people who are not on ........ medicare] proved himself to be the top drawer, top notch, good hands surgeon whom everyone had made him out to be. He did a super job.

IT WORKED!!!!! Then, blessing of all blessings, only to be known by CoralToes and me to my knowledge as patients so far, I was allowed to program myself. That not only went real well, but the result was I have NEVER required the never ending litany of tweaking so frequent on these pages, the program has functioned wonderfully, and I have been a happy camper!! Got my career restarted, and I am jazzed!!!! What can I say? I am thrilled I "bought this particular winning lotto ticket!!"

Just like RRAE said, I followed the post surgical restrictions to the best of ability. In weeks I was chomping at the bit to resume my career. I had withdrawn from all....and I mean ALL pain medications. Life was coming back. I felt so very much as though I wanted back into hyper speed, it seemed I was running very fast ahead of the economy, ahead of the absorption rate of re-entrants into the practice, and I failed for quite a while to get back into the work thing. Finally, it all came together, and I know very well it could not have been for anything other than having the stim.

Remember BLAST! It is in the stickies at the top of this board page. A discussion about those post surgical things to DO which enhance the likelihood for personal best success as you heal.

So, guess what? I will pray all goes well with ya,
Yup! :grouphug:

Thank you Mark56
 

It's funny you mentioned Blast in this post because I was just getting ready to go there again this morning and I had seen you had made a post on this thread so I figured I would check it out first.
Thankfully I have figured out how to navigate around the site pretty well now an have grasped the concept of the stickies.

I must say that all of you here have been a great help so far as to answering my questions about all that is to come soon for me I'm so thankful that I found such a great group of people.:grouphug:

I was wondering if any of you have had your trial with paddles? as I'm going to the 23rd.

I like the concept of "if the trial is a success" my paddles are already in place and what the surgeon does next is hook up the extensions to the paddles and continues on with the surgery for the device. Quoting my doctor "why move them if they are working for you"

Again thank you all for your continued support and wealth of knowledge.

Well How About That?
 

Paddles at trial........

Huh......

Nope, it was the "quick and dirty" [well something was not quite clean if I wound up with infection] insertion of leads. You see, to insert the paddles in my permanent implant, it was necessary to do a laminectomy allowing for the space needed which would have been a more invasive trial effort [as well as expensive]. Just leads for trial here. Yup.

I am a paddlin on anyway......

May all be well with you, :grouphug:

Hey Mark56
 

Yeah I had the same reaction when I was told it was going to be paddles for trial so when the rep from medtronics that works with my doctors office called (at my request) I asked him if that was standard procedure for my surgeon and he said yes he has been doing it this way for sometime. He also answered some other questions I had about coverage concerning the areas I have pain in He replied should have no problem covering those areas I should be able to cover you from your lower back to your toes if you like. He then went on to say that my surgeon has the highest success rate in the this region. As for my question about how long it was going to take for the implant of the trial he told me that it would take about 2 hours part of it I would be awake for it and the other part they would be putting me under. Then when I wake up I would be working with Denny (medtronics rep that I was speaking with on the phone) So from what I can Gather I will be the first here on NT to have it done this way maybe ? :confused: Well if it all works out like it should I will be very grateful. Thats why I have been asking so many questions trying to figure out if anyone else has ever had a trial with the paddles ?

I didn't think they could do a trial with paddles either. As Mark56 said, there is usually a laminectomy that is required to get those paddle leads in place. Fortunately when I had my revision, switching from percutaneous to paddle leads, they did not have to do the laminectomy...doc said the path was already there and they were able to use it :) You would definitely want the doc to go in and secure those paddles down better than how they are in the trial and it sounds like that is what he will do. Very interesting. And it is great that you have such confidence in your doc, that is very important!!

Everyone is different in their healing and how soon they can walk out that door in confidence. I only took 1 1/2 weeks off from work after having both SCS's implanted at the same time. It was really too soon. When I had the revision and one battery moved, I took 2 1/2 weeks off...that was better. My trial was 7 days, half was at home and half at work. But I still needed that 6-8 week healing period to use caution with BLAST, etc.

I would highly recommend what Rae suggested - get one of those grabby things. I actually got two of them, one for work and one for home...they are helpful!! It is good that you are putting things in reach too, you will really appreciate it when the time comes ;)

And, we have similar tastes in music LOVE Eric Clapton and Led Zep!!

I wish you the best, you will do great as all signs are pointing that way :)
Nanc
:hug:

Hi Ya Nanc
 

Yeah I did my homework on him before I choose him. I had a choice of two docs him and another doc . This one has much better credentials then the other. My surgeon is head of the neuro department at upmc in Pittsburgh and also chief of neuro at pittsburgh medical school also a teaching professor at the school. Like I was told unfortunately if the trial is not a success then of course I have to be put back under to remove it. But if it is a success then of course as I said before I go back under and he adds the lengthening leads to the already placed paddles and finishes the implant by putting the device onto one of my sides. He refuses to put them in the butt area says he has had to many problems with them in that area. I was glad to hear that about placement I have read alot of people on here having problems in that area.

Hey Mark! So glad you found a good dr, it is a rarity! I am actually looking for a new one as I do not have the confidence in mine any longer. He was great at first but then he moved to a new/different practice, then he and everything changed. I need another revision on my thoracic lead, the paddle has migrated up. I had my dr move that battery because it really bothered me in my butt area. He moved it to my front/side, not quite at the bottom of my ribcage and now it is twisted (and hurting). Glad your dr is aware of the placement issues.

I am still undecided whether to have the revision or have both SCS's removed. Mine are placed for RSD/CRPS pain in all four extremities. I am torn as they did help for a while, but I cannot keep having revisions. Every surgery risks spread of RSD/CRPS.

Remind me, when is your trial? I am sure it will go great!!

Nanc
:hug:

Hey Nanc
 

It's going to be the 23rd of this month and then the 26th I go back and if it was a success then he will take me to or and finish the implant . I know it's hard to find a good doc this is if your interested in contacting him I know I was willing to travel if I had to. I don't know if you are willing but here is a link to his page to upmc pittsburgh hospital :) http://www.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/person/daniel-bursick

I know you are both nervous and excited! The 23rd will be here in no time!!

I am in VA. My husband and I talked about going somewhere else to find a new dr, but the problem is having a procedure there and having to travel home and then traveling back for follow-ups. And staying in that area between appointments is just not practical. My husband takes off work to take me to the dr now and that is no problem, but taking off extended periods would be a problem. Then there is the expense of it. I haven't worked since the end of December, so no income! SSD will start paying next month, thankfully, but it has been tight!!

You would think that being in the same area as a medical college/hospital, that there would be some really good drs...but that is not the case. I have been searching online and there are some that I haven't seen and I don't want to after reading some of their reviews :(

Hey Nanc
 

I know how hard it can be to find a good doc heck it took me going on almost 4 years now. On top of that I was in the same boat as you about the SSD I finally got mine in 2011 and then it took 2 years before insurance would kick in for me. Mine just kicked in on June first this year. I hope things only get better for you soon.