[rabbitz2004]

Can anyone help me out? I have lots of questions. Let's begin with:

I am a 50+ female who after a seemingly simple and easy massage at a business seminar turned into my new lifestyle nightmare. Long story short, the girl did not set up her portable massage chair correctly, I was her first "client", went to sit on the chair, it collapsed, I hit the floor, tore my rotator cuff and compressed L1 thru L5. That was six years ago.

Since then, arthritis has set in, I have severe outbreaks of sciatic nerve attacks, have not slept more than 3 hours at a time and now for the past 4 years, been on pain medication which is starting to really alter my life (and not in a good way). I have been through acupuncture, physical therapy, inversion therapy, homeopathic everything, chiropractic (the chiropractor actually refused to treat me after 4 visits because he felt he was making me worse instead of better - that's a first!)

So, fast forward to today. After 4 years of pain management, with visits every 8 weeks, pee in the cup, pay exorbitant amounts of money for them to agree I am taking my medications properly and not selling them on the street or using street drugs and of course, me always asking my doctor "Is there anything else we can do other than pain pills to give me some relief?" He finally says "Yes, I used to do this procedure years ago, but was not happy with the results, but they've now perfected it and I think it will work for you."

Out comes the Boston Scientific Precision Plus Spinal Cord Stimulator brochure. Here's where I need your help. I've got lots of questions before proceeding with this.

1) I've seen a lot of good posts everywhere from people who have had this installed with great success and very few bad results - has there been any negative side affects? Has anyone's body "rejected" their unit? Has anyone had issues with infections after the implant?

2) Since my husband hasn't hit the lottery yet (not for lack of trying), I need to continue to work, which takes me to Australia and Thailand and other places throughout Southeast Asia several times a year. Are there any issues going through airport security? I see that once this is implanted, MRIs are out.

3) What is the recovery time after surgery to get back to "normal" - such as carrying a 20+lb. backpack with computer equipment all over the world, lifting that bad boy into the overhead bins on airplanes (of course it doesn't help I'm only 5' tall, but that's a personal problem); are there any issues with driving, normal day-to-day activities? I try to swim and do water aerobics since it is lower impact on my spine and I refuse to give up even though some days I can barely walk after a workout; (never said I was good at it and I know the other gals in my class think I'm a wimp because I'm the slowest in the water, but hey, they don't have my pain either).

I have several other questions, but I figure I better stop here or I won't get any responses since I seem to be rambling. If there's anyone out there who can help, it's greatly appreciated! And thanks for listening!

T