Well I woke up once again so it's another wonderful day in the neighborhood

So this morning when I woke up I was writhing in pain. I slept in our bed last night on my right side seeing my scs device was installed on my left side of my tummy. I'm pretty sure I never moved because my right hip hurt so bad from the ball area of my hip all the way to my toes when I put weight on it. I am going to assume that I was in that position for about 10 hours. This same thing happened when I had my trial in I had slept on my left for about the same time. Anyway I was wondering how many of you have were able to sleep flat on your back after you had your implant installed? I have made up my mind either way that tonight I'm going to sleep on my back with the stim turned up. In the morning I will see what the outcome of this will be. Through this whole process I have learned so far that it's all a learning process for each individual and what worked for you may not do so for others.
With that being said I can however say that I have gotten some great ideas from all of you and tailored them to work for me.
Today I can say that my incision site for the scs device in my left abdomen feels much better. It has become easier for me to get up and down in the recliner with out that site feeling so irritated. It has also become easier for me to cough concerning that same site .

I have been able to sleep on my back I think since about night 3 at home, but when I sleep on my back I do not move - because my SCS device is implanted in my lower back, on the left side (they described it to me as "between the bottom rib and the top of the pelvic bone"), so to move around while laying on my back can cause a lot of pain (for some reason rolling around and putting pressure on that incision hurts a ton worse than then laminectomy/paddle lead incision site). Anyway, I have learned that I had to turn the stim way down, but I can keep it on all night with no issues (if I wake up and turn over I have to turn up the stim level but since I seem to be pretty good at self-policing turning over I haven't had any issues otherwise).

I also called and talked to the nurse on my third day post-op, when my left hip felt as though I had wrenched it out of socket; I sleep on that side but haven't ever had that kind of pain on that side. The nurse told me that it was likely due to the way they had me positioned in the OR, and that my joints were just starting to wake up enough to react (she actually said that my body had been prioritizing pain after the surgery and it was a good sign that I was now feeling "extra" pain!). It went away after about a day and a half but it was a little worrisome when I first felt it!

Sleep well and feel better and better!

I cannot sleep on my back for anything! After my implant and revision, I stayed in the recliner during the entire healing process. I could not even lay in the bed for a while.

Hope you continue to improve!
Nanc

dear friends

although i have not
owned a recliner
and it is something i
have been thinking
of getting one myself
on a fixed income
so it will be a while

someone who cares

Hey all I was able to sleep last night for the first time in probably 2 or more years on my back WOW!

Even though I didn't sleep the whole night on my back I was happy to be able to. I took Jen's advice and turned it down low till I was on my back then turned it up a little bit to the point of comfort and I know I was out quick .

During the middle of the night I found myself turning over to my right side and then back to my back this morning before I got out of bed. I was so happy to be able to do that.
Anyway during the day when I'm not up moving around I sit in our huge recliner. We have one of those recliners the call a cuddler you can fit two people in it at once but with the way I have been feeling lately that's not happening besides I am kinda a recliner hog lmbo. I use the couch once in awhile but I mainly leave that for my wife and her dog (70lbs blue nose pitt we've had since he was about 7 weeks old) and the kid lol. My little dog (turbo is a chiwawa & rat terrier) that used to be on the truck with me sit's in the recliner with me lol.

so cool to see your progress.....go slow....you got it going on.
It is rewarding to see you benefit from our advice and experiences..

My first few nights I slept where I fell.....about 8 months later I took my first full morning stretch....glorious!!
Grab the joy in the journey.
Johanna

Those strides toward rest and sleep keep you going MMark. The recliner sounds like it was your ticket. Funny, we purchased a recliner for me which is electrically operated due to the failure of my cervical nerve routes and wanting to give me an easier go of operating it.......I found the sofa with pillows was the better bet for me and left the recliner to my wife. It is a novelty. Most of us like it.

May your healing an sleepy time continue to go well for you. I found after back surgery that sleeping on the back routine was out for me so I started sleeping astride a pillow on my side. Pillow between the knees gives a more neutral spine position. My preferred method now.

Hugz,

Today was the first day since the 23rd of this month I was able to take a shower I FEEL HUMAN AGAIN!!!!
Also figured out that I have staples instead of stitches in total about 32 I think my wife said.
Also got up with my little one this morning and walked to the bus stop with her for the first time ever it was great to be able to do so without having to use the car as before my legs and lower back would hurt so bad while walking or trying to stand and wait for he bus to show up.

Again I have to thank all of you for all the advice and support through this journey so far .
The third I will be meeting the medtronics rep to do some programming I have had some slight little changes so far in stimulation such as i have lost a little higher up my back and position is everything lately for me.

For instance when I am drinking my beloved coffee first thing in the morning and sitting in the recliner and stim is on when I tilt my head back at all i can feel an increase in the stim.
But when walking I feel stim in my lower back and left leg more than the right but when sitting i can feel almost equal in my legs. I was looking back over the paperwork that was sent home with me and he stated in their that he had to go in at T-10 and T-11 instead of between T-7 and T-9 because of how narrow it had become. And that was also the reason for only being able to get one paddle instead of two in there. Either way I am thankful for what I have and hopefully with some manipulating of the programming everything will work out.

Nothing like that first shower...ahhhh Although I am surprised that you were able to shower with the staples still in. I had staples both times...fun, fun!

Glad you are progressing well! Keep taking it easy!

Nanc

Congrats--and I totally feel you on the shower I had a similar milestone this morning--my hubby's been helping me shower (the things I can't do, like my lower legs/feet, and washing my hair, and of course the back) and today I was able to wash my hair all by myself! I have short hair, so it's not a huge task, but just to be able to reach up enough to swish around the shampoo was a big deal for me. I too have staples, and I really want to know how many but my hubby is very queasy and it makes him kind of nauseous to spend time examining my wounds, so I'll just have to wait until next Monday when they come out.

I also get some reprogramming Monday, I've only had coverage on the front and need it to go more to the side/back. The first 3-4 days I had the "look up/look down" issues, but that seems to have settled out, but I've still not gotten full coverage yet. My rep wanted me to wait 2 weeks to let the lead "settle" before she reprograms me, saying she feels that there won't be any issues getting the expanded coverage but she'll be able to expand and refine at the same time if we wait--Monday can't get here soon enough! Good luck with yours and I hope it helps a ton!