[coley423]

I just had my trial stimulator put in yesterday. I haven't been having any of my normal hip and leg pain but the middle of my back has been killing me-they said it is ligament pain that sometimes occurs, though not in everyone...lucky me.

I've noticed sometimes the tingling goes completely away...then if I turn the power save mode off it kicks on again...is that normal? Should I be feeling tingling all the time?

So far I'm feeling optimistic...but until I can get up and moving around I won't know for sure...I'm too stiff in my back to do much. Not being able to bend over is a real pain!

[Mark56]

Originally Posted by coley423

I just had my trial stimulator put in yesterday. I haven't been having any of my normal hip and leg pain but the middle of my back has been killing me-they said it is ligament pain that sometimes occurs, though not in everyone...lucky me.

I've noticed sometimes the tingling goes completely away...then if I turn the power save mode off it kicks on again...is that normal? Should I be feeling tingling all the time?

So far I'm feeling optimistic...but until I can get up and moving around I won't know for sure...I'm too stiff in my back to do much. Not being able to bend over is a real pain!

Hi Coley-

Remember BLAST, it is very important to the notion of not "moving" the works right after surgery, whether Trial or Permanent.

I cannot think of the ligament pain concept at all, from the sounds of your probable insertion point, goodness gracious, I wonder, especially since Trial is merely a huge "needle" insertion through which the leads are temporarily placed..... that a ligament would be disturbed. But then my doctorate is not in medicine.

I pray, you can experience a lessening of the purported "ligament" pain so as to measure whether permanent will be a decent choice,
Prayin for ya,
Yup

[Rrae]

How are you doing now that a few days have gone by? Do you still have the trial in?
I recall how frustrating it was for me for the first 2 days of my trial b/c I had the back pain (from the procedure) also and I had to lay on ice and concentrate on relieving that pain before I could really get an idea if the stimulator was doing what it should. BUT by day 3, I was beginning to realize what the little boogar had to offer and was amazed. It is very strange experience to say the least and I hope you also are beginning to see what it can do.

Have you been in touch with your rep regarding the on and off tingling? I do know that we can experience 'paresthesia', which is the tingling we continue to feel even after the unit has been turned off, but not sure if this applies to what you are describing.

Looking forward to an update on how you are doing, Coley.
So glad you found our little forum. It's wonderful to be able to talk to 'real' people as opposed to just reading stuff online about these units.

Wishing you the best!
Rae

[PamelaJune]

Originally Posted by Mark56

Hi Coley-

Remember BLAST, it is very important to the notion of not "moving" the works right after surgery, whether Trial or Permanent.

I cannot think of the ligament pain concept at all, from the sounds of your probable insertion point, goodness gracious, I wonder, especially since Trial is merely a huge "needle" insertion through which the leads are temporarily placed..... that a ligament would be disturbed. But then my doctorate is not in medicine.

I pray, you can experience a lessening of the purported "ligament" pain so as to measure whether permanent will be a decent choice,
Prayin for ya,
Yup

Can someone tell me what BLAST is, I don't think I have been given that for my post recovery from the permanent SCS implant which didn't go well. Mark, I don't expect you to reply as you should not be typing!!!

I've been in a great deal of pain these last 3 days, slept all day yesterday (tablet induced) but the annoying tingling pain in my left arm is almost constant now. The left leg joins in at night but I'm wondering if that is caused by the meds so I cut them in half on Saturday and no leg pain yesterday. Arm relief comes only from holding my arm up above my head, but not allowed to do that for 12 weeks following the stim implant December 17.

[Mark56]

It is in the stickies at the top of the SCS subforum. I wrote the stuff on BLAST and came up with it some time back. The easy way to get to it without much typing is to click here http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread114142-5.html then scroll down to the entry I put in about BLAST. No Bending, Lifting, Stretching, Twisting. Typical spine surgery stuff embellished with the Stretching issue.

I am SO VERY sorry to read of your pain, Pamela. I know very well what you mean about holding your arm up above your head, as that is something I do quite a bit with this enraged nerve set I have in the right arm. Ouch.

Hugz and prayerz for you,