Originally Posted by PamelaJune

Quote reader 1
I have been suffering from chronic pain for several years and now am at the point where the amount of oxy I require to control the pain is interfering with my life. This situation can only get worse as I get older and my body tolerates more and more stuff. I am also "labeled" as one of "those" who takes oxy for "pain". Even Walgreen's, in my opinion, discourages us "pain addicts" from filling their script in their stores. (I am retired and live in S. Florida where you can find a pain clinic as easily as a pizza parlour.) So for all of these reasons I chose to explore a SCS and discovered this forum via a Google search. I am grateful for all the information provided.
However IMHO the majority of posts are negative and spell out in detail the problems people have had with the SCS, their "reps" what ever they or their role is/are, their surgeons and their devices. At least I now have a list of issues to discuss with my pain person.
But I am left with a deep sense of unease. I can't tell if people who have had SCS implementation would have it again, would recommend to a family member or what the major trade off's are. It's like a virtual group therapy session, where everyone is right and everyone gets a group hug. You can't tell what real and what's not, what's fact and what a wish.
Maybe a disclaimer is in order. Maybe some real data from "poster's" is in order like age, length of time in "pain", kind of insurance, manufacturer, type of pain and location, etc.
The decision is get an SCS is too important and IMHO not helped by "virtual hugs". I don't write this to offend anyone, I'm only looking for a way to make this valuable resource even more so.

Quote Reader 2
First I must admit that I have not read past this point. I have to take a minute and thank you for saving me the time in having to say the same thing.
I hope I can groggle through some of the very kind fluff (for lack of a better word) and get some answers to some very serious, life altering issues, while sharing info and experiences I have to offer. I digress. Have a great day. :-)

Quote Community Welcome member
Welcome! So glad you came upon Neurotalk! You'll be pleasantly impressed with the amount of genuine care from others who know what you are going through.

After you're done 'groggling through the fluff' (I'm gonna have to use this phrase), ask as many Q's as you'd like. It'd be great if you started a thread of your own, that way we can find you easier and all your questions will be in one place.

Holler if you need help finding your way around. It's great to have you!

Quote Reader 2
I know there is a large amount of sympathy and empathy around here. I think it is great. But between that and all quoted answers, it makes for a lot of "kind, fluffy" reading.
If it was my personal story thread or something to that affect, then it is very much wanted and needed. But when an info thread is fluffy, I lose interest and try to find my answer elsewhere. Hope that doesn't offend anyone. :-/ It just is what it is.

Thanks for the invite. Here I go to read, and read some more.

Quote Active fluffer
Hi there, many posters here are mindful of both young and old struggling with physical pain being further challenged by the burden of mental health. Many have faced the mental anguish that comes with long term chronic pain by staring it down and denying it growth, others succumb and medical intervention required, and some use "fluff" in the form of the written word to aid them on the path to wellness.
I confess, I am guilty of "fluff" I indulge myself and fluff here and there on the NT site. I apologise, I'm just a down right "fluffer".
I don't get to talk about my pain or my quest for healing, no one I know in the real world as opposed to the online world has chronic pain. Yes, they have other illnesses, but they seek to have treatment and then they get better. I, we, go from one thing to the next in our efforts to "get better" we dream of it and we write about it, but we don't speak of it. Our loved ones are all talked out, they have been there and done this and that and they don't know what more to say. So I come on here and fluff about and someone replies and I experience a feeling of relief! others face the same uphill battle as I do, they have similar stories, they get me, and for a moment I feel normal. Just like one of my dogs who has just loudly fluffed.

Perhaps a thread can be started that can be funnelled and settings set so that factual information only is recorded for future users to dwell on.
Reason for SCS (describe condition in x amount of words)
Lead or paddle
Successful yes or no
Length of time had it
How many SCS do you have
Recommend to others yes or no
If no why - (respond in x amount of words)
Not sure if it can be done, I agree it would be beneficial to others and with no offence taken an official fluffer.

Phew, my dog really is on the nose today, it's one of those ones that winds it's way up your nostrils, binding itself to the hair and lingers on and on and on. The fluff that is, not the dog!

Quote Community Welcome member
Good Call! Reminded me that we have a poll here which is very similar to what you are indicating...
Here's the link:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread114143.html

"Fluffing" is what support forums are all about. Many people come to these forums for support, care, understanding, etc.... Also though, "good constructive criticism" is much appreciated and I do agree that factual information should be included in a forum, so I will point to such information with pleasure. This link which is up in the "Stickies" is LOADED with good information. No fluff whatsoever

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread114142.html

Luv & Hugs all around! PS: watch out for that dog fluff!! It can actually BURN the inside of nostrils. At least this is what I get with my lovely boxer, xxxxx!

Quote Active member
I understand someone wanting something as important as an SCS implant information to be as forthcoming as possible; but I have read many of your posts; all I see is someone in a lot of pain for many issues. NOoooo "fluff". There is the need to get some of our thoughts and feelings out of our system; especially to those who know what this awful pain is like. Although our loved ones do care that we are in pain; most of them really cannot understand.

After a while, many of us feel a certain amount of guilt because we seem to be complaining to our family and friends too often. We certainly don't want them turned off by this. But.....isn't it nice to have someplace to be able to say what we are thinking/feeling, etc. Also, there are ideas/suggestions from others on how to better control our pain as well as ideas on how to tolerate and cope with it. We need each other.

Quote Active member
You guys are killing me with the dog stuff I miss my dog and even his fluff, xxxxxx is his name A silky terrier A 10 pounder.