Gerry, Now five weeks post surgery. A bit of an ache around the pulse generator in my back; considering that months before my SCS implant I had joint The Final Exit Society due to intractable pain, the ache is fine. I still need meds for pain but I have more going on than the back. I did get a scare last week.
Last Friday I charged the pulse generator to the max. Late Saturday afternoon it quit working, the remote showing it as empty. Heart in throat. Visions of revision surgery. Panic. I again charged the generator to the max which took 2 hours because it was so dead. Today is Monday and I still have near max charge remaining. I set the old brain in motion trying to figure out what had happened.
On Saturday my son came over to do some repairs. He placed my tool box on the kitchen counter. While he worked I pulled out magnetized tray, turned it over and let it pick up all the loose screw, nuts, etc at the bottom of the tool box. I set it on the counter where I was standing, the height of the generator in my back. This tray has a mighty magnet and when placed on a metal surface it takes two hands to get it up. Duh !
At least I know I have a magnet strong enough to drain the generator should I lose the remote. I will ask someone else to place it on a shelf out of harms way. Learning.
Peace,
Mims

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your new unit! I've been MIA for few weeks so I'm behind on what's happenin in our little corner of the universe.

The magnet thing - wow! I always wondered 'what' would happen if we came in contact with one. I guess in the back of my mind I thought it must be sorta like a 'taboo' thing for us and pace maker recipients to be in contact with magnetic devices (per what medical staff have said)......no MRI's etc.
I figured, well, it must be bad if we come in contact with a magnet. Do we blow up? Disintegrate? Get pulled thru the axis of the earth? ()...

Well so there it is as you shared. it drains the battery.
Mercy, I bet you were panicked there for a moment.
I'm glad all is ok.

I have a Medtronic unit for the past 4 1/2 yrs. I was told that if I let my battery drain down all the way once it would be ok, but a 2nd time would kill the battery. I spose this isn't the case with the newer units like yours.

Anyway, it's really nice to have you here. Pitch a tent and stay

Caring,
Rae

Hey Rae,
Thanks for the invite to stay. Actually I did "pitch a tent" back in February and spent countless hours on Neurotalk learning from the hundred of posts. It helped me get through the longest period of intractable pain of my life and gave me hope. I was too sick with pain to join and participate.
Now I post in an attempt to help others on their journey.
My life has been one of dealing with pain since childhood due to a basket full of autoimmune diseases and some injuries. In few months I am 70 years of age. In spite of a lifetime of pain I have retired from two careers, enjoyed a marriage (husband now passed), raised two children and watched my grandkids grow into teens.
For those of you younger ones out there who suffer, remember there are lightening bolts of happiness, laughter and joy awaiting you.
My late husband, who died at age 56 of 100% service-connected disabilities often stated he was dealt a 2 in this poker game of life. However, he chose to turn that 2 into a wild card and lived his shortened life to the fullest. Some out there are dealt several 2's and a joker to boot, wild cards, potential aces.
Peace,
Mims

Mims,

That is quite a learning experience. Never know when that might come in handy.

It appears like you are on the road to success. Hopefully, your August 11th revision will give you even more relief.



Gerry

[QUOTE=ger715;1085891]Mims,

That is quite a learning experience. Never know when that might come in handy.

It appears like you are on the road to success. Hopefully, your August 11th revision will give you even more relief.



Gerry[/QUOTE
Gerry
Tomorrow, just a few hours from now, I am 6 weeks post Boston Scientific Precision Spectra, "Thumper",implant and will be able to begin to resume normal life, just in time. First let me say that for the past four days I have felt well, no, not pain free but physically and psychologically well, whole. Again, just in time.
My best friend, Betty, just rang from the next town down the road. She fell off a ladder while painting her bedroom. ER visit, small concussion, many broken ribs. Tomorrow I am off to her flat to assist in any way I am able. I may bring her to my place.
Yesterday the man, James,who cuts my grass stopped by for payment, and when I asked about his new born baby girl, Elbie, he said Elbie has had 3 surgeries to create an opening from her stomach to her intestents, which she was born without. Three surgeries, two weeks old. He asked if I could watch his six-year-old boy one afternoon. Of course I can.
I can because I am able ! I want to scream it out loud, "I am able!"
The pain from the waist down is significantly less, the left shoulder pain has no real diagnoses, the thumbs are awaiting surgical reconstruction, but I can deal with this since Thumper has given me my ability to walk back. Imaginary bugs no longer crawl under the skin in my legs, my left leg no longer collapses under me, the severe pain in my lower back and hips is just an annoying ache. And yet, it is probale with new programming on the 11th it will be even better. Even if this is as good as it gets I pronounce the implant a total success!

Peace,
Mims
I will check back after the 11th for a final report.

Great to hear that things are going well Mims, the early days are certainly a learning process aren't they?

With no frame of referrence for this type of surgery, it is quite a learning experience! Now 6 weeks and 5 days post surgery I am allowed to lift more than five pounds, but today I purchased a gallon of paint and common sense told me to let the workers load it into the cart and then off-load it into my vehicle. The only pain I felt was the cost of one bloomin' gal of paint !!
There is also the psychological aspect of having an electronic device installed in the body and knowing it is probably forever, ah, or as long as we are on this earth. I felt a bit anxious about this the first week or two but it is amazing how quickly the mind adapts. I now have one day-setting and one night-setting; other than that I am often unaware my SCS, "Thumper", is there.

Slow and Easy. Slow and Easy...

Peace, Mims

You are spot on with the "no frame of reference" comment. It was one of the reasons I looked for a forum like this. Your limitations are obviously very different to mine (and other Nevro users). A cup of coffee or a reading book are my weight limits, that and the other BLAST restrictions apply for the whole 12 weeks. Not gonna complain, well not too much as it is working and making a huge difference to our lives. I feel a bit guilty at times reading about less than successful implants.

Phil

Mims,

You really have an "attitude of gratitude ". You appear to see and appreciate the plus and kinda put the negative on a side shelf somewhere out of sight. How wonderful to be able to do some things you would not have been up to handling. I really like the "because I can" realizing of course; you are able to care for the little boy for an afternoon.

Just a few more days before your reprograming. Looking forward to reading about your experience.


Gerry

Gerry and everybody out there,
Eight weeks (Two MONTHS) post Boston Scientific Precision Spectra SCS, "Thumper".
I saw both my pain management doctor and SCS tech today. Thumper now has 3 programs from which to choose. They are different and good.
My left leg has so much neurological damage that the tech could not get that leg to feel the stimulation as well as the right, but it is still very good.
Besides relieving pain, Thumper stimulates the left leg enough to keep me from dragging it and stumbling.
The pain management Dr. has reduced my meds by 25% as I had already made that reduction. The PM Dr advised me to postpone my scheduled thumb reconstruction surgery. I am diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome, chronic neuropathic pain of the extremeties and along with Sjogrens a surgery now could set my nutty immune system off
So I will wait until until I have reduced pain meds by another 25% and until I am completely healed from the SCS surgery, Dec23.
Before Thumper I was confined to bed for four months, only getting up to shower and get food. I was in agony just making those trips while leaning on a walker. A lumbar disc blow-out and lumbar arthritis put me down. Drugs were 20 mg Oxy OP 2 per day plus 10 mg Percocet 4 times per day with no relief. I was hopeless.
Today I drove myself the 90-minute round trip to the doctor, met with a friend for burger and milkshakes and still feel good. Pain free, no. Able to function, to live, yes.
I still use my Leki walking stick. I still have a bad day now and then, but, hey, I am soon to be 70.
Peace and (hugs) to all,
Mims