Hey ladies,

I haven't posted here in a while but, this post caught my attention.

I have both a medtronic SCS and a medtronic intrathecal pain pump and because of my small frame both stick out a lot! Something I've found to help with this is - KT tape. It really helps stabilize both implants and thus reducing the friction pain/irritation it can cause.

I apply it by starting the adhesion with no tension a couple of inches higher than the implant and then stretching about 50% tension directly over the top and past the implant, ending with no stretch for the last couple of inches. The tape stays on for about 7 days even when it gets wet from showering/bathing. I remove it when it is wet and haven't yet had problems with skin breakdown.

Give it a try you might be surprised..
Tessa

Hi Tessa,

Glad you dropped by. You’re the first person I've ever met with CRPS 2, like me. My specialist calls us “atypical”. Thanks for explaining how you manage to push your battery and pain pump in with tape. I was interested to hear that having a device in the front also causes the same problem for you, as I have the option of moving battery to the front when I need to replace it. I have also noticed that if I hold the top of the battery in that relieves the pain, but I can't do that all night! Unfortunately, I react to any sport tapes with rashes, welts and skin breakdown, not what's needed over my battery! Nevertheless you’ve made me think, I may be able to achieve the same effect with elastic binding without affecting the skin.

I will look into this further,

Booklover

Hi all,

I visited the neurosurgeon yesterday, he was wise and measured in his approach. He is less interventionist than PM, who has recommended surgery and also implants them. NS understood that I was not keen to have surgery at this point, although we discussed both options. His opinion was that surgery is not urgent and the timing of replacement depended more on how much pain/annoyance it was causing me and amount of remaining battery life.
He guided me towards gathering more information and has organised a visit with:
• my Medtronic Rep. to check the condition of my current battery as it is 6 ½ years old and to find out about their newer smaller battery(didn’t know they could check on this)
• a Nevro Rep.to find out about their battery (25% bigger than Medtronic ), although he indicated it is fairly new here, he had little experience with them and less track record compared to Medtronic.

He also said:
• He is okay with some parts being covered with just skin, would only worry if it was bone underneath, and not that concerned about weight fluctuating if I want to go back on Topiramate
• “Just don't do anything stupid”, (that could be hard!) Or let anyone touch battery site except Medtronic Rep
• Risks of surgery are 2% infection at battery site, didn’t think there was much risk of CRPS spread
• Easy to reposition and replace battery in buttock, but he could also move to abdomen as apparently I have enough fat there!

So, I'm happy with his approach of gathering more information- in case I do something stupid, find the pain too annoying, or am heading for an exhausted battery anyway and need surgery. If I decide to go ahead, I have to make another appointment.

Thanks for your messages of support

Booklover

Hey Booklover - nice to meet you,

I'm sorry you also deal with CRPS II. I wanted to mention that I don't actually push the battery or pump in - I just apply the tape with some tension so that it reduces the internal friction from the device more like adding support for it. Pushing it in may cause additional discomfort as you would be pushing it against the internal scarring and creating more pressure/pain. With them gently supported, I don't notice them as much and the pain is much less.

Tape of any kind usually causes me to blister etc., but this particular tape doesn't.. I hope that it works for you also.

Wishing you the best day possible,
Tessa