Dearest Gunny,

It is impossible for me to express as eloquently as M56 my gratitude for your service and heartbreak at what you are going through. You have had to go through so much and it is just tragic. I am so glad that you have the love and devotion of your wonderful dog to help carry you through.

I too, as so many here, understand the desire for the pain to end no matter what that looks like. I had frighteningly specific thoughts myself in spite of a deep faith, a loving and supportive husband and a teenager to raise. To contemplate ending it when you have much to live for is a statement about how much pain you are having, not your mental health. I do not believe it is a failure to have those thoughts, but that it is an alarm that things are truly dire and you must become even more aggressive about your care for yourself and for your pain.

Therapy was instrumental in getting me out of very dark place. I could not have done it on my own, no matter how stubborn and generally optimistic I am. it took an exceptional therapist and a lot of EMDR treatment to pull me up. I don't know if you have tried EMDR but it is used most often for trauma and frequently unitized for veteran patients. Though I have not suffered the horrors that you have endured, my injury, numerous operations and severe nerve injury were enough. The EMDR helped me move through the the trauma in a way the conscious brain could not process. My load is much, much lighter these days.

The other thing instrumental for me was a very involved nerve repair surgery of 3.5 hours. I know the place one must be in to contemplate undertaking risk to obtain pain relief. I do still have pain, but not nearly as bad. Although I cannot speak to SCS, I can say that when all else has failed we must sometimes make a real leap of faith to have a comfortable life and I support you no matter what decision you feel is best for you. By all means I would at least pursue the trial and see what it brings.

On a devils advocate note....I saw that you declined a cervical fusion. Obviously I don't know the specifics of your injury and I know the level is very important for outcome. But, I personally know 4 people who have required a fusion of the cervical spine due to pain and motor issues and all have had good outcomes and pain relief. Obviously risks must be carefully weighed and surgery is a very personal decision, but as I can attest to personally, sometimes it is necessary and worthwhile. If the SCS does not bring the relief you so desperately deserve, it may be worth talking with surgery about options. The options are very different than they were even five years ago.

Do please let us know how you are doing and when you are going to have your trial. I am keeping you in my prayers and sending healing love to surround your heart and battered spirit.

You light does shine brightly!

Thank you for going into cervical fusion. Among my several levels of fusion, 3 are cervical. That did ultimately help radiating excruciating arm pain due to the cervical injuries.

EMDR - I am doing a lot of that even now, and I agree with your shared thoughts there, too.

May your journey lead to lessened pain for you,
Blessings,
M56

Wow.
I have never experienced the level of help and kindness from a forum before and cannot thank you all enough for these awesome words of support my friends! I will start reading all the info you provided me avenues to soon and actually speak about it with my dr.

Today is Sunday and yet again I wake up in severe pain to take meds which have deplenished so low I now start to panic due to the withdrawal soon to follow. Sucks as many of you know! I do realize this SCS is not the Cure All for my issues but if it brings pain to a level I can tolerate it'd be great. Much more reading to do and as stated I have the Coolief RFA to do in 2 weeks. Will keep you all posted my friends and once again........THANK YOU!!!

As Dave has mentioned; their are the pros and cons regarding the SCS. I did have a failed trial for the SCS in my lumbar area. My Pain Management doctor wanted me to do another trial. I declined.

As Mark56 mentioned, he had many spinal surgeries prior to the SCS. In this area, because of the SCS, he has managed to have reclaimed much of his life.

A couple of years ago Mark did have cervical fusion surgery because of severe arm pain, etc., which appeared to have helped; but still experienced some pain. I asked him if he was considering an SCS for that area, he said he wasn't. Mark would be better able to fill you in as his need to have fusion surgery rather than an SCS.

As so many have expressed; I extend my gratitude for your service for our country.


Gerry

Gunny, my nephew served with the British, got blown up twice and is in a bad way now with PCS, PTSD. We worry for him, now at only 25 retired out and will never be able to work again.

My hat is off to you and yours for all that you have endured and will continue to do so over time. As English Dave says, hang in there, Glock highway is not well served, coming out of the Navy in the 80's my fiancé took that journey. We all still remember it far too well.

I have a Nevro SCS I have had my ups and downs with it, but, in combination with nerve blocks and SCS I have managed to reduce my meds and return to the workplace after a 2 plus year hiatus. My injuries pale in comparison to what you have experienced, but I thank my pain mgt specialist every day for his perseverance and threading the damn lead in the first instance. Do ask and trial, nothing ventured nothing gained. Follow Mark56 BLaST and keep in contact with us all on here.

All brand units will achieve similar results if tolerated but operate differently, mine has no buzzing sensation as it operates on high frequency so other than a reduction in pain, I have no clue it is on. I like that!

Hi PamelaJune,

Nice to hear you are still ploughing forward, workwise.

Dave.

Since you are so kind and helpful to me I thought Id bring you up to date on me.

Had 12 trigger point injections done Monday afternoon which always seem to help with the pain for awhile. However, due to running out of my pain meds before the refill date, the Dr would not give me anything to take in the interim (Which is actually a horrible thing to do-though he's already done it 3 times for me before) I am suffering here pretty bad w withdrawals, but the neck and head pain has been good for the first in a LONG time!

Coolief Radio Frequency Ablation set in 2 weeks.

So I sit here debating which of these is worse for me (yes I know one is more or less temporary and the other is not) So thats where I am right now at this moment my friends. Catch up with you soon and let you know the outcome!