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!

Hey Gunny,

Sorry about the withdrawals, but try to melt into the relief of the reduced neck and head pain as much as you can. You know there is much more to come now that you have started a positive course.

Hope the easing will act as a mood elevator in the long run. You know we are always here when the storm clouds gather.

Dave.

Damn, how is it you all are so great? Lol
I truly cannot thank you all enough, why didn't I find this forum long ago when I was REALLY REALLY bad and admitted myself into the intense PTSD program at Baltimores VA Hospital? You're all the greatest folks a friend can ask for!!

Dear Gunny,

I want to thank you for your service and hope there will be a resolution to your pain issue soon.

I have been battling cervical pain for over 20 years. I have undergone 4 surgeries including a three level fusion (C4,C5,C6,& C7). I had the SCS implanted about 4-1/2 months ago. It took me a couple of months working with the Medtronic tech to get a program which targeted the correct locations on my neck and shoulder blades. I now keep the SCS on 24/7. It does help. I still take meds as well, but the combination of the scs and the meds has gotten me to a point that I feel much better and have even played 2 rounds of golf. I and working with the pain management doc to reduce some of my meds. I must say that the sensation generated by the device was hard for me to adjust to but I now sort of enjoy the feeling.
Since the neck is so mobile, you get different stimulation depending on the neck position. This also takes time to adjust to. Overall, I am happy to have the device.
I must also note that after the surgery, I developed an infection which led to septic shock, 8 days in the hospital and deep vein thrombosis. I nearly died, but ultimately pulled thru it all and am now moving forward. Not pain free, but improved.

Aggie- thank you so for sharing your path! That has been such a trauma filled journey! I am thrilled to know you did come through it all, that the SCS is helpful to you, and that you have been out golfing! WOW!

May all be well with you,
M56