I had a SCS permanently implanted on 6/14 for atpypical face pain. What a miracle. I have a pain treatment doctor who is so good at this procedure that he believed that he could get the leads up high enough in my spinal cord to give me relief in my face. He was so right!!

I am slowly working to reduce my meds so that I can find the balance between meds and stimulation. I look forward to a clear mind again.

I had both a neurosurgeon and neurologist doubt that the SCS would be helpful for my face pain. They did not think that the leads could be placed high enough to provide relief.

I am thankful for my blessings and hope that others with this horrible pain can find similar relief.

Dear Emsacco- It is wonderful you found the T.N. Face Pain thread! You are right, so many folks are out there in need of help with such a debilitating horrific pain, and it seems you found the solution! BMW attests to its very great benefit in her life, and Calewark now awaits her 5 Aug implant date. There are many here who will benefit by your input and sharing as you progress. May your healing and goal for reduction of meds take you to the place you wish to be in pain management!!!

Blessings on you,
Mark56

emsacco
I am so glad you found this thread too and even more happy you took the time to share but best and most important is that it is helping you manage the pain !
It seems that Colorado has a fair amount of great Doctors that are doing stim implants and having great many successful outcomes as of late.

can I ask if you were awake at all during either your trail surgery and or your final implant surgery??
where is your battery placed?? is it rechargeable?? what type is it I have medtronics .. is it Boston scientific, St Jude ??

I so hope very badly that you come back and share a bit more.You will help so many others by sharing and I would be so grateful to you for adding and contributing to this thread. It would truly mean ALLOT... to me and to so many others .
I pray you continue to gain control and manage the pain so you are able to lower the meds..and have your life back.
I have So much Gratitude for you sharing and posting. Bless you life long!
PEACE
BMW & T-Rex (my Stim)

I hope that I am able to provide hpoe to some others who may be considering this treatment. I am very fortunate to have liberal health insurance. My husband is a railroader and so we I got the approval for the trial and permanent in 3 days. I must remind myself that God was in control.

I have a Boston Scientific stim that is just below my waistline. It rechargeable. I was awake for the entire trial and until the leads were programmed in my spine during the permanent surgery. My recovery has been better than I had expected. In fact, the unknown about the recovery worried me more than the surgery. I was back to work within one week.

Thanks for your encouragement.

ems
Thanks for replying
can I ask if you had any other surgey before the stim?
and also would you share where your leads are ..mine is V-3 on my lower right.
I have found so many that are afraid of this surgery as they have been threw MVD and / or gamma and so with those things in their past this fills them with worry and fear but in all reality this is really nothing.. not nearly as evasive or difficult as and MVD or gamma. the fact one can try it before they implant fully is a plus.

you mentioned the worry of the unknown about the recovery... I have found that most others can hardly find info about this in general and so that is why I wanted to have a thread like this where info can be found... maybe you can share about recovery...
what was the most painful area after surgery for you??
mine was where the battery was placed. it "bothered" me more then where the leads were.
I had to wait 1 week before they turned it on ,did you have to wait?? how long??
I am sorry to hound you with a bunch of questions.. i know cus I have had mine since July of 2002..but for others the info and seeing what others have to say what others share is so very much needed and extremely helpful. God bless you for what your doing .I promise i wont bug ya with anymore questions ..we are so lucky and appreciate you sharing all that you have already . Thanks from the heart

PEACE
BMW...(Tina) .. and T-Rex

Tina,

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions. I wish I could have found some of these answers before my procedures. Most of my research was based on those who had back, leg and arm issues.

I did not have any surgeries prior to my stim implant. Since I have atypical face pain, surgery is not usually successful. They do not believe there is any physical reason for the pain. There is something in the brain that is miscommunicating and that is why anti-convulsant medications were helpful in reducing the pain -- but increasing the FOG!! I had several blocks to some nerves in my face and they did not help at all. I also had a radio frequency ablation (RF) to two nerves. The abalation to my mental nerve (near my lower lip) caused damage and much more pain.

My leads were placed at C6-C7, however the Boston Scientific rep thinks that the doctor may have put them even higher up in my spine than the entry point. He says it is rare to get coverage in the face from the spine, but I am thankful to be getting it.

My worst pain came from the incision where my battery was placed - just below my waistline. It took about two weeks for that pain to go away. I had to wear a cervical collar so that I would restrict my neck movements and help prevent the leads from movining. I still have some restrictions such as no lifting, pulling or pushing anything over 10 lbs for three months. I am also not be bend, twist or reach my hands over my head.

I was able to use the stim immediately after my surgery, however I was told to concentrate on healing the first couple days and since I slept most of the time, I guess I was successful at that. The rep gave me one program in my remote at my surgery and just this past week during my follow up visit, I was given two additional programs and some more training how I can make my own adjustments. The program from the day of surgery seems to be the best.

I could not have asked for a better surgery, recovery and result from this experience. I find that the positives of this treatment posted on the web are few and far between the negative. I am so glad to see you are trying to change that.

Hi Terri.
I did notice you said you had radio frequency ablation that is like Gamma knife .
but it probably wasnt done on your Trig nerve ??????
and too the leads do not seem to be to any of the 3 branches trig nerves and more to the base of brain/ upper spine area.
It is great the doc got them up far enough.
If you go back a few pages on page 2 ?? here Kim also had SCS but later had a PNS implanted to the Trig nerve and the SCS removed. she also has 2 stims one for each side of face for BI-Lat.
I am enjoying the way everyone is sharing and giving such important info for others to find hope in... and power ..knowledge is power when researching the options one has available to them.
I would like ANYONE who has had stim for face pain to share ... The fact is there are times when this dose not work and the ending isnt happy . that is true in life and with this option. what works for one may not work for the next.
My friend Calewark is having hers done in Colorado too as did Mark. thats pretty awesome if ya ask me
make sure you follow doc instructions on lifting and bending !!1 dont over due it and know we have you in our positive thoughts and prayers for the stim to be ever lasting way to manage your pain.
Many many thanks for sharing and posting here. Terri you ROCK!!!!!
PEACE
Tina & T-Rex

p.s. I wonder.. ask if having a stim was a first option for you? I ask because for most others this is a last option . but for me since MVD,gamma were not an option my last resort was having the Stim. being the first to try PNS. in the USA . I do want to say again that SCS and PNS are the same thing the only difference is the placement of the leads It is referred to a PNS because the leads are placed in the facial area not to the spinal area. they are both simulators that mix the pain signal .