Re: Re: My Stimulator experience

[Guest guest]

I am happy for you that the stimulator has provided some relief for you. There

had been times when my stim did work for me but mostly has not. I haven't used

it in over a year. It would send severe shocks throughout my body when it was

turned on and I get so paranoid if I even think the stim rep is going to turn it

on. It may be from the fluid build up. If I would have gotten the right doctor

in the beginning, things may have been different. Until Dr. Banit, I've been

very dissatisfied with doctors. Having the unusual symptoms I had, no one would

help me. But it was my rep who helped get me to Dr. Banit. I guess in a way I

have given up hope in terms of getting better. I tried several things in hopes

of this but it hasn't happened. I guess I listened to the doctors who said these

things would work but they just didn't happen that way. I am set up to go Dec.

17th to get the fluid leaks fixed and since they have to take out the leads to

fix the leaks,

I've told them to just leave everything out. I am worried because I don't get

over things well and I am dreading all the extra pain. I stay so depressed most

of the time. I'm glad that I have support - my family, support group and this

group. Thanks.

From: shaninpain <shaninpain@...>

Subject: Re: My Stimulator experience

Stimulator

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 3:22 AM

Hey there,

I have RSD and I recently had the stim implanted on Nov 3rd. While

the recovery sucked, I am able to walk without a cane and it has

provided some pain relief.

Let me know if you wanna chat sometime!

>

> From: dedecalfee <dedecalfee@ . com>

> Subject: My Stimulator experience

> Stimulator@gro ups.com

> Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 1:25 AM

>

> Hello! I'm new and wanted to share my experience with a SCS. I have

> had RSD (whole left arm/shoulder/ back) for 3 years since a car

> accident. I tried many things - physical therapy (grueling), pain

> injections, nerve blocks and pain medicines (most of which I am

> allergic to). I had a trial stimulator put in Aug. 2006. It was

great!

> So we went forward with the permanent implant in Sept. '06. My lead

> slipped and a neurosurgeon did the revision and performed a

> laminectomy to make sure that it was in good in Oct. '06.He also

> found a plastic tube that had been left in me from the previous

> surgery. This revision set up a lot of other pain symptoms - severe

> headaches, neck and back pain, etc. Stimulator since then has not

> very useful - haven't used it in about a year now after many

attempts

> to get it programmed. I had to keep trying to get the doctors to

> figure out what was the matter. My head at times felt like it would

> explode. My stim rep finally got me in to see a spinal specialist 5

> hours from my home. Turns out the doctor had taken out too much

bone

> causing neck instability. So I had a spinal fusion done. Still have

> headaches though and after giving the fusion a chance to heal up, a

> cervical myelogram showed a pocket of fluid (golf ball size) and

> leaks. The doctor didn't suture to the bone but to the dura which

> caused the leaks. The CT also showed that part of it wasn't even

> sitting where it needed to be. This has been very hard on me

> physically and emotionally. Now I have to have another surgery to

> repair all this and at my expense. I have no insurance and have had

> to pay for all of this and my resources are about depleted. I am

> thinking of just leaving the system out with this surgery. I don't

> get over things well and am too apprehensive about future problems.

I

> am currently waiting for an appt. for surgery. Has anyone out there

> had any problems similiar to mine? Thanks for the input.

>

>