Re: SCS

[Guest guest]

Moderator's note:

SCS is the abbreviation for the spinal cord stimulator. Putting that in the

subject heading should vastly decrease spam.

Hello , and thanks for the welcome message.

I have found the stimulator to be a great help in all positions,

the best advice I can give may sound a little strange.

When I was approved for my stimulator, and the surgery was set--this did take

time, so don't give up hope-- I was on numerous medications to control pain,

muscle spasms, and restless legs, as well as inflammation.

I stopped all medications I possibly could 4 days prior to surgery -- this may

seem like a cruel thing to do to yourself, but I wanted to be well aware of

everything my body was feeling so that the stimulator could be programed to

cover everything possible.

I have heard of some cases where the stimulator was not programmed right away,

or not turned on right away, this was not the case in my situation.

I knew I would be awake for the whole procedure, in both the trial and the

permanent placement, and that the programming would be done at that time.

I have went back a few times to have the programming adjusted, but I did have

immediate relief from the stimulator.

I hope this helps you in some way, if you have more questions, feel free to ask

here or to even email me.

[Guest guest]

Thanks . I can't see how I can alter my meds. When my pain flares, it

sends my B/P through the roof, and I get chest pains etc.

S*************

[Guest guest]

> wrote:

> Thanks . I can't see how I can alter my meds. When my pain flares, it

sends my B/P through the roof, and I get chest pains etc.

,

The spinal stimulator does not work for all. It was offered to me but I

thought, I do not need another invasive procedure and I got a second and third

opinion and they said as long as I am stable I should not get the spinal

stimulator just to decrease my pain meds.

I wrestled with this decision and spoke to several patients that had

complications with the stimulator and the gamble was not worth it to me.

I was concerned with have another foreign body in my body for many years and the

scarring and other problems it could cause.

I do not discourage others for making a decision to use it but getting it to

reduce your meds is not worth it in my opinion as it is just another support

system for pain control.

I will keep on medication therapy until I need to make a decision to change it.

My blood pressue also does this and Dr Forest Tenent discusses syndromes that

cause this in his " Intractable Pain Patient Handbook for Survival " which can

be read online by doing a internet search.

Dr. Tenent states:

For example, a pulserate or blood pressure that remains high, over time,may

cause any one of several cardiovascular complications

including arteriosclerosis, angina, heart attack, and stroke.

This syndrome is the Cardiac Adrenal Syndrome and he suggests pain patients with

high blood pressure and pulse rates over a long period need to be tested for

this.

I know my blood pressure has been as high as 230/110 and the Doctor just looked

at me and said " You must be in pain " We don't ofter

groan,scream, or wither in pain and I guess if we did, we would be more

believed.

I agree so much with what you say and pain effects many organs in our body

besides our pain source so we must care for all of them.

Bennie

[Guest guest]

> S wrote:

>

> Thanks . I can't see how I can alter my meds. When my pain flares, it

sends my B/P through the roof, and I get chest pains etc.

,

I am sorry to hear about your B/P issues, I should have thought about that, I

guess I didn't since my B/P run to the low side naturally.

I hope you insurance come through in a timely manner so that you can get relief.