Re: spinal stimulator/Becky

[Guest guest]

--- Becky wrote:

Just got home from hospital getting my spinal stimulator trial implanted.  I'm a

little sore at the incision point where the needle went in but nurse said that

was normal.  They gave me good drugs during the implant so it didn't hurt too

bad.  I have 2 different programs to try out during the week.  Already I think 1

is better than another.  Feeling groggy right now so will quit.  Check in

tomorrow. 

Hi Becky

I hope the spinal stimulator helps you.

Kaylene

[Guest guest]

From a fellow stimulator patient, GOOD LUCK!

> Becky wrote:

>

> Just got home from hospital getting my spinal stimulator trial implanted. I'm

a little sore at the incision point where the needle went in but nurse said that

was normal. They gave me good drugs during the implant so it didn't hurt too

bad. I have 2 different programs to try out during the week. Already I think 1

is better than another. Feeling groggy right now so will quit.

[Guest guest]

Well let me say this, I have a foot problem which I think makes a huge

difference. It's much harder to cover pain in the feet. Given that, I

consider it another tool to be used, just like ice, or meditation.

I had a lot of questions after the one week trial and I really didn't

get satisfactory answers. For example, sometimes I had to turn the

device up so high to cover the pain, I couldn't do anything. It was

too distracting. When I asked if that would change for the real thing,

both the doctor and the support person didn't really answer the

question. Plus both my legs vibrate all the way down. Why? Because

it's impossible for the doctors to pick out those nerve strands that

only effect your feet.

I find it to be a great device if I'm sitting in one place for a long time. The

other question I had was if I ran the stimulator for a few hours, then turned it

off, would the pain start off at a higher level. Happy to report that it seems

to cause your body to start with no pain after it's turned off.

Now I also have levels of pain that nothing works. I mean it's so bad I don't

even feel the ice pack on my feet.

So to answer your question, I reduced my Oxycodone by half. I'm no longer taking

Ultram ER but a pain patch (which is stronger) has been substituted.

I keep thinking that maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance, but it's just

not that great for me. The doctor who saw me after the test could tell I

probably wasn't a good candidate. Why? Because he said when it works the

patients are jumping up and down because they don't even want the leads taken

out from the test.

I wasn't like that, I was kind of an in between, they weren't sure what to do.

Sorry, I wish I could be of more help. I have a Medtronic device. What brand is

yours?

>Becky wrote:

>

>Just got home from hospital getting my spinal stimulator trial implanted. I'm a

little sore at the incision point where the needle went in but nurse said that

was normal. They gave me good drugs during the implant so it didn't hurt too

bad. I have 2 different programs to try out during the week. Already I think 1

is better than another. Feeling groggy right now so will quit.

[Guest guest]

> wrote:

> I keep thinking that maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance, but it's just

not that great for me. The doctor who saw me after the test could tell I

probably wasn't a good candidate. Why? Because he said when it works the

patients are jumping up and down because they don't even want the leads taken

out from the test.

,

My neurosurgeon told me this was an option for me if I wanted to do it. I know

that the TENS unit did nothing for me and I could not handle the stimulation.

That is mostly why my Doctor requires a visit with a therapist before doing the

spinal stimulator and to make sure that a patient can handle an

Implanted unit in your body.

I already have enough hardware, I am holding off on the stimulator. I hope the

best for those who make this choice and other interventions.

Hang in there, Becky and I know what you are saying. This has been a high

pain week and I just am going to take a sleeping pill

and try to sleep as my hip (bursitis) is killing me. I didn't ask

for this bursitis and wish it would go away.

I also like my questions answered. I believe that tolerance after a time would

be a problem to overcome and if you use the highest level and still have no

relief, what else is there? What process is there for taking it out after being

implanted?

I am at the point I do not want anymore invasive procedures and medication

therapy will have to do. I just will have blood work checked which has been fine

except for Vitamin D deficiency and

that is more from Thyroid Problems. Vitamin D is known to decrease pain so I

really am glad I found out.

Bennie