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Posted 12/22/2010 8:04 PM (GMT 0)

I have had a successful trial with a medtronic neurostimulator for low back/leg pain.  I am about to have the permanent implant.  does anyone know what the typical recovery from this procedure is?  I have a vacation scheduled 2 weeks later (beach vacation, so no activity... but flying, nonetheless.

Many thanks for your input.

Posted 12/23/2010 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Bubbie, Welcome to the site. I just wanted to give you a little info regarding the SCS implant. After my implant, I went back to work 2 days later. I traveled by air several weeks later and did not have any problems. There will be restrictions on no bending, lifting etc as the wound will not be healed and the leads will need time to set in place. My concern would be going to the beach as already stated, the wound may not be healed yet and you will need to protect the site. You certainly want to talk to the Dr. doing the implant and the SCS rep about your plans and get their input. I have my email listed and will answer any question that I can regarding the implant. Do remember that each persons experience is different. How I healed or others may be different thgan what you experience. I use my unit 24 hours a day and I am actually on about 3 times the meds I was on previous to the implant. Some people have a 50% reduction in pain and med use.  Good luck.

Posted 12/24/2010 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Fatherjohn, if you are on 3 times the meds it sounds like the SCS didn't work very well. Comments?
Posted 12/24/2010 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Bubbie, I do not want to hi-jack your thread but Krafty01 asked for comments regarding my increase in meds and thought that it could seem like the SCS was not working for me. The reason that my meds increased is that I was undermedicated and I did not take meds at all during the day because of my job. After I had the implant my Pain Dr. and I had a disagreement and we parted ways. My proimary care Dr. is now handling my pain control and he has increased my meds. In the state that I live in, there is not an issue of PCPs prescribing pain meds. As stated, each persons situation and how they respond is going to be different. Also, Drs will also differ greatly as to how they will approach pain control and the meds nthat are prescribed. I hope this cleared up the reason Krafty01 mentioned. Blessing!
Posted 12/25/2010 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
B-
Partly it depends on where you get it implanted, whether they use leads or paddles & how quickly you tend to heal. I usually have a higher than normal SED rate (blood test that measures inflammation) so I heal slower than average. I was cleared to fly out to my gma's within 2-3 weeks but had to manage the traveling carefully -- NO lifting suitcases, duffle bags, etc. John makes a good point that if your stitches have been removed you will need to apply high SPF sunscreen. If they haven't been removed before your trip, you will need to talk to your doc about wound care.
If it were me, I'd plan a visit to the doc just before the trip to be sure everything looks okay. Also, realize that some people need to undergo months of rehab before their SCS works well so you may not be getting much relief at first from the unit. Be prepared for the airport screening process. I've found I can't be on my feet & walking around for so long (I live near one of the largest international airports, so there is a lot of walking & waiting involved). You can all the airline ahead of time to make arrangements for accompanied transport (manual wheelchair or indoor tram) and that can make things easier on you. You can always cancel at the last minute, but if you don't plan ahead it's hard to get one without a few days prior notice.
Also, I've cut way back on meds post-op, but it took months to get to that point. I went up on my meds for the first 3-4 months. Then, slowly went down. Now, it's 5 years later & the SCS is good for nothing but we've found other ways to manage my pain & I am still on a low dose. :)

Mostly, I would say to listen carefully to your doc's instructions. Those matter much more than any of our experiences. I was on restrictions for 6 months due to my own medical issues. Other people who see my same PM are only on restrictions for 8 weeks. Your doc will know about your general health, any issues related to healing, what exact procedure he plans to use, how much medicine you're on, whether you'll be sedated for the implant, what unit you're getting & a whole host of other issues that can impact what restrictions are appropriate for you.

Best wishes with your surgery!
frances
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