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SCS trial today

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Posted 4/21/2012 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Well I went ahead and had the SCS trial today at the VA hospital. So far so good. My left ribs are about 60% less painful. Unfortunately they could get the trial leads past the scar tissue to see if it will work on my right ribs.
Very strange feeling, but better than the constant 7/8 pain I had before.

Take care,
Bill devil
Posted 4/21/2012 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
Best of luck Bill. How long is your trial to continue for?

Laura
Posted 4/22/2012 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
Laura-

I go back Wednesday at noon to have the leads removed. Hope this keeps working this well the whole trial. It's been great yaking less than half of my usual meds and that's been for the pain where the leads are inserted.

She said If I want to go through with the permanent one it would be with the paddle type leads. She said something about a lamanectomy(sp). Do you know what this is? Guess I could look it up, lol.

My wife has been playing watch dog so I don't bend ot twist and such. It's amazing how many times a day you need to bend over or twist every day.

Take care,
Bill devil
Posted 4/22/2012 2:25 PM (GMT 0)

     Morning Bill! wink

            It sounds like things are swinging your way with the trial.

    When do the put in the permanent one in?

       Glad to see you are having some success, hope it continues for you.

         Here is some information for you as well!

        http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/laminectomy/MY00674

  SE wink

Posted 4/22/2012 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Laminectomy is where they go in and clean out the space in your spinal canal
to open it up, mostly done when there is stenosis (narrowing of the
spinal canal), they have many types of variations of this surgery and for more
info you can google it or go to spine universe, you should ask your doctor if the
minimally invasive procedure of a laminectomy can be done...
and good luck with your with scs...I hope the scs can provide more pain relief
for you....keep us posted on how this goes...Prayers and well wishes...
Posted 4/22/2012 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill. Sounds like things are going well with the trial. Laminectomy with regards to SCS - they remove a small piece of bone in order to get the leads into the correct place. I've not been through that - I've got one percutaneous lead and one very fine paddle, which are both placed using some sort of introducer (aka BIG needles...!)

We never really discussed paddle leads for me - I think partly due to my age and it being a more invasive surgery (I was only 21). Of course they do have the advantage of being more stable and less able to migrate or be damaged. I'm back into surgery on Thursday for the fourth revision on mine after damaging it last year.

Laura
Posted 4/22/2012 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
S.E.-
She said if I decide to go ahead with it it would be about 2 months before they could do it. I am also seeing another PM who wants to try some other things first, but I wanted to be sure I had something to fall back on if he can't help.

Chartreux- Thanks for the info. My civilian PM says my spine is now crooked and I have some stenosis. Not sure if that's why they couldn't get the right side lead all the way up or just scar tissue.

Laura- I pray all goes well Thursday. The Medtronics tech is who said they would use the paddle type leads, but didn't specify any particular type. With what I have read here it seems like they would be a bit better at staying put.
How long were you limited in what you did after having this put in? I am having a hard time remembering not to bend over or twist. I also caught my "tail" on a chair today. Good thing they put a ton of tagaderm and tape on it, LOL.
If I keep getting god results with the left side I believe I should have good results with the right side when in the right place. I had an area about 6inches by 6 inches right below my thoracotomy scar that the skin was so sensitive even my shirt sent zaps through me. This has even stopped that.

Thank you all for replying to me. I even manage to sleep on one side and don't have to toss and turn due to the rib pain. What a great feeling.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 4/27/2012 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Just an update.

The trial went very well. I wish I still had it since it lowered the pain so much. The Medtronics tech thinks they can use the top of the paddle to cover the right side and the lower part to cover the left.
I am still going to try the RF ablation first to see if it will help. Anything to not have to go through another surgery.

Laura- Hope all went well with your surgery.

Take care
Bill
Posted 4/27/2012 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
 

       Morning Bill! wink

       ...sounds like you had a good trial test! yeah   ...however, I'm glad to see that you are looking at other options first, and I understand well the dreaded surgery's. Let's hope the RF Ablation goes well also!

    Hang in there, and take care!

   SE wink

Posted 4/28/2012 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks S.E.

I already know I have to have both knees cleaned out in about a month or two, so avoiding any other surgery is a big plus. My PM doctor trained mt VA PM doctor. Thought that was ironic.
I start the set of three test injections the 10th of May to see if the RF should work or not. The first day without the trial SCS wasn't too bad, but today the pain came back with a vengence. An they wonder why my BP was so high today at my annual check up with my PCP.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 4/28/2012 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
 

    Morning Bill! wink

         Sorry for the increased pain....not good!..especially after experiencing some relief with the SCS trial.

   We have a member here (retiredmom)...that has had several RFA's done with great success....lets hope you have the same outcome.

   I'm interested...as many here are too...so keep us up todate!

     SE wink

Posted 4/29/2012 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
SE-

I am very hopeful about the RF. My wife had it done for her neck pain and it has worked out quite well.

By the way, I love that quote you have. So very true!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 4/29/2012 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hey!…your up kinda late! tongue …or is it me? LOL

Ahh!…the quotes! …that one is a good one,…but I really need to switch it out as it has been there for a long while. cool

I have really not understood the RAF….but am interested. …so!…I expect a good, in-depth report back from you! smilewinkgrin
When are you scheduled to have it done? And, will you be sedated? ….Info!…I need info man! LOL

Take care, and have a good evening Bill! wink

SE wink
Posted 4/29/2012 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
SE,
I will definitely give a good in depth report. My PM dos do conscious sedation for the RF. I don't think it would be too pleasant without it.

I have to go through 3 sets of diagnostic nerve blocks to be sure they get the right nerve bundle and that it does have some effect on the level of pain. Insurance reason's. I will have a set each week starting 5/10/12 and then per insurance approval go ahead with the ablation.

He wanted to wait a week since I just had the SCS trial. Not sure why, but he must have a good reason.

Take care,
Bill
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