Having Neurostimulator Trial soon....need advice!

Hi there!

My name is Becca, I am 34, and was injured at work in December 2013.  I had a impacted femur and impacted tibia fracture, torn LCL,  3 herniated discs (2 commpressing nerves) and developed a Anterior Compartment syndrome.  All of this was misdiagnosed for 7 days! (seriously) SO, It was finally diagnosed properly, but by then it was too late, and I had extensive nerve damage.  So to make a long story short, I developed a foot drop ( from the compartment syndrome) which I now get to wear a very stylish purple AFO for potentially the rest of my life, and I developed CRPS in my Lumbar, and all the way down to my toes on the left leg.  I still have a lot of issues especially where the fractures were, but no Ortho will touch me due to the CRPS, knowing that it can increase my pain X1000.  So I agreed that surgery needed to be avoided because the CRPS is already affecting my life so much that I can't even enjoy hardly anything that I used to.  I have severe allodynia and hyperalgesia, and have parasthesia as well.  Anyways, I have 7 physicians currently at Mayo clinic who are trying to help me, but basically I'm being told that there's nothing that can be done at this point.  I was referred to a pain clinic physician from a neurologist because I refuse to take pain meds, it's too risky, and I don't want my children seeing me all zombie like from taking pills.  I just deal with it, and it's a struggle to say the least.  So since I have been seeing this amazing pain management doc, I have had 3 paravertebral nerve sympathectomies and getting a 4th one in 10 days.  Then, he said he wants me to consider having a Medtronics Neurostimulator implanted, it will be a trial for 3-7 days, and then if it works, the permanent one can be placed.  I am just wanting some input from people who can relate to what I am going through, and have chronic pain and nothing works so now you resort to a neurostimulator. 

Thanks so much in advance!! :)

Hi Becca,

IMO surgery is a nuclear option. Refusing to take drugs does not sound the same as nothing working. I would encourage you to try every single other option before surgery. There are a lot of options for PM and surgery is at the bottom of the list. If for no other reasons doctors are humans and we're each individual piles of meat. I've lost feeling to a perfectly good hand from an epidural severing a nerve. Meds don't need to make you a zombie to be effective. Honestly I think I will consider even illegal drugs before I let them cut on me again. Right now I am 99% mentally functional on percocet and valium, i am far from a zombie, have a PhD. And spend a good portion of my day doing fairly sophisticated math.

Please don't take that as my lacking sympathy for your condition. It sounds as If you're quite lucky to be alive and god knows that often feels more like a curse than a blessing for us. I would try the drugs and I mean a good college try of each, ramping doses and giving them time to take effect before letting them cut on you. It sucks and it's painful and side effects of some will blow you away, but you must try.