Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial

Hi Everyone

Sorry that its been some time since I posted. I had to make some major decisions lately. My pain management physician wanted me to do a trial with the spinal cord stimulator. I was a bit torn about this due to it being invasive, first of all. Second due to my bad experience with my fusion surgery. I finally made my mind up that I needed to at least do the trial or I would always wonder whether it would have helped or not down the road.

I went in for the trial on the 18th.  They put the leads in and showed me how to operate the device. One thing that did happen which was sort of disappointing, was that the leads slipped after they start stitching them in. They had good coverage for the pain before that. They could not get them back in the exact spot afterwards.  It was very late and I feel to be honest that they got in a hurry by that time and did not try very hard. I will explain why I say this later. So it took some time to get adequate relief once I got home.

WOW! I was majorly surprised at how much could be programmed into that little machine. I had several different programs that I could try and use to see which one worked best.  I could get good relief on my leg areas but I had a real hard time getting any type of relief above the groin. I have a LOT of pain up in the low back and hip area so that was disappointing.  I was terribly sore the first two days as well.

By the second day the soreness had subsided, and I could play a bit more with the programming. I was not as intimidated with all the buttons to push! I finally found some settings that handled the better portion of my hips and lower abdomen and back. I was a happy camper after that. I did have some issues with the stim stop working when I sat down. I talked to my rep daily and he assured me this was due to the temp leads and would not happen with a perm install.

So all was good til the last night before I went to take it out. I had to do some holiday baking and all at once it was like I was hit by a ton of bricks. I was miserable! I talked to the doc and he said he thought the leads had moved, sure enough they had and he said they were so loose he wondered how they were working at all by then hmmmm.

So now I am waiting for the insurance to approve the permanent implantation. I am back in pain once again which STINKS!!!! I hope this happens soon. It is not nice to give you relief then take it away.

I did find an excellent video of the actual procedure for permanent implantation of the spinal cord stimulator that was done by Beth Israel Hospital. They talk to two patients in this film clip about their experiences and so forth. It really helped me make up my mind about having this done. It shows the whole surgery so if you are the queasy sort you might want to refrain but it was very interesting to me. The question and answer session with the patients and doctor was excellent too.

If you want to watch the Surgery

That’s all for now from me. I hope that my pain does not keep me from posting again. I would like to hear from anyone who is at the same place as me or close to the same place! For others in pain hope your pain is the least amount that it can be today! Hang in there!

Pain Is Really Getting Old!

The last SI injection I had done has already worn off and I am feeling the ramifications of the weather cooling down here. I have found that cold weather really aggravates the arthritic portion of my pain. It seems to hurt much worse if things are stormy, rainy, damp, or really cold. I can tell 24 hours before a storm front is going to move through. It really stinks!

I wish things would move quicker. I just found out it could be 3-4 months before I get the permanent SCS implant done. It depends on how long the insurance drags their feet getting this procedure pre certified. I am really sick and tired of being at the mercy of the insurance company for the treatment that I need for my health.

I know that I am fortunate to have insurance and I should not complain but it is very frustrating to deal with this day in and out. I am really glad that I can write my thoughts and feelings out here and share with you!

Stress Relief-Part 3 Organize Your Life, Examine Your Relationships

Relieving stress is not just a physical thing. There are many emotional and mental components that attribute to our stress levels. I know that when things get disorganized around me that it makes my stress levels go up considerably. I have had to make some changes in my life to organize things better which has helped to relieve my stress. Case in point, one of my medications makes your short term memory very fuzzy. I have always been proud of my excellent memory and how I could remember numbers without writing them down. Today, sometimes I can walk through the house and forget why I went to that room.

To help reduce the frustration with all of this, I have started making lists of things to help me out. I have a dry erase board on my refrigerator that has any important activities or projects that are coming up for our family or my children. This helps me make sure I do not miss anything that is important for the kids. I also have a notebook that I write many lists in. I go through and mark off the tasks as I do them. It has humbled me a bit to do this but it is much better than being proud and forgetting something that would be much worse!

Another thing I have had to revisit in my life is my relationships. Some of our relationships can be toxic. These can cause enough stress and strain all by themselves. If you find yourself in one of these relationships, it is time to revisit why you are in it. It would be wise to find ways to distance yourself from that relationship so you can have more peace and contentment in your life. I found that when I let go of a few relationships like this I found some instant stress relief. I did not want to do this but I honestly could not help these people. They in turn were keeping me up in the air with all their life issues and I just had to let it go.

Finally, it is really good to plan a getaway several times a year. It does not have to be anything elaborate or expensive but it needs to be either relaxing or fun! Plan some couple time with your spouse or partner and go away for a weekend. It will revitalize you and your relationship!. Have a family weekend getaway and do something that the whole family can enjoy. Just remember, do not pack the whole time with so many activities that you are more tired when you return from your trip than when you left!

Natural Herbal Supplements for Energy

Chronic pain can take its toll of the body, mind and spirit. It really eats away at your energy. I know it seems to take much more effort to do anything anymore. I also know that it is due to my body using all the energy that it has to deal with the pain in my back. Pain management does not address this problem so I have been looking at different ways to build up my energy levels.

I have been looking at some herbal supplements for energy. Once I did my research, I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. I had used MSM for quite some time for its anti-inflammatory properties before and after my surgeries. I found that it is considered a good natural herb for energy and to increase metabolism as well. Some women have even lost weight when they took it.

More research revealed that bee pollen and royal jelly were great herbal supplements for energy renewal. I am going to order a bottle tomorrow and try it out. I was torn between trying this and Siberian ginseng. I really feel good about both these products, however the royal jelly was less expensive than the ginseng so I am going to try it first. I will let you know how it works out!

As far as my back pain and sciatica issues go, I had some issues with the leg pain again today. I did a lot of laundry yesterday so I may have overdone. I am hoping since I rested my leg today it will resolve itself. If not then I am talking with the doctor about SCS and the pain pump on the 16th. Hopefully if things stay the same with my back, pain management will be able to map out a plan that will give me some more permanent relief in the near future! We shall see.