Guest guest Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 I had a discectomy in 1993 at age 30 and had a very long recovery to learn to walk unaided again. From then through 2006 I had physical therapy almost every single year, for at least 2-3 months or whatever insurance would cover. The last year the p.t. could no longer help me. I was evaluated and determined the scar tissue from the surgery had invaded the nerve space and the spinal column. No surgery could successfully correct this so they didn't even attempt it (I would either be paralyzed or the scar tissue would grow back). At that point, they said I had 2 options, the implanted drug-delivery pump or the implanted spinal cord stimulator (which is different from a TENS unit). I chose the stimulator, because I understood it could also possibly help my neuropathy and possibly even my bladder control problems. I had a trial of the spinal cord stimulator and it was successful. For the trial they do not implant the device. Then I had the permanent surgery. The surgery itself was horrible and the recovery was LONG, but my QUALITY OF LIFE since then has been amazing! I am now working 40 hour work weeks, no longer on disability and it has also helped my neuropathy. It did not help the bladder control problems because it wasn't positioned at the right level of the spine to benefit that (bummer!). So I had a minor sling surgery to help that issue (that was also at its root level caused by the spinal injury I originally had). I would be glad to discuss the benefits of the spinal cord stimulator with anyone, as well as the pitfalls. You can also read about my journey with the SCS on my blog. The first post is at: http://imlivingoutloud.blogspot.com/2006/07/new-journey.html After that, I journal my journey, through about September or October of 2006 in the archives of my blog. Write me if you have any questions. Kathy Carlton Willis freelance writer, editor, book doctor, speaker, writer's coach, publicist and MORE! http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/ ************** Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Hi everyone!!! Im fairly new to the group, but i try to read all the post... Welcome back mike.. hope things are going better for you well i have my surgery this comming Wed... Im so nervouse but yet so excited.. When i had my trial it went great.. so Im praying this is going to be the answer,,, I have been suffering with RSD since 2002 and fibro for many many years.over the last 5 years i have not been able to wear shoes... told my hubby yesterday he best get ready to be buying me shoes,,, yeppeeeeeee... What I an worried about is the recovery,,, can anyone tell me about how long it takes to get back to reg life?????? well I hope to hear from some of ya,,,, take care ,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I had my implant in August '06 and it went great. I was up walking around the next day with the physical therapist. I have had no problems with it. Just do what your dr. says and you should be fine. As long as your trial went well you should be pain free. I'll be praying for you. Phyllis bluejeans412003 <bluejeans412003@...> wrote: Hi everyone!!! Im fairly new to the group, but i try to read all the post... Welcome back mike.. hope things are going better for you well i have my surgery this comming Wed... Im so nervouse but yet so excited.. When i had my trial it went great.. so Im praying this is going to be the answer,,, I have been suffering with RSD since 2002 and fibro for many many years.over the last 5 years i have not been able to wear shoes... told my hubby yesterday he best get ready to be buying me shoes,,, yeppeeeeeee... What I an worried about is the recovery,,, can anyone tell me about how long it takes to get back to reg life?????? well I hope to hear from some of ya,,,, take care ,,, --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 The healing time is 6-8 weeks so the leads can " scar " in. I learned my lesson with the first one. I tried to do things too soon, and the leads migrated. This time I took the time to heal, and that didn't happen. Best of luck to you. bluejeans412003 <bluejeans412003@...> wrote: Hi everyone!!! Im fairly new to the group, but i try to read all the post... Welcome back mike.. hope things are going better for you well i have my surgery this comming Wed... Im so nervouse but yet so excited.. When i had my trial it went great.. so Im praying this is going to be the answer,,, I have been suffering with RSD since 2002 and fibro for many many years.over the last 5 years i have not been able to wear shoes... told my hubby yesterday he best get ready to be buying me shoes,,, yeppeeeeeee... What I an worried about is the recovery,,, can anyone tell me about how long it takes to get back to reg life?????? well I hope to hear from some of ya,,,, take care ,,, --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I'm sorry your surgery was so bad. I must be lucky because my surgery was a breeze and I was up walking the next day. The day after that the technician came to the hospital to turn on my stimulator and WOW! I felt like a new person. Maybe because your your scar tissue issues the surgery may have been more significant, but I'm glad that you are doing well now. Rejoice! > > I had a discectomy in 1993 at age 30 and had a very long recovery to learn to > walk unaided again. From then through 2006 I had physical therapy almost > every single year, for at least 2-3 months or whatever insurance would cover. The > last year the p.t. could no longer help me. I was evaluated and determined the > scar tissue from the surgery had invaded the nerve space and the spinal > column. No surgery could successfully correct this so they didn't even attempt it > (I would either be paralyzed or the scar tissue would grow back). At that > point, they said I had 2 options, the implanted drug-delivery pump or the implanted > spinal cord stimulator (which is different from a TENS unit). I chose the > stimulator, because I understood it could also possibly help my neuropathy and > possibly even my bladder control problems. > > I had a trial of the spinal cord stimulator and it was successful. For the > trial they do not implant the device. Then I had the permanent surgery. The > surgery itself was horrible and the recovery was LONG, but my QUALITY OF LIFE > since then has been amazing! I am now working 40 hour work weeks, no longer on > disability and it has also helped my neuropathy. It did not help the bladder > control problems because it wasn't positioned at the right level of the spine to > benefit that (bummer!). So I had a minor sling surgery to help that issue (that > was also at its root level caused by the spinal injury I originally had). > > I would be glad to discuss the benefits of the spinal cord stimulator with > anyone, as well as the pitfalls. You can also read about my journey with the SCS > on my blog. The first post is at: > > http://imlivingoutloud.blogspot.com/2006/07/new-journey.html > > After that, I journal my journey, through about September or October of 2006 > in the archives of my blog. > > Write me if you have any questions. > Kathy Carlton Willis > freelance writer, editor, book doctor, speaker, writer's coach, publicist and > MORE! > http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/ > > > > > ************** > Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. > > (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel- campos-duffy/ > 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 , I had my stimulator put implanted in 2006. It took about 2 weeks until you are able to move around. You have o be very careful until the leads have had a chance to scar over. So you have to watch your bending, lifting and twisting. I believe it was about 4-6 weeks after until you are " healed " . I hope this helps. I wish you luck and much success in your surgery. Feel better. F. _____ From: Stimulator [mailto:Stimulator ] On Behalf Of bluejeans412003 Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 7:23 PM Stimulator Subject: surgery is wed Hi everyone!!! Im fairly new to the group, but i try to read all the post... Welcome back mike.. hope things are going better for you well i have my surgery this comming Wed... Im so nervouse but yet so excited.. When i had my trial it went great.. so Im praying this is going to be the answer,,, I have been suffering with RSD since 2002 and fibro for many many years.over the last 5 years i have not been able to wear shoes... told my hubby yesterday he best get ready to be buying me shoes,,, yeppeeeeeee... What I an worried about is the recovery,,, can anyone tell me about how long it takes to get back to reg life?????? well I hope to hear from some of ya,,,, take care ,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hello , my name is Deanna. I am on my 2nd stimulator as well as them going in to adjust the leads. Here's what I know and what I experienced. I was told to expect at least 6-8 weeks for the scar tissue to develop and the leads to be set. However the 1st stimulator I was walking around the same day. The 2nd time was more timely because of them having to go back into the same area and re-implant the stimulator. I highly recommend you have stiches to help hold the leads in place. I am a slower healer so I also had staples for the incisions because the 1st time the incision didnt close and left me open for infections which I was lucky enough to experience (being sarcastic) had the stimulator removed which turned out to be the worse than the infections. Take all precautions to avoid infection!!!! Drink plenty of fluids and get lots of protein any way you can. I used protein bars, because I really dont eat that much and I just couldnt get enough any other way. Take your multivitamin and eat as healthy as possible. Above all move very slowly and cautiously. No matter what you do dont bend over, its extremely painful (also from experience). I forgot what I was doing cause I was feeling sorta normal and wham I just bent over like a dummy....feels like your insides are being ripped apart. Ask a million questions...if you dont know the answer, its not a dumb question. Sometimes the doctors n nurses will forget to mention something because they deal with so many patients n forget who they told what...purely by accident. When someone offers to help you...take them up on it. Your restrictions will be high and unfortunately we arent capable of doing everything, now even when we think we can. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to ask me anymore questions or express concerns. Deanna bluejeans412003 <bluejeans412003@...> wrote: Hi everyone!!! Im fairly new to the group, but i try to read all the post... Welcome back mike.. hope things are going better for you well i have my surgery this comming Wed... Im so nervouse but yet so excited.. When i had my trial it went great.. so Im praying this is going to be the answer,,, I have been suffering with RSD since 2002 and fibro for many many years.over the last 5 years i have not been able to wear shoes... told my hubby yesterday he best get ready to be buying me shoes,,, yeppeeeeeee... What I an worried about is the recovery,,, can anyone tell me about how long it takes to get back to reg life?????? well I hope to hear from some of ya,,,, take care ,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 You are lucky to have stayed in thhospital! In California you stay a few hours. > > > > I had a discectomy in 1993 at age 30 and had a very long recovery > to learn to > > walk unaided again. From then through 2006 I had physical therapy > almost > > every single year, for at least 2-3 months or whatever insurance > would cover. The > > last year the p.t. could no longer help me. I was evaluated and > determined the > > scar tissue from the surgery had invaded the nerve space and the > spinal > > column. No surgery could successfully correct this so they didn't > even attempt it > > (I would either be paralyzed or the scar tissue would grow back). > At that > > point, they said I had 2 options, the implanted drug-delivery pump > or the implanted > > spinal cord stimulator (which is different from a TENS unit). I > chose the > > stimulator, because I understood it could also possibly help my > neuropathy and > > possibly even my bladder control problems. > > > > I had a trial of the spinal cord stimulator and it was successful. > For the > > trial they do not implant the device. Then I had the permanent > surgery. The > > surgery itself was horrible and the recovery was LONG, but my > QUALITY OF LIFE > > since then has been amazing! I am now working 40 hour work weeks, > no longer on > > disability and it has also helped my neuropathy. It did not help > the bladder > > control problems because it wasn't positioned at the right level of > the spine to > > benefit that (bummer!). So I had a minor sling surgery to help that > issue (that > > was also at its root level caused by the spinal injury I originally > had). > > > > I would be glad to discuss the benefits of the spinal cord > stimulator with > > anyone, as well as the pitfalls. You can also read about my journey > with the SCS > > on my blog. The first post is at: > > > > http://imlivingoutloud.blogspot.com/2006/07/new-journey.html > > > > After that, I journal my journey, through about September or > October of 2006 > > in the archives of my blog. > > > > Write me if you have any questions. > > Kathy Carlton Willis > > freelance writer, editor, book doctor, speaker, writer's coach, > publicist and > > MORE! > > http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/ > > > > > > > > > > ************** > > Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. > > > > (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky- eater/rachel- > campos-duffy/ > > 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 -- You were very lucky,, In Ohio,, I got sent home less then 2 hrs after surgery,,, they turned it on right away,,, it did seem like a long recovery... my back hurt so bad from it for at least 6 weeks,,, but i dont regret it........ ,, Ohio - In Stimulator , " shantihhh " <shantihhh@...> wrote: > > You are lucky to have stayed in thhospital! In California you stay a > few hours. > > > > > > > > I had a discectomy in 1993 at age 30 and had a very long recovery > > to learn to > > > walk unaided again. From then through 2006 I had physical therapy > > almost > > > every single year, for at least 2-3 months or whatever insurance > > would cover. The > > > last year the p.t. could no longer help me. I was evaluated and > > determined the > > > scar tissue from the surgery had invaded the nerve space and the > > spinal > > > column. No surgery could successfully correct this so they didn't > > even attempt it > > > (I would either be paralyzed or the scar tissue would grow back). > > At that > > > point, they said I had 2 options, the implanted drug-delivery > pump > > or the implanted > > > spinal cord stimulator (which is different from a TENS unit). I > > chose the > > > stimulator, because I understood it could also possibly help my > > neuropathy and > > > possibly even my bladder control problems. > > > > > > I had a trial of the spinal cord stimulator and it was > successful. > > For the > > > trial they do not implant the device. Then I had the permanent > > surgery. The > > > surgery itself was horrible and the recovery was LONG, but my > > QUALITY OF LIFE > > > since then has been amazing! I am now working 40 hour work weeks, > > no longer on > > > disability and it has also helped my neuropathy. It did not help > > the bladder > > > control problems because it wasn't positioned at the right level > of > > the spine to > > > benefit that (bummer!). So I had a minor sling surgery to help > that > > issue (that > > > was also at its root level caused by the spinal injury I > originally > > had). > > > > > > I would be glad to discuss the benefits of the spinal cord > > stimulator with > > > anyone, as well as the pitfalls. You can also read about my > journey > > with the SCS > > > on my blog. The first post is at: > > > > > > http://imlivingoutloud.blogspot.com/2006/07/new-journey.html > > > > > > After that, I journal my journey, through about September or > > October of 2006 > > > in the archives of my blog. > > > > > > Write me if you have any questions. > > > Kathy Carlton Willis > > > freelance writer, editor, book doctor, speaker, writer's coach, > > publicist and > > > MORE! > > > http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ************** > > > Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. > > > > > > (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky- > eater/rachel- > > campos-duffy/ > > > 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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