yesterday's neurostimulator implant team meeting

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone! I'm a little happy and a little freaked out by all this, so I hope

you can give me some feedback on this.

I went in to talk to the Pain Clinic about a test installation of a

neurostimulator implant for my chronic intractable migraines.  But I was in so

much pain I could hardly put my words together.  So the director of the clinic

decides we should rule out a whiplash type injury to my neck vs. a chemical or

brain signal of a real migraine, like right now.  This is one of those choose

your underwear carefully girls because before the day is out every one is going

to see them!

He did bilateral cervical medical branch blocks on three levels.  No help for

the head pain.  So in recovery he gave my usual clinic meds per my regular doc.,

that didn't help.  Then right on top of that he gave my ER protocol! 

I did not have to leave the Pain Clinic and go to the ER or make other

arrangements for the next day, because God knows it would still have been there,

or anything!  What an amazing doctor!!  All I have to do is go back and get my

car because I had to get a driver.

Now the not-so-great part there are only two things in this world left to try on

me and neither sounds like much fun at all.  The neurostimulator or the drug

delivery implant therapy. 

I am quickly facing the end of a very (40 years of pain) long road.  These

doctors do agree that I will live out my life (another 40 years) in some level

of pain so management of it is my only option.

Thanks in advance for any feedback you can provide.  I really don't have anyone

else to share this stuff with. 

Kathy in MN

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

I have a neurostimulator since Dec.

It helps with pain down my legs and in some of my lower back. I have been

unsuccessful in getting rid of all the pain. My other problem is that my upper

body, including my head, does not get the benefits of the stimulator.

It does help tho. Good luck. I hope that it helps you!

Michele

[Guest guest]

, Kathy Koch wrote:

>

> I went in to talk to the Pain Clinic about a test installation of a

> neurostimulator implant for my chronic intractable migraines. But I

> was in so much pain I could hardly put my words together. So the

> director of the clinic decides we should rule out a whiplash type

> injury to my neck vs. a chemical or brain signal of a real migraine,

> like right now. This is one of those choose your underwear

> carefully girls because before the day is out every one is going to

> see them!

>

Kathy,

Good Luck, I know that others have tried this and it worked. You have

the trial which means it is not implanted yet and so you will at least

know. These are my last two options also and I will do it when it is

time.

If it doesn't work, it is not implanted, so you have options. I don't

know where you live but sounds like you are

going through the protocol. I will be thinking of you and wishing

you well. Have you gone on brain talk, it is a

great forum for specific areas and I went there to find out info for

my husbands collodial brain cyst and there was

a lot there about migranes. Thinking of you Kathy. Bennie

[Guest guest]

Bennie:  Thanks so much for your kind words.  Kathy

<Bennie wrote:

Kathy,

>Good Luck, I know that others have tried this and it worked. You have

the trial which means it is not implanted yet and so you will at least

know. These are my last two options also and I will do it when it is

time.