Cervical SCS for Wrist Pain

[Mark56]

That your date for the op comes near without seeming too long a wait. Those days in between are fairly difficult once a patient is aware of the relief of a successful Trial. May your permanent go well for you!

Your brother's trial has to be espeicially difficult, for I understand those uncomfortable and hard courtroom gallery benches, as the emotion of the entire situation, preparation, endurance of testimony and cross examination takes its toll, most especially when multiple loved ones are involved. Thus, I pray that all will be well, and the children will emotionally be protected throughout the entirety of the unfolding history then future.

May all of you have peace,
Prayin,
Mark56

[yellow]

The days in between are definitely a challenge. Yesterday and today have been really high pain days for my wrist and now I just can't wait to get the SCS in, something that a couple months ago I was trying to avoid. I knew once I felt that relief from the trial, though, all of my hesitations about having a second surgery and second device in my body would be trumped by the feeling of pain relief, and I was right. 18 more days.

Thanks so much for your prayers, Mark. I do worry a lot about how this is going to affect the kids in the long run. There is some benefit to them being young, but there are also disadvantages as well because it is harder for them to understand why this is happening. They are 4, 6, and 7 years old.

[JavaJan]

Hi Yellow,
I'm Jan, and new here. So glad to hear that you have the surgery date set for your permanent implant! I'll bet you are counting the hours until that day gets here. I'm scheduled for my trial July 24, so I have a ways to go. You can be sure I'll be praying for you and hoping for a great outcome for you!
Jan

Originally Posted by yellow

The days in between are definitely a challenge. Yesterday and today have been really high pain days for my wrist and now I just can't wait to get the SCS in, something that a couple months ago I was trying to avoid. I knew once I felt that relief from the trial, though, all of my hesitations about having a second surgery and second device in my body would be trumped by the feeling of pain relief, and I was right. 18 more days.

Thanks so much for your prayers, Mark. I do worry a lot about how this is going to affect the kids in the long run. There is some benefit to them being young, but there are also disadvantages as well because it is harder for them to understand why this is happening. They are 4, 6, and 7 years old.

[yellow]

Thank you very much, Jan!


I was thinking today and I have a question for you all that I want to get your opinions on. What do you do for the ride home? This has always been extremely painful for me, with both trials, the permanent lumbar implant, and the revision. In the past I've tried to prop part of my back with pillows so the other part doesn't touch the seat, however this time I'll have incisions on my upper and lower back so I don't think that will work so well. It's about an hour drive from the hospital to my house, so it's a significant time to sit in that seat.

So, I thought I'd turn to you to see if you have any methods that have worked for you that I haven't thought of.

[Rrae]

I know you'll get some good suggestions, Yellow, from our caring comrades.
Seems like someone actually rented a van or something and put a mattress in the back. I bet Mark will share how he coped with his many back surgeries. I really feel for you! I live in such a small community in which everywhere is only a 5 minute drive, so haven't put to thought this scenerio.

Wondering if a back brace would be something to consider? Would Dr write a script to rent one maybe?

Caring,
Rae

[Mark56]

The first surgeries were heqq on wheels getting home......

Thereafter, I invented the means by which I have made the other trips.... but then you know that, Rae. Our next generation is within three weeks of popping onto the market. The prototype testers, people with Tarlov Cyst and a variety of other horrible difficulties have helped us realize a far better solution existed. They gave exceedingly great comments. Only the market will tell.

In the meantime Yellow, pillows can be a very great help once arranged properly. I never thought about the mattress idea........ not bad, not bad at all.....

Yup,
Mark56

[Nanc]

Hi again!

I had both SCS implanted at the same time, so I had four good sized incisions. I traveled by car and the hospital actually gave me a pillow for the ride. My seat was reclined just a small amount (because getting up from that was a real task!). I think no matter how you travel, you will be uncomfortable because of the incisions. Try to use the pillows to make yourself as comfortable as you possibly can. Having the binder on helped the lower/mid back. They put that on in the OR and I had to wear it for maybe 6 weeks.

I couldn't imagine laying down because getting up...painful!!

I wish you the best!!
Nanc

[JavaJan]

Originally Posted by yellow

Thank you very much, Jan!


I was thinking today and I have a question for you all that I want to get your opinions on. What do you do for the ride home? This has always been extremely painful for me, with both trials, the permanent lumbar implant, and the revision. In the past I've tried to prop part of my back with pillows so the other part doesn't touch the seat, however this time I'll have incisions on my upper and lower back so I don't think that will work so well. It's about an hour drive from the hospital to my house, so it's a significant time to sit in that seat.

So, I thought I'd turn to you to see if you have any methods that have worked for you that I haven't thought of.

Wow, an hour ride home doesn't sound like much fun at all, Yellow! After my fusion, I had about a half hour ride home, and pillows were very much the order of the day. While I was in the hospital I had this wonderful nurse, Jesse, and he would walk in with his beaming smile and say, "Well, how's my pillow queen today?", because I was surrounded by pillows on my bed in order to find some comfort. The day left the hospital, Jesse was my nurse, and he made sure to prop me up in my friend's van with probably more pillows (and their pillowcases) than was likely allowed. When they wheeled me out to the curb as I was being released, you could hardly see me for all those pillows...lol! Although the ride was not pain-free, the pillows certainly softened the bumps and bounces. Of course a nice, cushy mattress would've been even better, but I survived the trip and promptly climbed into bed and slept for about 4 hours straight!

Hopefully you will find a bearable solution as you prepare for your ordeal...um, I mean adventure! I'll just bet there are some members of this forum who will have some great suggestions.

Hoping and praying for the best outcome for you,
Jan

[yellow]

Thanks for all your suggestions!! The mattress would be good if there was a way to arrange it. I will bring lots of pillows instead of just one this time, that's a good idea. I did get an abdominal binder with my first SCS implant and with my revision (I should remember to tell them not to give me another new one this time), which I've worn. Would a more structured brace be better, do you think, or does the binder suffice?

Tonight I was reaching over the side of the couch for something and since my SCS has been kind of going crazy I'm having lots more positional changes all of a sudden, and it goes off and then back on when I move sometimes, and has shocked me several times. Sometimes I would have to turn it up high to feel it at all and others I felt it very strongly like I should with it up that high. I'm VERY nervous about this. I shut it off for now, I'm going to bed for the night soon and I'll deal with it tomorrow. I wonder if I could have pulled a lead? I wasn't stretching that much when I was reaching or anything- I have done yoga moves before and been fine...

[Mark56]

The only time I had a binder was after deep back surgery to reassemble my spine. For the SCS, there was no such thing issued.

I pray for your pain to ease, and for the misbehavior of the stim to abate,
Mark56