SCS Implant ...unsure

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maltluver

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A bit of history....7 lurabar surgeries (2 lami's, 4 fusions, bone spur removal).. I also have the morphine pump implanted.

Last week I had a myelogram and ct scan. It showed 2 bone spurs impinging on a nerve, and the disc right above it is bulging. I am not sure but think it is the L2-3 level. I have had increasing leg weakness for the last year and now cannot walk more than 10-12 paces without a cane. We discussed and agreed on surgery as I have been in pm for 5 years and had many, many procedures for pain.

Well, my dr. called early this morning while I was still sleeping and told me that after talking to my pm, they thought it might be better to try the SCS! Being half asleep, my mind just couldn't dredge up the right questions. I know my pm is pushing the SCS because he has tried to get me to agree to it for 2 years.

I have a couple of questions. For the trial, what do they do? Place a lead internally or what? Secondly, if it does help (I don't think it will because I tried a Tens unit and it drove me crazy with the buzzing feeling), but if it does improve my pain, where will they implant the actual device? I have a nephew who has one and it is in his upper buttock and he can hardly stand to sit because it hurts him. He is awfully thin, tho.....does that make a difference> I am about 6 pounRAB over my ideal weight.

I'm afraid if I say no, I will make my pm mad at me, and who wants that??? Also am worried that they will think I am some kind of surgery lover.....NOT! I feel cornered and angry to be placed in this position. I love my surgeon and he has seen me through a lot. He isn't one who wants to jump in and operate if there is any other choice.

Can I get your thoughts on all this. Maybe it will help me with my decision.

Thanks so much.

Carol
 
Carol, I'm so osrry that you have been put in this position. It sounRAB like your PM has pushed your surgeon into agreeing that you need the pump. I'm hoping Shoreline will jump in...he has the pump and has had it for years.

My understanding is that when they do the trial, it will be external with the leaRAB put in the area that they think will be mosted helped by it. When they do a permanent, the battery/pump is usually placed in the butt-in the indented area.

I sure would ask your surgeon why he decided this all of a sudden. The pump is a permanent thing. I certainly think he owes you an explanation for the aboutface.

hang in there.....I know someone with far more knowledge with log in...
 
Thank you bake&pray. Yes, I am making a long list of questions. I hate it that I was woken from sleep and couldn't think straight. After a couple of minutes, the questions started running through my head, but it was too late. I do think my pm is the one who brought it up. And I think he was the one who convinced my OSS that the nerves weren't impinged on that badly. Well, we all know that no matter what the tests show, sometimes things are worse once they get inside.

My ortho specialist jumped me from narco 10/325 to 30mg morphine LA and it doesn't help the pain much either which tells me this is nerve pain. I don't want or need anymore nerve damage.

Thanks for the information bake&pray. I've read many of your posts and have to say you are well-informed and give really good advise. Thanks again.

Carol
 
maltluver, I can't give you any info on the SCS. However, if you look up the posts of a woman by the name of 123dietdrpepper, you will find some info there. For example, NEVER have anyone but a NEUROSURGEON insert a SCS!! My PM doc told me this as well. My neurologist who is the director of a large teaching hospital does not like them. I'm sure there are others who think they are the best thing since sliced bread! IMHO, you can't make a decision based on if this doc or that doc is going to get mad at you-however I have had those feelings too. It is your body after all!! You've already proved above and beyond that you are willing to try many different treatment options besides just meRAB;surgery and the pain pump are two really big ones!! Not to mention what you tried before this that we are not aware of. Just remeraber that none of us on the boarRAB are experts, and even two experts in the same field can disagree. So, in the end, it is your decision to make. Best of Luck!!....janiee:angel:
 
Janie, thanks so much for your input and support. Yes, I have undergone every treatment suggested, epi's, caudal's, nerve ablation, blocks, and so on.
I do hear what you are saying about it being my body, but I have a dilemna and that is that my pm is one of only 2 pain clinics in my area. I would have to travel 125 miles for another one and I can't do that. My pm and I have always gotten along very well, he's been understanding and so forth, but he has a love of these SCS's. When he first suggested it to me 3 or 4 years ago, I told him I wanted nothing to do with it. He's brought it up a couple more times and got the same answer from me.

I've read that if there is a chance that surgery will be needed down the road, it shouldn't be implanted. I wonder how much more difficult a surgery would be if they had to work around my pain pump and an SCS both??!!?

I didn't mean to run on and on about this, but it's driving me crazy. One minute I think okay, do your thing. And the next minute I'm thinking NO WAY!
Thanks again for your kind worRAB.

Oh, by the way, I've been a meraber for a long time; I just quit posting about 2 years ago when my husband got so sick. He's been gone for l6 months and for a long time I had no interest in doing much of anything. I do know 123dietdrpepper. I will go back and re-read some of her posts.

Carol
 
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