It does get better - woman in town had the procedure done. first with a test wire to see if it would help, and a couple of weeks later with the real implant. It took a couple of weeks for the back pain to dissipate, Haven’t talked to her but talked with her husband last week and she is improving by leaps and bounds now and she is almost 80.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;7172804]
What did the Dr say about your pain?[/QUOTE]
I ended up not going. There was no way I could have gotten in the car and made the long trip. I also didn’t want to ask anyone to drive an hour each way to pick up a script. My family has given up so many days to drive me back and forth to doctor appointments, I just didn’t want to ask even though I knew they’d go. So I toughed it out, except I wasn’t so tough and there was a lot of screaming. It got better around day 6, but I barely remember anything from that week.
The good news is that it appears to be working. Now that the back pain has gone away, I can feel the stimulator. I had it reprogrammed for the first time today and it is pretty cool. I can go from not being able to even touch the back of my leg to no pain at all with the touch of a button. It’s instant relief. I’m trying not to be pessimistic because it always seems like stuff works at first. It needs to work.
[QUOTE=sk_pacer;7172825]
It does get better - woman in town had the procedure done. first with a test wire to see if it would help, and a couple of weeks later with the real implant. It took a couple of weeks for the back pain to dissipate, Haven’t talked to her but talked with her husband last week and she is improving by leaps and bounds now and she is almost 80.[/QUOTE]
That is good to hear. I have heard a lot of success stories so I’m hopeful.
My chinchilla died yesterday so it’s been a pretty sucky couple weeks. He was 20 years old and I’ve had him half my life. My mom had to run over and take me to the vet so I could have him put to sleep. He must have suffered a stroke during the night.
Dammit, now I’m crying again.
I have read your whole thread tonight, and what a lot you have been through! I am so glad your spinal stimulator is working for you, and so sorry about your chinch. They are the sweetest. Please know that random strangers across the country are thinking of you, and hoping for all good things for you 
What Spartacus said. I’m sorry for your loss and hope that your pain is gone forever.
Thank you all, just writing it all down has been very cathartic.
I had my chinchilla cremated… that’s kinda weird isn’t it?
No it’s not weird but who cares if it was?
Bless you GotGait. A fellow Paso rider here… I had sciatica for about a month a couple of years ago and wanted to die, so I can only imagine what you’re going through! Nerve pain is the worst. At first you think you can handle it and then it just starts to wear you down over time. Physical therapy did finally get rid of it for me, but my situation wasn’t nearly as serious as yours.
Here’s hoping you’re back up soon gaiting your butt off and laughing at your fellow riders posting to the point of exhaustion to keep up…:lol:
It’s working great so far and we’ve started to slowly cut down the narcotics. It’s going to take 48 days to get completely off them - if I can. They’ve told me the stim might not take care of all the pain, and they haven’t even mentioned all the other drugs at all yet.
My leg is super weak, but so is everything else. I’m basically atrophied. It’s going to be a long journey back to the saddle. I’m sure I will be riding before I can mount and dismount by my self. Riding without stirrups would probably help a lot.
If anyone has any ideas on how to get back in the saddle after being immobile for so long, I’d love to hear them. I have major balance issues along with weak legs, and I don’t know where to start.
I bought a balance ball and have started sitting on that and doing some basic back and forth movement - I have a lot of pelvic scar tissue. I could only manage to do two 5 minute sessions. I wish I could hire a therapeutic riding instructor.
Yay! So glad to hear that it’s working!! WOOT!
Swimming, walking would probably help and excerises like squats and lunges as well.
P.
The most amazing thing is that I can walk fine now - like I never had anything wrong at all.
I hope this is one of my last updates! I actually got to cancel my monthly appointment to my pain specialist - the one who doles out my drugs. I am on a taper schedule and am doing so well, I don’t have to go back unless I hit a bump. This is the first time I have been able to cancel this appointment. I’ve been going at least once a month since August of 2011. I am so happy that this magic box is working, and I am down a full dose of OxyContin and I still feel good. I feel like trying to ride as soon as my back heals up a bit more.
Good for you!
Yay!congrats!
This is my last update! I went to my last doctor appointment today. I don’t have to go back except for a battery change in like 7 years, and the implant rep can handle any adjustments. I admit, I cried when I got home. I never thought this nightmare would end, but I had the best docs in the world. They never gave up, and they gave me my life back. Dr. Richard Marvel, and his wonderful staff, at The Center for Pelvic Pain, Dr. Eric Williams from The Dellon Institute of Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Dr. David Maine from The Center for Interventional Pain Medicine, and Dr. Ira Garonzik from The Baltimore Neurosurgery and Spine Center - you have my eternal thanks.
I’ve followed your thread, and I’m so happy for you!
Sometimes - sometimes - modern medicine gets it right and then it’s magic!
Heh, yeah I was told today that the best case scenario had happened. After nearly 4 years of worst case scenario happening, it was great to finally get one right.
Wow, awesome update!
congrats!
