Spinal Cord Stimulator?!
Question: I was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS in August. It is my right knee (caused by 2 knee surgeries earlier this year). Now it has moved down to my lower leg and foot on my right side. I go to a pain center. My first visit was where they discussed my options. My doctor told me that I should have a sympathetic nerve block b/c we are already aware that meds do not control my pain anymore. So; I did the nerve block. It gave me relief for 4 hours (the only 4 hours that i've been pain free since March!). But on my next visit he said that its pointless to do anymore nerve blocks since that one did not help beyond the local anethesia. He said that he wants me to seriously consider a Spinal Cord Stimulator. I'm only 23 and am not sure I want to take such a large step just yet. But he said if we do not get a handle on it; it could spread further. Had anyone had a SCS and had a child when it was implanted? Does the SCS limit any function what so ever in your daily life?
Answers: I was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS in August. It is my right knee (caused by 2 knee surgeries earlier this year). Now it has moved down to my lower leg and foot on my right side. I go to a pain center. My first visit was where they discussed my options. My doctor told me that I should have a sympathetic nerve block b/c we are already aware that meds do not control my pain anymore. So; I did the nerve block. It gave me relief for 4 hours (the only 4 hours that i've been pain free since March!). But on my next visit he said that its pointless to do anymore nerve blocks since that one did not help beyond the local anethesia. He said that he wants me to seriously consider a Spinal Cord Stimulator. I'm only 23 and am not sure I want to take such a large step just yet. But he said if we do not get a handle on it; it could spread further. Had anyone had a SCS and had a child when it was implanted? Does the SCS limit any function what so ever in your daily life?
hi i have been living with RSD/CRPS for over 18 years. it's bullshit! i hate it Dr's only want the kickback of meds. they could care less if one feels anything. i have been living with the mind set that even tho i cannot feel my hands and feet on a consistent basis, my mind is strong enough to tell my body to work, i live with crazy pain i can not even describe, however, if it wasn't for the blocks i received back in 1990-1991 i would not be functioning today! i had 9 stellate ganglion blocks and 6 bertinion blocks, it was scary, but there is a treatment process. after the 3rd stellate my rt lung collapsed, they inflated it again, for 18 months i was in therapy and treatment to walk again and try to make my body understand what to do without feeling. i have lost over 125 lbs and am no longer the fat chick the Dr's claim was why i couldn't close my hand to open a door. i have tried everything i left my hometown to seek out o new life without the bullshit, with medical records in hand i have not had a chance to have a Dr look at my situation and want to help me they tell me i am too complicated. angry!!! yes i have been for many years, however, i am a strong independent that has never played the victim to this RSD/CRPS it will not win me i will control it because that is the only way i can cope!
Did you try Fentanyl Patches?
I have a SCS. I've had it since April 2006 (I was 14). I am currently the youngest patient in Utah to have one implanted, and so far I have not had any problems with limiting any functions of my daily life. My only problem has been that I have a rare scarring condition which has caused my stimulator leads to keep scarring over and not working. I've had two revisions to try to solve this problem, but my scar tissue just keeps taking over so I am currently looking into other treatments because of this scarring condition. I had 100% pain relief and if it wasn't because of my scar tissue I would most likely still have 100% pain relief. After the initial healing period of the surgery I did well with everything, I was swimming and figure skating and going to school full time. I was doing excellent until my scar tissue finally built up and blocked the stimulation, and after two revisions and trying to monitor the scar tissue I am looking into an exprimental treatment to see if it will help my pain. The year of pain relief that I got from my RSD/CRPS pain was certainly worth it though. I was able to walk without pain (I have my RSD/CRPS in my right leg from my knee to my toes, caused by a knee surgery when I was 13). Feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions. Good luck!
I'm so sorry to hear of your pain. I, too, deal with chronic pain and have had it for 5 years now. I was told my last 2 options were either the SCS or a pain pump. After much research, I learned the SCS wasn't right for me. But only because my injury is pretty rare and nobody seemed to know where to place the leads for the SCS. I've talked with several who have had it and many have had good results with it. I've done great with my pump, and belong to a yahoo group called pumpsters and many there treat their RSD with a pump. I know you said you won't use narcotics and can respect that. But I do know that many have said their RSD spread because it wasn't treated quickly, so whatever you decide, I hope you do it quickly so the pain doesn't spread and get worse. I wish you the best of luck. Also, I'm not sure if there are certain reasons you won't use narcotics, but I do highly recommend you look into the pump. Your body doesn't have to metabolize the meds like when they are taken orally, and you also have no control over the amount of meds that are taken. The doctor does increases in the office with a small and held computer and that is it. It is a much smaller amount of medication that is delivered through the pump than taken orally. If you would like more information, I recommend joining pumpsters. I was 100% against it because I associated morphine with walking around like a zombie. But after I joined that group, I changed my mind and now know it was the best decision I made. I am permanently disabled at the age of 30, but have some Independence back and am living again. Again, I wish you the best in whatever route you take. I hope you have a pain free future!!