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Post by kaimuki64 on Apr 18, 2011 21:25:11 GMT -8
My doctor is suggesting that I have a neurostimulator implanted for pain control. Has anyone had this procedure done? If so, please share with me your experence. Thank you!
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Nico
Three Digits!
burger emergency
Posts: 143
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Post by Nico on Apr 19, 2011 16:48:21 GMT -8
I haven't had it done, but if the purpose of the neurotransmitter is to jumble the signal of the pain to "confuse" your brain into not perceiving it as painful as it actually is, I would think it's worth a try. If it helps, the medication you're on now could either help more, or you might even need less of it.
It's got to suck to only be able to just sit around and control your pain. At least with my condition, I have good days and bad days - not just the same shit, different day. Although sometimes, it can feel that way.
If it were me, I would want to try it.
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Post by tzarina on Apr 19, 2011 17:25:49 GMT -8
My last round of doc visits suggested this. I think they can try a temporary one called a tens unit before implanting a permanent one.
If you have nerve pain, and the doc hasn't tried it yet, you can look up Neurontin and approach him about it. It's a good drug for nerve pain. You're a little loopy as the drug is stepped up into your system, but everyone I know who has tried it has found good luck with it. You have to battle the loopy, but it doesn't last long, a week at most.
I was having nerve pain in both hips, shooting down my legs and dead spots all over my back and neck, plus it felt like my cell phone was vibrating in my pocket all the time, even when I didn't have it. I was walking everywhere with at least one and sometimes 2 canes. Within 2 weeks I was up to 300mg of neurontin, and was able to live much more like a person for over 2 years on it.
You can take it for years, and can build up to a very high dose without too much problem, other than the loopy thing as you step it up.
If you haven't tried it yet, you may want to ask your doc about it before trying the implant. Best of luck to you.
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Post by kaimuki64 on Apr 19, 2011 20:23:39 GMT -8
I was on Neurontin for years...and it just stopped working I have used TEns unit too. From all that I have read on the implanted device, there are two "versions" one that you have to charge weekly but it never has to be replaced and then the other one has a 7 year batttery so you have to get a new one implanted after 7 years. I am nervous because the recovery from the implant seems worse than what I had for my back surgeries...they actually say no bending twisting or sitting for more than 30 minutes and no sexual activity for 2-4 months! because you have to make sure that the leads "set" in your back completely and dont move.... I was hoping to find some one that has had it and could tell me about their experience. Funny thing though, I found out a mother of one of my daughters friends just had one implanted this last Friday...so I am waiting for her to tell me how it is... They also do a 3-7 day trial of it tempoary implanted where the leads are put in through your skin and the battery back is taped to your skin to see if it will work. I am thinking that I may go ahead and try the trial and then go from there...
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Nico
Three Digits!
burger emergency
Posts: 143
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Post by Nico on Apr 19, 2011 22:41:43 GMT -8
If they had you on Neurontin, which worked, but stopped working, have they considered Lyrica, which is similar, but not exactly the same?
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Post by kaimuki64 on Apr 20, 2011 5:41:10 GMT -8
Yes, Lyrica had some very strange side effects for me. I was only on it for about 2 weeks when doctor took me off it. I have tried probably every medication out there - I have had nerve pain since my first surgery that was 19 years ago. Recently, I have gone through a series of steroid injections in 4 nerve roots in my lower back to try to calm down some of the nerves and al the swelling and scar tissue that are around them. That lessened things a little. 2 1/2 weeks ago, I had radio frequency at 5 levels in my back (L2-S1) - I have had it done last year with almost 2 months of substantial pain decrease. This time, I havent seen any relief...yet (I am hoping I am still healing and that I will see relief in another week or two)
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Nico
Three Digits!
burger emergency
Posts: 143
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Post by Nico on Apr 20, 2011 12:40:59 GMT -8
That sucks. I've heard that Lyrica can have weird side effects. I've taken Neurontin, and I was a zombie for a few weeks, so I'm not surprised.
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loyhargil
Figuring us out
She who perseveres
Posts: 36
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Post by loyhargil on Jun 13, 2011 7:11:47 GMT -8
I have a friend who had the implant thing done. It has literally changed his life. He was in severe constant back pain for over five years before he had it done, and now he's up and around and having a life again.
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