Posted on 01/17/2014 6:14:56 AM PST by trussell
I have faith that the implant is going to help me...when they took the trial away it was like taking candy from a baby...it was cruel! And waiting so long for the permanent one is cruel too. I am praying I am making the right decision in getting this done. It’s a huge step and one that I struggled with at first. I remember the few days I had the temporary unit in my spine, my legs didn’t hurt, I could lay on my sides and they didn’t hurt! My right hip still hurt like crazy and my back was horrible and my stomach hated me from the buzzing, it would make me sick when I ate! But when the tech messed with the unit before it was removed, she got the buzzing out of my tummy and all the way up my back to the middle of my back! It felt so good, I hated when they took it away!!
Went to the doctor on Wednesday...he asked me how long have I been having the increased pain...I told him that I had complained to his Nurse Practitioner for a few months now and that she has told me “He’s not going to give you anything stronger, period”. He said “I’ll have to have a talk with her, I don’t like to see you in the much pain”. He asked if the percocet was working at all anymore and I said not so much...even when I take 2 of them at once. He said “quit taking those, I’m going to give you dilaudid instead, and give you a numbing PATCH to put on your back...leave it on for 12 hours then replace it with another” He wants to see me in 2 weeks to make sure my pain is being manage. I started the dilaudid a few days ago (as soon as I got through the pharmacy drive through) and so far it only helps at night when I take 2 of them with my nerve medicine and my sleeping medicine. I get the idea that the Nurse Practicianer could be losing her job for not talking to the doctor when I said I was in pain and she said I wasn’t getting anything stronger. She didn’t even TALK to the doctor, and I told him she said that and he confirmed that he didn’t know!
Just found out one of the meds the doc wants me on is not covered by my insurance and it is $275 for a one month supply....no way I will be getting that one. :( The medicine the doc wanted me using is a lidocaine patch, 12 hours each patch then replace it. They say since my insurance won’t cover the patch, they will do the cream instead...but I can’t reach my back to rub a cream on and I’m not comfortable asking my teenage son to rub a cream on my nude back (I am really fat). I am on gabapentin for nerve pain. I’m on amitriptiline 50 mg to help me sleep. As for the new medicine...one 2 mg dilaudid doesn’t do it. I take my middle of the night dose at bedtime...so I take 2 at bedtime as well as taking the gabapentin and amitriptiline. I manage to sleep with that cocktail but the rest of the day is still stiff and sore. I’m hoping I can get the patches so I can get some relief! They talk it up like it’s a miracle drug. Maybe I can find out the name of the manufacturer and see if they can help me get them.
Also, my procedure to implant the spinal cord stimulator is set for January 27th...same day surgery, will be home that night. Really look forward to it, though I’m still scared about having the unit in my spine.
Please, keep up the prayers. I appreciate them so much!
Thanks for the update, t. Hang in there. God Willing, you’re almost there.
It is a spinal cord stimulator. If you have ever heard of a TENS unit, it is much the same concept only the TENS is external stimulation and the SCS is internal. THey put a "paddle", most may call it a "lead" into the epidural area of the spinal column. It has between 16 and 32 contacts. Each contact is in TOUCH with another area of the nerve endings coming out of the spinal column. The programming allows for a bubbly feeling or a tingly feeling. I prefer the tingly feeling. They plan to program the unit to affect the nerves that run from the middle of my back, all through my legs to the bottom of my feet and a specific area of the right hip. The right hip was originally the site of the sciatica that caused the problems. THe right hip area has permanent nerve damage, though so does the back and both legs now too.
The whole concept of this unit is that the SCS blocks the message of "pain" to the brain. It replaces that message with the tingling or bubbling feeling instead. It is not believed that it will replace all the pain I have...they have said I will never be free from pain, but they hope to make it more "livable". That made me cry when they first told me that...I thought "why would a person want to keep going on if they know they will suffer pain for the rest of the time they live?" Then I reminded myself, I have the kids and I want to be here for them.
I hope the pain meds will “kick in” and be more efficacious for you soon.
Thank you so much for your kind words. My pain isn't as intense in some areas today but still as intense in others. If I can get someone to "push" me to help me sit up or sit forward, or turn from side to side...that little but of help is enough to help calm some of the pain.
See, that is a good $12 word - efficacious, I just love that word.
That is a great word...have to include that word in my vocab to use soon.
May you continue to do better each day and emerge pain free!
Yay, t!
Many prayers up for healing... you’ve definitely been through some trials!
Thank you for keeping us informed! Prayers continue...
Let me know him it goes.
Had a friend who had one of those and after about a month she stopped or mostly stopped Oxy
Yer under the protection of an awesome God.
It appears you are seeing the light beyond the tunnel. Hang in there.
So sorry you have to go through this, trussell. My mother used to say, travails are how we earn stars in our heavenly crown. You sure have earned a jewelry store full of these “gems.” TAke care, and God bless:)
Thank you so much for providing updates even when you don’t feel well. I have been following your progress and praying for you but haven’t been able to post much lately. I continue to pray for your rapid healing and successful pain management.
(((((Heartfelt Prayers Ascending)))))
Sounds very difficult.... Please hang in there! Will pray.
The pain was intense enough today that I just rolled my eyes to the right, saw my meds sitting just outside of arms reach and refused to move to get them. It was terrible trying to figure out how to get up, get the meds, get a drink and coordinate the capture of all aspects to get the meds into my belly! It took me about 2 hours of laying there in that condition before I finally resigned myself to knowing, if I was going to get relief, I was going to have to force myself into more pain first.
The “LALA” as one other person called it, otherwise known as dilaudid, is getting to the pain a bit more than it use to...I’m praying it will get better after the 25th, when they will better program the unit. I think I may have moved the lead a little when I was trying to get up or turn over...the sensation is not in the same areas as when he programmed it Friday. I can’t bear to eat...drinking is something I have to force, I sit with a bucket next to me all the time, I feel so nauseous that I can’t figure out how to put food in my tummy and keep it there. This might end up being the best diet idea ever invented! Just program it to buzz in the stomach and the person can quit eating, forever!
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully you’ll come out of this OK. :-(
Sign me up!
I never really feel full.
prayers for your healing
More prayers!
I am so sorry you are suffering like this, FRiend.
Continuing prayers for you to feel better soon.
Good to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor—hang in there, it will get better!
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