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SCS Implant

Posted , 3 users are following.

Mooncrow
Mooncrow

On 28th January I went in to hospital, on day surgery, for a surgical procedure to implant a Spinal Cord Stimulator, (SCS), in order to help reduce my Sciatic pains. There was a problem in as much as the stimulators battery was flat and needed to be charged before they could set it up. I charged it at home and after 4 days went to get it programmed.

Last Friday, 6th Feb, I went to see the practice nurse to have the stitches removed from 3 wound sites, 2 at the back one of which over the spine, where the electrode leads, and of course at the front to create a small pouch where the stimulator is placed.

The problem is that the stitches at the front were so tight that the knots were pulled into the skin and were difficult et at, the result being that there is one stitch left that is 'really' tight and pulls painfully with every move I make. I have to go back tomorrow to see if they can do it.

I am a member of a group of people who are patients at the Chronic Pain Clinic. It was started by one of the pain psychologists a number of years ago and supported by the hospital but we are now self supporting.

We have a coffee morning every Monday from 10:00 to 11:30, where we can go and chat about all sorts of things and pass on information that would help other people and support them at need.

The coffee morning is based in Margate, Kent, (well Cliftonville really), at the Labour Room in Northdown Road, at the junction of Zion Place, opposite ALDI.

Anyone is welcome and all we ask is 20 Pence a week, (except for the first week, which is free).

All of us have Chronic Pains of one kind or another and so we can talk about it easier knowing that.

We call ourselves 'Thanet P.A.I.N.S', (Pain And Individuals Neeing Support), and you can get some more info at 'thanet.pains@gmail.com'.

I hope this will pass the invigilators, we aim to help people and are NOT a profit making group.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Mooncrow
    Mooncrow

    Posted

    OK. I went back to my GP to see the practice nurse about removing the last suture but she still couldn't do it.

    The knot is buried in the skin and so too is the 'loop' on the other side. When the 2 ends are pulled in oredr to cut the suture it causes an incredible amount of pain, like being stabbed with a red hot needle, but that's not the half of it. Afterwards it feels like i've been punched for half an hour or so and any pressure on the area brings it back. I now have to got to pick up a letter from my GP to take to the casualty department tomorrow.

    I'm putting this stuff on so that people can get an idea of what's involved, NOT to frighten anyone. With every surgical procedure there's always risk. Risk of infections, complications, side effects, even stuff you might not think about like depression. These forums can give some great info to people who don't have anyone else to talk to and don't or can't talk to their GP.

     

  • sandrog
    sandrog Mooncrow

    Posted

    Sounds like you have got a good thing going for you all. We cold do with something similar where I live. Alas I know very few people who are in the same boat as myself.

    Good luck to you all anyway.

    • Mooncrow
      Mooncrow sandrog

      Posted

      Hi Sandrog,

      Are you under a pain clinic at the hospital?. If not then try and get a referral, they might have some sort of patient group, if not then suggest it and, maybe, work with them to get a group started. Alternatively try and set one up anyway. Get on Facebook or Twitter and start to get in touch with people in the area who would be interested. If you are under a pain clinic then try and get them to help you to form a support group. We have around a dozen members, I would like to set up a web page but I need a bit of help and because we are non profit and need to sort out a way of setting a web page up on a tight budget, so I'll have to n about web pages as well.

      Maybe it'll happen but there's no rush.

      This forum is one of, well I wouldn't like to say how many, and for a number of people it's the best they've got. My GP has done a lot for me but she's not aproachable, you can't have a chat with her, she always seems to be short of time. But that's quite likely with the number of people seeking help from a doctor. I'm happy to help with what I know but if I'm not sure I'll say so.

      I saw the practice nurse about 1 suture that she couldn't get at to remove. She wrote a letter for me to take to A&E, which I did today. I saw the triage nurse and after a wait, (until lunch was over), then I saw a nurse practitioner who had no luck so he called a duty consultant who came, saw and gave me a local anesthetic and pulled, poked and pushed, then he called another consultant who pulled and mad a small cut to get at the knot and, bingo, it was out.

      I felt like a fraud, I shouldn't have had to go there and waste their time when other people were in greater need. Still, it's done now.

       

    • sandrog
      sandrog Mooncrow

      Posted

      Hi Mooncrow, I have beeen with our local hospitals pain clinic for almost twenty years now, and they have tried so many different things to rid me of the pain I am in.  At present I am enjoying a brief period of much less pain after having facet joint injections. The only trouble is that they never last more than about 2 months. I have refused to have any more operations as they seem to make the pain worse. If I could wish for anything it would be for someone to install a hydrotherapy pool in my town. As for starting a support group, I don't know very many people around here as we only moved here a couple of years ago. I don't get out very much because of the pain, and the bumpy pavements don't help.

      I am glad you finally got rid of your tight stitch, you must be feeling a lot better. You should not feel guilty about using the A & E dept. They are there for people whose GP's are unable to sort out our problems.

  • fred92666
    fred92666 Mooncrow

    Posted

    I have severe issues with a Medtronic spine stim that has ruined my life!! Every time I turned on got bad burning sensation and after twenty minutes it would swell so bad that I couldn't move the rest of the day!! I complained almost daily to Doctor to no avail!! " your body is trying to reject it he says)!! After eight weeks it finally exploded and fluid was everywhere !! Ended up in hospital for a week with what they say was an infection!! I still say it was burning me!! 3 years later my new doctor does a mri!! Says nothing more can be done surgicly and no signs of scar from burning!! I don't believe or trust his explanation as he has none!! They even tried another stim wich made me feel the same pain as first one!! Now they want to put in new hf10 nevro stim!! I'm very scared and confused!! I am also know getting really depressed also!! This controls my life 100%!! I don't have any choice but to try new one!! If it doesn't work my life isn't gonna be worth living in this crippling pain!! Anybody have this kind of issue or know of someone who has?? I am beyond desperate for help and info!!
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