Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi everyone,
Long story short I had an accident in 2016 that left me with 2 bulging discs. I have had an L5-S1 Discectomy but i now have a lot of scar tissue surrounding my spinal cord.
I am being considered for a Spinal Cord Stimulator and I have the assessment on 14th Nov, i just wondered if there was anyone on here that has gone down this route and how did it go?
Thanks
Emma
0 likes, 3 replies
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stevenlucas1977 emma9138
Posted
Hello Emma i am in a similar situation i have 3 level severe disc degeneration at 42 years old in march 2019 i had the same operation at L4/L5 that has left allot of scarring to my nerve right leg i get constant pain sitting standing and lying down not always severe sometimes just from the knee down or in my groin and thigh. There is no option for a fusion as 3 discs are damaged and it would effect the rest of my spine with that operation usually if you are 60 and over. My next options are facet joint injections or a stimulator now i have spoke to a construction worker who has had the recent model stimulator and he said it has changed his life if he gets pain he just presses a button and its gone so i think its a great way to go to move forward with your pain managenent good luck moving forward
Swelf stevenlucas1977
Posted
Hi, question reg. pain. Is your leg pain every time you sit/stand or do you have more pain some days, then less pain others? I'm on month 11 post-op and had been recovering well sporadically. I seem to have severe pain episodes about every 7 to 10 days in my lower legs and feet. Can't get any info out of docs if this has occurred before or ?? Had large T9-T10 ruptured disc, causing incomplete spinal cord injury=cauda equina, surgery= spinal decompression T5 to L4, micro-discectomy T9-10 (lots of adhesions from 2 prev surg as well as severe spinal degen disc dis & scoliosis) I did NOT have pain or other symptoms before this last surgery. I've been progressing, still not quite able to walk, but have control of basic body functions(thank God). I just can't seem to get passed the episodic pain periods. My hope was the pain was due to nerve growth, as the 1 comment I could get out of therapists/docs was that the 1st sensation usually felt by new nerves was pain. As I seem to have some incr function after pain, I keep hoping. I would be so thankful for any info you could share. My gut feeling is that because the total # of pts with this is so lo, they just can't come up with an answer. (If I hear 'everyone is so individual ' again, I'll scream. ) I'm 74, and until this happened, did NOT consider myself ELDERLY or SENIOR. Age is just a number. Besides, fusing with or without hardware, can cause more damage & grief, no matter what the age. I know, I was an operating rm nurse for 25+ yrs. Thanks for listening.
emma9138 stevenlucas1977
Posted
Hi Steven, thank you so much for your reply. I am sorry to hear that you are in a similar situation to me. Likewise, my pain is permanent but varying in intensity. Usually it is manageable but sometimes it is quite the opposite. I am pleased to say i was accepted for the spinal cord stimulator so hopefully within a year i will have this providing i have a successful trial period with it. I must admit, it sounds incredible and I am very much hoping it works for me, I am 28 and this is my last chance of getting some kind of life back.
Thanks, Emma