Spinal Cord Stimulator Recovery - Pain Management Message Board

Love2cook · 06-27-2008, 08:08 PM

Hello everyone! I have searched for this topic and was unable to find much to answer my question.

I had a SCS placed yesterday (June 26). I guess I didn't know how much more painful the perm. placement was than the trial placement. I was sore after the trial stim. was placed but this is a whole new ballgame!

There are a total of 13 staples in my back. Six vertically, in the middle of my back and seven horizontally, where the stim/battery was placed, just above my rear, under the waistline. But it's the vertical incision that has really caused great discomfort.

Has anyone else struggled with very intense incision pain after SCS surgery? It seemed that when I called the Drs office to talk to the nurse, she was a less than compassionate about my level of pain. I took Vicoden for a LLOONNGG time before switching to the Fentanyl patch (50 mg) so I'm assuming I've built up a tolerance to the Vicoden since it doesn't seem to be helping my pain.

I would appreciate any feedback from those who have been where I am now.

Thanks!

Cook

Jack24 · 06-28-2008, 01:04 PM

I suspect after the Fentanyl your pain doesn't even get tickled by the Vicodin. Since you can't get any compassion out of someone who has not obviously been there, and is in CYA mode, I wouldn't feel too guilty about upping the dose of Vicodin. I assume you have the 10/325s of Vicodin. I don't know what you weigh but a normal relatively healthy person with a healthy liver could take 3000-4000 mg of Tylenol a day. That equates to 10 Vicodins a day. You reasonably could titrate you Vicodin up from 2 at a time to 3 to 4 as long as you keep the Tylenol under control AND you have someone around so you don’t fall and hurt yourself.

It helps to follow the palliative recommendations for incision pain as well. They should have given you a sheet of paper with these on them when you were discharged.

StephM · 06-28-2008, 05:20 PM

I agree that the permanent placement is so much more painful than the temporary. I don't believe the doctors and nurses understand how painful it is! I wish someone would have told me that it's normal because not only did I have pain, I was so concerned that it was a bad sign. Because nobody warned me, I thought that something was wrong due to the pain!

Take what you need to for comfort. I agree with the previous poster. I really could only tolerate laying on my side for about 2-3 days. After that, it really does get a lot better. These doctors really should tell their patients what to expect, even if that means asking us how it went.

Mine got infected...BAD! I tried three rounds of antibiotics, but five weeks after they placed the permanent SCS, they had to remove it. The whole thing. So, I am looking at going through this AGAIN! But, I want to say, even though I now know how painful the placement is, I am willing to do it again because it helped my nerve pain so much!

Well, I hope today is better for you than yesterday, and tomorrow better than today. It will be. The pain gets better and the relief is amazing!

Good luck,
Stephanie

Love2cook · 06-28-2008, 06:20 PM

Thanks for your help so far!

The nurse told me it was ok to take 2 (500mg) Vic's every 4-6 for pain, not exceeding 8 in one day. And that I could use ibuprofen in between. But I wasn't calling the drs ofc to know about ibuprofen, increased vic or ice packs. I wanted something that would take the edge off, even for a day or two. I wanted something strong, like percocets or morphine.... I don't know what's good for that or what would have helped. But I do know that I was in an emotionally comprised state (I was crying on the phone to the nurse) and she wasn't helpful. I have to wonder why someone like that would even want to be a nurse!!???? If they were worried about addiction-one or two days of something stronger would not have caused that problem. They are PAIN SPECIALISTS! But they couldn't help me with the pain of staples in my back that they put there!

The stim. is great and I'm very pleased with it. I just wish I'd known more about the first day or two after placement.

Thanks for your responses!

Cook

Love2cook · 06-30-2008, 04:52 PM

Stim. still working great, but boy these staples are still causing a great deal of discomfort. And the vic. just don't seem to be helping. I was hoping that it would be a little better by now.

I'll continue to hang in there.

Cook