| Richard: Lumbar radiculopathy & failed back syndrome (11 months post SCS) |
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Chronic pain patients have one thing in common - appreciation for the simple day-to-day activities that many of us take for granted. Richard says, "I feel you miss out on everything. I'm a real 'go-getter.' I love to work and do things, and when you have this kind of pain, it's over. You want to do something so bad, but you can't do it."
Richard noticed a big improvement after his spinal cord stimulator implant procedure. Mowing his lawn used to put him out of commission for four to seven days. The SCS implant enabled him to manage the pain with limited medication. Read about Implantable Technologies. Dr. Greenspan: We're with Richard who had implantation of spinal cord stimulator about 10 months ago. How are things going? Richard: Going great. Dr. Greenspan: Any problems with the recharging? Richard: No, it's pretty simple. Dr. Greenspan: How often do you have to recharge? Richard: I recharge about twice a month. [He answered a few more questions about recharging the unit.] Dr. Greenspan: Looking back upon your experience, what advice would you give somebody following in your footsteps? Richard: If they had the same pain as I did, I would advise them to definitely have the implant. You learn everyday different things to manage your pain. Once you figure it out, you can manage your pain real well. Dr. Greenspan: You told me this weekend you were closing up your pool and that caused you some more pain. What would life have been like if you didn't have the device? Richard: I'd have been laid up anywhere between 4 and 7 days - laid up and not even able to straighten out. I couldn't stand up straight. Dr. Greenspan: You did pretty well after that exercise? Richard: Yes, I did. I felt the pain at night when I started to relax, so I iced it and put my machine on, took one pill. It really helped a lot, this machine. Great, yeah. Dr. Greenspan: What percent pain relief do you think you're getting overall with the device now? Richard: I'm getting probably 60%, at least, and maybe a little more at times. Dr. Greenspan: What sorts of things were you not able to do before that you are now able to do? Richard: I can mow the whole lawn and not have to get off the tractor. Before I could mow half of it perhaps, then get off and go in the house, walk around a little bit, sit down. Now I can go the whole distance mowing my lawn. Dr. Greenspan: How long does it take you to mow the lawn? Richard: It takes me about an hour and a half - I mow my neighbor's lawn, too. Dr. Greenspan: How about your family - has anyone commented on how you look now compared to how you used to look? Richard: They say I look better, I don't look all dragged down from the pain I used to have -- it would wear you out. Now I'm just more perky than I was. Dr. Greenspan: Do you feel like when you have chronic pain you miss out on a lot of things in life? Richard: Definitely. I feel you miss out on everything. I'm a real "go-getter," I love to work and do things, and when you have this kind of pain, it's over. You want to do something so bad, but you can't do it. You try and then you just mess yourself up. You have to learn through trial and error what you can and can't do. That's what I do. You'll never master it. You learn as you go how to manage it. It's working great for me, I know that. Dr. Greenspan: Thank you very much.
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