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← Return to Covid may be messing with my DRG Trial
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Covid may be messing with my DRG Trial
Neuropathy | Last Active: Jun 25, 2020 | Replies (75)Comment receiving replies
@rwinney @jesfactsmon And all my fellow Neuropathy Warriors; My DRG trial is over. Because my pain lowered by about 50 % and the general mobility of my feet got better by about 60% (that means I don't feel as much like the balls of my feet are made of concrete, and I can wiggle my toes!), my real implant of the DRG is scheduled for July 9. It is not a perfect solution, but will keep me from searching ways to do myself in. I could only tell you guys this so bluntly. But pain does get this bad. One thing I learned. Insurance companies do not cover this procedure without about 50% improvement in pain. Another useful/interesting thing, (Rachel, you will like this), the Pain doc said that after my surgery there will be about 2-3 weeks that the ABBOTT people will be again, calibrating the electricity. In this time, you RETRAIN YOUR BRAIN. There is so much out there about retraining the brain, and I guess electricity to nerves in your DRG is an extreme way to retrain it. You really don't read about this in DRG literature! Also, my fellow Pain warriors, there is a correlation between how long a person has been in pain, and how well the DRG stimulator works; ie., the longer your pain, the less chance for the DRG to be effective. But who the hell would pick this as a first choice? And then, time marches on. Now, I have no battery hook up, no wires installed. Just me, eating chocolate chip ice cream for comfort. No intense pain yet without the DRG stimulator. Would it not me a true miracle if it just never comes back? Do we believe in miracles???? I think I am due for a second scoop of ice cream.....Love to each and every one of you. Lori (Oh and by the way, no pain taking wires outta me. Felt nothing, and took seconds.)
Replies to "@rwinney @jesfactsmon And all my fellow Neuropathy Warriors; My DRG trial is over. Because my pain..."
@lorirenee1 Awesome!! I remember how wonderful it felt when I had the scs trial. I think that it was 80% improvement for me. I'd forgotten how it felt to have that low level pain. After my implant I had to wait for several weeks before the rep turned the stimulator on, because it doesn't work to do it until the scar tissue is healed. I wonder if that's not an issue with the DRG.
You know what I've been through with severe major depression and suicidal ideation. That was before the pn started, so I wasn't having to deal with chronic pain that never stops. Every night, after I set out my morning pills and take the bedtime ones, I have a conscious thought: "You closed the medicine cabinet without taking an overdose. Good decision." Let me tell you, there are nights when I really want to take a whole bottle full of pain medication. I haven't acted on it for 2 or 3 years.
Congratulations on sticking with it, even though you weren't sure the DRG would work. Dealing with a 50% pain reduction will be less stressful to manage.
I'm seeing the neurospecialist on the 26th to talk about the DRG. Having you do a demo is going to help me with the decision. She told me at my appointment last fall that she wanted me to pursue every option before going ahead with the DRG, because she said it's a last resort treatment. Not sure if I like that, and not sure if I agree with her.
Have a restful night. No chocolate chip ice cream for me, but I'm enjoying the rhubarb crisp my wife made me for father's day. Tonight I'm going to put sliced and sugared strawberries and heavy cream on it. Yum.
I believe in miracles. Wouldn't this be a great time to experience one!
Jim
A miracle scenario would be nice. But if nothing else I hope you get at least a 50% benefit in pain reduction from this (more would be great of course) and that it lasts for years if not forever. I agree with Jim, the only thing that is really the last resort is checking oneself out of here permanently. I wish you the very best luck in the world Lori, with both the DRG stimulator as well as the desipramine. Best wishes always! Hank
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@lorirenee1 Awesome! You made your decision!! I'm so happy about this for you. Interesting facts about the length of pain and effectiveness of the implant. I agree, who would pick the stimulator as early choice? Not me. Alright...heres to July 9th! 😃 or a possible miracle. Hey, you never know.