Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

@subaroux01 I'm on a path very much like yours. Have you had a spinal cord stimulator implant? I had one in June of 2017, and it gave me 75% pain reduction. It was wonderful! First I had to go through a bunch of formalities, including a screening by a psychiatrist. It took several months to do all of that. Then came the week long trial, to see how effective it would be, then a few weeks of waiting to get on the surgeon's surgery schedule, and after that, another six weeks to let the surgery site heal. And finally the stimulator was turned on. For a year I enjoyed relief from the neuropathy pain in my feet, and after that the Abbott rep made adjustments. The longer I had the stimulator, the shorter the pain relief lasted. Now I meet with the rep every 3 months to make another adjustment. I would feel better, though it didn't last long, but I held off for a while before I called him again.

Even though the scs isn't as effective as it was at first., I'd do it again because living with that pain before the implant would pretty much have shut me down completely.

I met with a surgeon a couple of months ago to discuss the possibility of a drg implant. Her recommendation was that she would speak with the Abbott rep about other adjustments to the scs. I'm waiting to hear from him. She is very knowledgeable and has had a lot of experience with both the scs and the drg implants. In the meantime, my pain doctor prescribed yet another medication, imipramine, and after a couple of months, I can say that it's greatly reduced the burning pain in my feet. I still deal with some pain, but it has lowered from between 6 and 9, to 3 - 6. During the day my feet hurt the most when I walk very much, or stand on a hard surface, and, strangely enough, putting my feet up in the recliner or bed. It's pretty unpredictable.

Back to the drg implant. The implant specialist wants me to try a different approach to the settings on my stimulator, and maybe she knows medications that I haven't already tried. I'm on hold for now, doing what I can to deal with the pain as best I can. The specialist indicated that she wanted me to do a few things before getting the drg implant, because the drg is essentially the last resort, to be done when every other option has been tried and ruled out.

So, given that I've tried every medication available for neuropathy, an SCS and pain therapy, my recommendation would be to give all medications that could possibly lower your pain level, and any non pharmaceutical option, and hold off a drg if you can. Be aware that this is not a recommendation from a healthcare professional, simply sharing my story with you.

Jim

Have you seen a neurologist?

Thx for the ideas. Yes it is beautiful and remote here but can be pretty brutal, weather wise in the winter. I like the idea of taking a week vacation and Sedona is a beautiful place;certainly worth exploring😊

Yes and I’m seeing her again tomorrow. It really and my knees hurt too.

Hi Lisa again to update you on my neuropathy journey.
Saw a neurologist this week.
Yes I have neuropathy. In both of my feet, but nerve damage in my hand,
wrist, arm.
Will be doing an EMG. Will be putting a splint on that arm for a long term,
ugh. Crossing fingers though. No pain meds prescribed to me.
But have been told I can take CBD oil-that I have been taking for a month
now. Been sick and oddly the pain was small. Now that I am getting better
from that nasty cold the pain has returned full force. Has anyone else had
That experience with their pain giving them a break with a cold?

@lisash You know, come to think of it, I have had that experience, also. I think my mind was so busy trying to cope with the cold and its symptoms, my chronic pain had to take a backseat! The medications I was taking to relieve might have also played a role.
Ginger

Cold medicine I took really isnt that strong. I am not saying that anyone should run out to get cold medicine. I think really that I have been so aggravated with this cough and it took my mind off the pain and onto the cough.

But now the cold is just about gone still have a lagging cough, but the pain is full on back. And worse than I remember.
Thank you for commenting, I was not sure if I was in the right place any more, I never know where to jump in at.

Have you looked into trying Myofascial release therapy or MFR? I too have had trouble standing or sitting for more than 5-10 minutes before my feet start to burn. Since I’ve been having MFR therapy, I have been able to do much more , still have some pain but is tolerable enough to enjoy life. I too was very active but a fall and 5 back surgeries, including a spinal fusion, a Neuro stimulator, and many more alternative options gave me no hope until I found the benefits of MFR. It’s a specialized form of PT, so if you do pursue, be careful to make sure the therapist has had the special training.
Good luck and hope things improve your quality of life !

Hello catCatanzaro just saying Hello Chronic pain entered my life the last five years. It is so disturbing. It changes whom you are. I do everything I can to stop the pain. I have pain patches, bio creme pain reliever, and Celebrex, and tens daily. Gabapentin and Flexeril as needed. I do ice and heat. It is hard to carry on at times. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Thank u I am going to try this