It was an ordinary day. Just got back from my doctor's office after trying out "The Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator. For years I have had problems with my back. I have had four back operations which you more than likely have read about on this site, but today I just ended something new that I am hoping will bring me relief from all the back problems I have had in the past. The Spinal Cord Stimulator is a device that can be implanted in my lower back and will supposedly manage my chronic pain. Four days ago I visited my doctor who placed the spinal cord stimulator in my back for a test run. The system is meant to interrupt pain impulses before they reach the brain, replacing them with a smooth, soothing feeling. Two insulated wires, known as leads, are fed through two small incisions in my lower back. They are fed alongside my backbone through the two incisions and up my lower spine. The bottom of the wires are attached to a precision implantable pulse generator that will mask signals as they travel to the brain. The result is supposed to be a soothing sensation. My test today had the wires inserted in my back and then to a pulse generator that was attached to a belt that went around my waist. It will not be that way in the end, but I'm just testing the device to see if it can help me. I could control the pulse generator with a hand-held device. All of this was done in the doctor's office since no major surgery was needed. After instruction from a Boston Scientific expert, I went home for my three day trial. I knew how to make adjustments if needed and also had the phone number of the technician who is helping me.
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My wife got me home and we decided to try it out. I hadn't been able to walk without pain for close to two years so we decided to walk around the block. WOW! Got back a half-hour later and had no trouble on my journey. Did the same thing the next day. I did have a need to place a call when I found that when I went to lay down in the evening the tingling I felt was a bit too much. Within 10 minutes I was good to go. After my three day "test run," I returned to my doctor who removed the device. I told them that my pain was almost totally gone while using the device, so they scheduled me for a consultation with my surgeon. He will then set a date to have the device planted permanently in my back along with the precision implantable pulse generator. My problem now is that I know it will help, but I have to wait my turn to have the device implanted and that won't be for another month or so due to my surgeon's schedule. I do have to go to the hospital for the final procedure and with COVID patients filling the hospital, I must wait my turn. I am anxious to be able to use it on a daily basis with only a hand-held unit to make slight adjustments if needed. I realize that I never will be the same as I was years ago, but at least I will be able to function once again. Going to the store with my wife, visiting with our children, grandchildren and friends and even trips to the Caribbean will be doable once again without too much pain. A couple of years ago this wouldn't have been possible and I can only imagine what it might be like in the future. Perhaps people will have some type of device implanted in their brain so that they will only have to think about having less pain and it will automatically happen. But, for me...I never had heard about the spinal cord simulator until a year or so ago. After I have it implanted in my spine for a longer amount of time, I will post another story telling you how it has changed my life...for the good or the bad. I'm hoping I can live the remainder of my life without the constant back pain that I have had for the past few years. Hoping that relief is on the way! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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