off topic..back pain

Hello everyone..long time..I still lurk, and I am still kicking...lol   I am having severe back pain..(again)..just had my 4th surgery for a broken lower back...anyway...I thought there were a few of you who had the pain (thingy) implanted. I dont remember the name of it..But, it is implanted in your body and there is a battery pack that you wear and it helps your back pain...Are you out there... i really need some releif...I thought the pain I was experiencing was due to the broken back, but, I think I am in worse pain the before the surgery..They had to fuse the back and put pins and screws and some kid of metal barbed pieces in the bane to keep the back from shifting out of place...:(... I am 5 weeks out but, the pain is worse now then when I came home from the hospial..The surgeon says it will take time... I think i am doomed for pain the rest of my life... I know my body and back pain is normal to me...BUt I just can't keep taking Vicodin the rest of my life...Can someone shed their story about this device....Thanks....Hugs...Lucky

Hugs Lucky...so sorry you're suffering with your back again.  I don't know anyone who has had this implanted, though I've heard of it.  Hopefully someone here will have experience with it.  Try the arthritis forum too.  Hang in there!

May be wrong but think Hislady had this. Will ask her for you! Sure she will help if she can!

thanks Kate..I am just tired of surgeries and suffering...Lucky

Hugs to you Lucky. I wish there were a  to make you all better! I don't have your back pain but when mine is not being controlled by the injections it just about undoes me. If the implant is thought to be of help to you I would do it in a heartbeat. One friend had a stimulator placed for her Parkinsons, it has been miraculous. Another is looking into it for her 2 types of facial neuralgia that surgery made worse. She now has the type they refer to as the suicide pain. Keep talking to your pain specialist. It is hard to get them to understand how debilitating this all is. I think of you often and pray for you, too. Keep on keeping on, it is all you can do.

Sue

2 things comes to mind. A TENS unit, which I believe is external, and a baclofen pump, which is internal and filled with baclofen which I believe is an a numbing medication like novacaine. The pump get re filled when the medication is used up, which I think is about 2 months. Look these 2 up and see who is your area can help you. 

Hi Lucky Kate is right I have what is called a spinal stimulator and it sends and electrical current thru your spine and that confuses the nerve signals that are sending the pain signals. I got mine thru my pain specialist after trying everything else including steroid injections and morphine. Right now I use a fentanyl patch for over all pain and the stimulator when and if the back acts ups. Now they did say it doesn't always work for everybody, kinda depends on what causes the pain. For me it worked right away and now I haven't had to use it for months. Seems like once it broke that pain connection it hasn't flared up again but I know it's there if I need it. Here are a couple of websites that you can check out http://controlyourpain.com and http://raceagainstpain.com the manufacturer is http://bostonscientific.com so they may be able to direct you to a surgeon that installs them. I know how debilitating back pain can be and this truly gave me a new life. Before I could barely crawl out of bed and now while I'm not supper active because of my lungs I can at least walk around again. Hope this helps you out, never give up there has to be something to help you out. Feel free to contact me if I can help with anything!

Thanks everyone.. for your thoughts, prayers and all the information...My husband never realized how much back pain i had until he himself got hurt. and now has to deal with the back pain and injections...But, again this time is the worst i can remember in my past 3 surgeries..I dont know if it is because it is at the lowest point of the back and was "Broke" or not but it sure does hurt...Unless I keep up with 2 vicodon @ 3 hrs. I am in pain... I dont need that much Narcotics in my .body.. I see the surgeon next Wed. and I plan on being there for awhile..Something has to be done... The main pain is when I get out of bed and move around in the morning...During the day isn't to bad..I have pain but, I can handle that as long as I watch what I do...But, I guess I will never be "Painfree'... and that sucks... I will keep posting and researching...Thank you all   Hugs...'Lucky"