Permanent Nerve Stimulation

I have been busy this last month.  I had the trial for the nerve stimulator implant, which was successful..  Thus started a waiting period.  I  had to wait a month for the wounds from the insertion of the wires for the trial to heal before the permanent wires could be implanted.  A long three weeks, going back to unbearable pain.  

The lack of really bad pain for a week highlighted the pain from the rheumatoid arthritis in my hips, which had started to be felt prior even to the trial.  That the pain could be felt over the bad pain of the spine was enough to say it was very bad.  After I had the trial wires removed, I embarked on a round of injections, which I do about every 3 to 4 months on average.  I had both hips and both shoulders injected under ultrasound guidance with a local anaesthetic and a long acting cortisone.  It works for me, and cuts in about a week later, somethings two, and reduces the pain to about half.  Anything to allow me to reduce the narcotics.

Last night I had the permanent wires for the nerve stimulator implanted.  I have two cuts about 3 inches long just below my waist line on my back.  I have wires from T10 to L1, and the wires are then looped and lead to a small box about 2 x 2x 1 inches inside the muscle of my rear ‘love handle’ on the right side.  The box contains a rechargeable battery which will last about 9 years.  The battery recharges remotely about every two days.  I have not been instructed yet on how to work all this equipment.

After the surgery last night the Medtronics technician turned the system on and set it at low, and told me she would be back at about lunch time to show me how to manage the simple program she had set up.  It did help later on when I readied myself for bed.  I will see the surgeon in a fortnight to get the stitches removed.  In the meantime, no bending, lifting, stretching, or too much of anything vigorous, and no sex!.

I might to be able to enjoy life a little more now.  I might get some of my life back.