SNS what do you guys think?

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
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Sam/Adam
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:55 pm

SNS what do you guys think?

Post by Sam/Adam »

Hey, this is actually my first time posting on this sire. Until now my wife Samantha has handled all the coaspondence. Any way I have a Complete left arm BPI with root avulson on ... i think just one nerve root. The others are servered distall to the CNS. Any way im about 20 months post injury, and still have alot of pain, thank fully it seems to have stabilized some. Anyway my doctor wants to get me off tylox (which at this point im sure im addicted to). He referred me to a pain management doctor. I went to the appointment with very high hopes that there might be a better solution for the management of my pain. Now im very uncertain as to what i should do.
On meeting the doctor he said that there were serveral options for pain management and then there was the "Home Run" (i quote him). Well I would like as little pain as possible so I asked about the "home run" and he tells me about SCS, Spinal cord stimulation. For those of you unfamiliar with this treatment it is a surgical proceedure where a electronic device and probe are implanted in under my skin. The probe enters my spinal column and rests underniethe the subdural membrain on my spinal cord. It then imedits pulses of electricity of varying str to confuse the pain signals on there way to my brain. This should result in a 50% pain reduction that is replaced by a tingling sensation. Now this all sounds good, and im interested but alil scared, (I learned all this by watching a drug rep. video).
So when i go back to talk to the doctor (who is a complete A*$hole BTW) I wanted to ask him if this could in anyway impede the nerve regrowth that I am praying for since my nerve graft surgery.
He tells "no of course not. why would it do that", like im suppose to know... Im askin you. Anyway I told him that I was a bit scared and that i thought i should consult my neuro surgeon before i did anything that might have a negative impact on my nerve surgery. He say, "why would you do that? You dont need to do that". At this point I'm starting to get concerned.
After the appointment I felt like he was tryin to sell me a used car. I couldnt help but wonder if this expensive proceedure might not be more of a "home run" for him then me.
Well thanks for reading this whole long spill, What i would like to know is if any of you have had any experience with this proceedure. I relize that this doctor might just have poor people skills, lots of good doctors do. It just seems to me that its to large a decision to make without a second opinion.
Kath
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2002 4:11 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
Location: New York

Re: SNS what do you guys think?

Post by Kath »

Hi Sam
Glad you started posting. Welcome to the boards and speaking for yourself.
I just thought I would give you a head's up. You are welcome to post on any message board but you might get more answers and information on the
Traumatic Brachial Plexus board for Adults...
http://ubpn.org/messageboard/forum.jsp?forum=18

There is a large group of people posting who received this injury as adults and have had so much experience with surgery for adults and pain management.
I hope this helps
Kath
Kath robpi/adult

Kathleen Mallozzi
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