Introduction

Two years ago I had a Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted in the hope that it would help me cope with my chronic pain.  It worked very well…..For the first year.  During the second year it gradually got less and less effective and my pain rose to the level it had been before the implant was fitted.

During the summer I realised that the situation was only going to get worse, so I called the Walton Centre in Liverpool for help.  They arranged a clinic appointment for me and then a follow up appointment with my new consultant.

He was honest and told me that he feared the loss of efficacy…… Read the rest

It’s Official – Hospitals Are Boring!!

Well, haven’t I had a really exciting couple of days?  I was due to be admitted into the Walton Centre on Wednesday so that my Warfarin could be stopped ready for my Op on Monday.  The letter said get here by 10am but it also said to speak to the Bed Manager before you leave (but after 0830hrs).  Well, of course, it’s a 5 hour drive from home to Liverpool so this was a problem!

I phoned the Bed Manager on Tuesday and explained the situation.  She said it was not necessary for me to be there by 10am and suggested I call her back…… Read the rest

I just got word today that I’m getting my surgery the week before Christmas.  I guess the timing isn’t the best in the world but I should be back with my family for the start of the holidays!

The Spinal Cord Stimulator I have implanted isn’t covering the area where I need it most.  The plan is to change the electrode that’s attached to my spinal cord.  Hopefully this will change the area of my legs that the “tingling” sensation from the device.  I talk more about the device itself here.

This time they’re taking extra care with the Warfarin.  I need to go down to Liverpool…… Read the rest

Walton Centre – Surgeon Visit

After seeing a Nurse and a Nurse Consultant on my last trip to the Walton Centre in June, I was told that the Consultant wanted to see me before we made any firm decisions on where we go from here.  My Spinal Column Stimulator has not been working properly since Christmas and hardly at all for the last few months.  My pain levels have been getting higher and I have been taking more tablets to counter this, so suffering more side effects.

The last time I was in Liverpool, it was established that one of the ‘Contacts’ on my electrode…… Read the rest

I wrote a series of posts about my Spinal Cord Stimulator and the process I went through to get it fitted.  The last of these posts described a loss of stimulation in my left leg.  Well yesterday we took a trip down to Liverpool to see if anything could be done to improve the situation.

Back to the Walton Centre

The remote control I was given to control my stimulator is really very simple.  I can adjust the ‘volume’ turning the device up and down and I can adjust the frequency of the pulse.  If you’ve ever used a TENS…… Read the rest