This week marks the one year anniversary of my procedure to have a neurostimulator implanted to help me deal with my chronic post-op headaches. I am happy to report that I pretty much able to manage the daily head pain with my little device. I only take some kind of OTC medicine when I need to. I still battle with brainwrecks, but the intervals between them is increasing, and the magic machine helps me tame the pain. People tell me I look younger -- no wonder, I'm getting more sleep and am not weighed down with chronic pain -- and I have been able to increase my physical activity considerably. I am now walking between 15-18 miles a week. Before my procedure, I'd go for a walk and then have to settle in with some NSAIDs and an ice pack and hope I didn't develop a brainwreck. Now, I just crank up the amplitude of the stimulation that masks the pain and go on with my day.
Before you have a permanent implant, you undergo a several -day trial. My doctor interviewed me at that time and it's posted on his website, washingtonpaincenter.com I tried a lot of different treatments and saw several different doctors, before undergoing the trial. The treatment isn't for everyone and there are no promises that it will totally mask your pain.
From all I've heard from folks who've suffered from post-op head pain, eventually, the pain goes away. I'm optimistic that day will come for me and when it does, I'll have the device removed. In the meantime, I feel better than I have since I developed these headaches several weeks after I had my surgery.
Here's to headache free days for everyone!
staypoz
