What a bummer.

cinnamonsmiles

I have had Severe PMPS from the moment I woke from surgery 1.11.11. I have the medications I take everyday. I had been getting nerve block shots to the neck but only got about two weeks relief from them. One of my doctors gave me a bag of Lidocaine by iv and it worked good. I would get almost a month of decreased pain. I had to take time off from the pain clinic for another surgery.

I had a new doctor at my last appointment. He informed me that he can only do the lidocaine infusions every 8 weeks and that they will eventually stop working as well. And it came true with my treatment last Friday.

The next step would be putting some kind of spinal stimulator on the outside of the skin for three days to see how it works. It would make the nerves that were damaged tingle, masking out the pain.,If it worked for me, the next step would be to surgically plant one in my spine. I would have some sort of mechanism that I could use to turn it on. He forgot to give the DVD to watch, so that is about all I can remember. He sure knows patients, though, because he knew I wouldn't remember everything he said when I got home.

I am very nervous about that. One, because I don't know much more than what I have told you guys and two, its another surgery and to the spine.

If the stimulator doesn't work, then I live with just medications I think he said.

It is scarey and disappointing time right now regarding my pmps.

caaclark

cinnamon:

Sorry to hear about all the issues.  I don't personally have experience with what you describe but my brother in law has severe pain in his leg and foot from a stroke several years ago.  He just recently received the stimulator and it has helped a lot.  I think he told his dr. it has relieved about 85% of the pain.  It was a very easy procedure and he adjusted to it well.