Stimulator . . .

Judie had a back stimulator emplaced Friday (the 13th, I hope not a bad omen).  This device has two electrodes that run parallel to the spine in the lower back.  The stimulator also has a battery emplanted with the stimulating device and its electrodes.

The battery is charged through the skin by a remote device worn as a patch or on a belt.  It also comes with a control that changes the intensity of the charges emitted by the stimulator.  The charges mask or depress the pain signals to the brain.

She has a remote control that regulates the intensity of the charges that are emitted.  Right now it is set between 10 and 15%.  She sets the intensity by how she senses pain or feels the charges.  Over stimulation seems to be indicated by making the legs jitter.  No pun intended but she is feeling her way into how to set the device.

Her control is also recharged and goes with her every where.  She can even turn the stimulator off and must do so to drive a car.  But otherwise it will be own all the time.  She can ride in a car with it on, just not drive the car with it on.

We hope that with the stimulator she can get of Tramadol, an opiate, and perhaps Lyrica also.  We know at least the Tramadol can be stopped or used in frequently with the stimulator in operation.

The procedure is arduous as both its battery and the device with its electrodes are inside the body, not unlike a pace maker for some heart patients.  The life of the device is as much as 12 years but must be charged weekly.  So the operation while simple takes a lot of time and a lot stitches to deal with.  So there is local pain for a while.  So there is a healing time with it all.

But already she stands taller.  So I can see it is a positive step forward.  Unfortunately, the stimulator only takes care of about 60% of the pain from the spine.  But that may be enough to grant significant relief for her.

This particular type of stimulator permits the MRI process to be done.  We know that some time in the future she will yet have more MRI's done on her back.  The other brand limited the area of the MRI examinations.  We did not want that for obvious reasons.

And as usual whether we like it or not, life goes on.