Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery: 3 Months Post Surgery Update

[@thomasfholland]

You’re a brave man, a better man than most.

[@thomasfholland]

Friends and family asking: How are you doing? My current answer: Don’t ask. (politely)

[@thomasfholland]

Sleep?! Yeah it’s been 15 years since I’ve experienced true sleep, stage 4 deep sleep.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Very kind of you Thomas❤️😀👍

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Know that feeling well

[@thomasfholland]

Advanced stage 4 prostate cancer, followed by Addison syndrome, followed by, Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) followed by Rheumatoid arthritis, followed by an under investigation of “something” causing an accelerated deterioration of my bones, followed by… Never knew so many things could go wrong with the human body! 😂😂 But all things said, I was given 2-3 months max before I died. That was almost 16 years ago. I still live daily with all the pain from the damage caused by the metastasized tumors of the PC (at time of dx PSA was at 3,280!) and then the permanent damage caused by all of the 100s of blood clots that were caused by the Ph+ALL and worst of all, the neurological damage that was caused in my whole left leg due to Compartment Syndrome. Did you know that neurological damage pain is like 10 times more difficult to relieve than “normal” tissue damage pain ie a broken bone or a deep cut. Yeah I have both types.❤ Stay strong for your loved ones brother 🤜🤛 PS. If you don’t believe in God and Jesus Christ I can highly recommend it. 🙏

[@pat_link_]

Bionic Leo love you mate ❤ stay strong

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Pat ❤️❤️😀👍

[@paulhodgson4790]

Thanks for sharing this with us Leo, I have no concept of how life was for you with chronic pain, but your videos are going to be helpful to folk out there who do have that experience. I take away more than woodworking skills when I watch you. I'm so glad that it seems to be helping you, and what a marvellous world we live in when there are scientists and doctors that can help to ease suffering. Love and peace to you and Pam. ❤

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Paul, as ever I really appreciate your kind and considerate words pal ❤️😀👍

[@Pistol_Knight]

Stick with it Leo

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Will do Pistol 😀👍

[@djburland]

Despite all, you are an amazing inspiration, the things you accomplish are amazing

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you, very kind of you to say ❤️😀👍

[@frankderks1150]

Thanks for the update, glad you found the benefit you hoped for!

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Cheers Frank, much appreciated pal 😀👍

[@theresaholloway6883]

Thank you for your videos this had helped me its been three months for me I. 2023

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks for the message Theresa and I hope you have benefited from the surgery 👍

[@KipChristiansen]

Great Video! Glad it seems to be working for you. I have the same unit now for little over a year and has changed my life so much. It took a while and multiple changes for me to get it dialed in but was very happy to have it done. It did take a while to get use to the battery/control but now I rarely notice it unless I move wrong and it pinches. Would love to hear how it is going for you. I really enjoy your content. Thank you!

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Kip, great to hear such a positive story and experience with an SCS. I’m still in the ‘dialling in’ stage and I’ve had some issues with certain settings overstimulating me causing side effects, but the pain relief overall so far has been excellent abc hopefully will get even better 🤞😀👍

[@shauntaestewart3846]

Hi Leo. My name is Shauntae and I’m in the USA on the East Coast. I have been dealing with chronic pain for 12 years. I had a spinal fusion surgery at the L5 S1 last May and it failed. I am now in much worst pain than before the surgery. I now am being told I should consider a trial for the Spinal Cord Stimulator. I am really considering it bc what was back and hip pain is now back hip and Terrible feet pain. Thank you so much for your video and most importantly your honestly. And lastly I’m so happy for you that your pain and sleep and life have improved so drastically.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Hello Shauntae, thank you for your very kind and thoughtful message. Really sorry to hear about your pain situation and I hope you manage to find a pathway to getting some relief from it. Best wishes from Liverpool, Leo 🙏👍

[@larrykopf3691]

We are researching this procedure for me. I was hit head on by a drunk driver 35 years ago. Over 2 inches of compressed spine. Other challenges afterwards. Your videos are extremely informative & honest, which I so appreciate. I have not been able to find your later videos. I would love to watch them. I hope and pray that this message finds you safe and well.❤

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you for your very kind feedback which is greatly appreciated. I haven’t done a later video about my SCS apart from an update in one of my vlog videos. In June it will be 12 months since the surgery so I will definitely do an update then 👍

[@larrykopf3691]

@@Hand-i-Craft I was just approved yesterday for my trial procedure. Mine is different from yours. I had a quadruple spinal fusion June 2020 but it was also the result of a head-on collision with a drunk driver, so similar to yours. I pray that you are improving each day. Please know that your video was and is important to me and my sweetheart. I quoted it a couple of times during the meeting with the neurosurgeon yesterday. They are making plans now and it is likely that my trial &/or procedure will be in June, like you. I will choose to take that as a positive omen. You are doing a wonderful job on the videos and I hope that you will continue. Wishing you and those you love health and happiness. Sincerely, Larry

[@Hand-i-Craft]

@@larrykopf3691 Larry, the very best of luck with the trial procedure and please keep me posted👍. Best wishes, Leo 😀👍

[@scarroll656]

I am having the trial Nevro HF10 procedure done tomorrow August 5th for my Neuropathy in both my feet. I am somewhat excited about it, hoping it will give me some relief, I have had this Neuropathy for about 12 years or longer, but the past 3 years has been really bad, have no quality of life. I was selected for a study research for this device, so my insurance doesn't need to pay anything, it will all be paid by the research study, they give me gift card every time I have attended an appointment for what ever they needed to do, for my time and gas to drive to my appointments, a lot of questionnairs and had 2 appointments they did a skin graft on my right leg, they check my A1C, I am a Type 2 diabetic. So this research study started in February of this year and I am at the stage now to getting the trial procedure done. So wish me luck that I get relief and then will have the permanent implant not long after the trial.

[@projectrebuild908]

Thank you.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Cheers Paul 👍

[@RegAU_4214]

I had the Nevro system implanted 2 weeks ago. Post-op pain is decreasing. The control unit is on my right pelvic area (above the iliac crest), with paddle-style electrodes. The surgeon chose paddles for potentially better outcomes. As a surgical risk, I skipped the trial and went for full installation. So far, no reduction in chronic neuropathic pain after 6 setting changes. I'm on level 7 in group 1. The Nevro Rep explained that level changes alter the waveform, not necessarily intensity. Following a 1984 motorcycle accident and multiple surgeries, I've tried opioids but found them unsuitable long-term. This Nevro SCS High Frequency system is my second device, after a previous low-frequency stimulator similar to TENS. I relate to Leo's comments about disappointment and anxiety. My approach is to control the pain, not let it control me (when my wife allows, of course 😉).

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you for sharing your experiences and I hope you manage to find the correct setting that will help with pain relief. It can take quite a while but hopefully you’ll get there 🙏🤞👍

[@wilbearworks]

Well done Leo. As you know I wear the same mask as you pain-wise. If people can't see a bandage they do not know you are in pain. Thanks for putting it out there. I worked four hours on Monday and have not done a thing since. Go well, my friend.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks for the message and support Wil, I know you would relate to the content in this video. Hope you’re feeling better soon pal 👍

[@Elle-Tuscanier]

Thank you!

[@Hand-i-Craft]

You’re welcome 😀👍

[@vernsteinbrecker3759]

I’m sure glad it has been a success, I’m happy for you

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Vern, early days but the signs are looking positive 👍😀

[@rhoward295]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

You’re welcome Becky and thanks for the message 😀👍

[@WoodworkJourney]

Thank you for this one Leo. I’m currently a couple of weeks into daily pass out pain, and as a chronic pain sufferer for a lot of years I’ve got a pretty high threshold. Got to see my specialist tomorrow actually, may have to ask him about this.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Good luck Dean and hope tomorrow goes well

[@WoodworkJourney]

@@Hand-i-Craft it did not lol

[@Hand-i-Craft]

@@WoodworkJourney 😞

[@bigbadjohnpesek9894]

I have had the nevro hfx in my back for two weeks. Never could get the settings right. Last night my wife saw me messing with the settings again. She took it made a setting and i woke up this morning almost completely pain free.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you for the message and great to hear that you are feeling the benefit of the surgery. Best wishes for the future 👍👍

[@bigbadjohnpesek9894]

Thank you sir. Man its been a journey getting to this point.

[@bigbadjohnpesek9894]

@@Hand-i-Craft don't get excited yet. Its no longer working for me. I keep it charged but I'm back to where I can't stand up straight. I can't walk without a lot of pain. I'm just back in pain.

[@alexislou9404]

Thank you again, Leo. You are such a lovely man for sharing your experience. I wish you all the best and continued relief.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

You’re welcome and very kind of you again. I just wanted to put some content out there that is ‘real world’ and hopefully folk can relate and find it useful 👍👍

[@AndyCPugh]

Thank you for sharing. Sending hugs.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Cheers Andy and thanks for taking the time to listen pal, much appreciated 👍👍

[@richardhoneymansnr4860]

Keep the good work my friend

[@Hand-i-Craft]

I’ll keep trying Ricky 😀👍. Take care pal

[@BruceWesterman-r8k]

Just had my permanent implant 5 days ago. Hoping it gives some relief once we get it turned on and going. Just watched your video. Thanks for posting and good luck!

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Best of luck with it pal. It was two weeks before they switched mine on post surgery. I hope you get the pain relief you’re looking for. Keep me posted how it goes 👍👍

[@filmbluff99]

Really good that you are getting some pain relief and better quality sleep.😀🇬🇧

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Phil, it’s still early days but the signs are looking very positive 👍👍

[@MySCSStory]

Greetings from across the pond, from Alabama, USA. I can wholeheartedly agree with you regarding that anxiety. 3 1/2 yrs in, I've seen some tremendous relief. I was nearly pain free from last spring until winter kicked in here.I agree there's a sense of hope and a sense of disappointment when things go left. In my case now: my disc slipped onto my nerve root, it caused pain but I was able to stretch back Into place. I still feel the burn from it but I know that relief is around the corner. That is something that I am looking forward to again. Thank you so much for making this content, I really love the format. Cheers

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you for your very kind comments here and also sharing your experiences. Best wishes from Liverpool, England 😀😀👍👍

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍.Thank you

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Cheers Pete 😀👍

[@kevtheargonut]

Now I know how you manage to put out so many good videos and deliver woodwork projects whilst also being busy supporting your family. You are the Duracell Bunny ! Sending good luck and the best outcome possible to you Leo. It sounds quite positive so far from your description. Fingers crossed for a similar improvement as they try different settings. 👍

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Kev. Still a bit surreal charging myself up! Great to be getting a pain reduction benefit from it and hopefully potential for further improvement 😀👍

[@JackieSweeney-ic1xf]

Thank you for sharing your journey. My husband’s medical team recommend this as his next step but we were terrified. Your video has given us factual perspective from a patient’s point of view and taken some fears away. Thank you

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you for your really kind words. I hope your husband finds the right course of treatment to help manage his pain 🙏

[@kevinmorton2520]

All very well put Leo. I think the vast majority of people on here have no real concept of chronic pain, myself included. To hear you speak on this subject was really quite enlightening. Keep up the good work and look forward to future videos. Take care and good luck for the future..

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Kevin, very kind of you to make these comments pal and much appreciated 😀👍

[@sydneymartin952]

I have had my spinal stimulater for a few months now and I am so glad I got it. It has made my life so much better, as long as I keep the battery charged its great but when I let it run out it reminds me of why I needed it. The wires are in my neck and battery implanted in my lower back, the wires run up my spine with sensors at 4 different vertebrea. Great video

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you and your set up sounds very similar to mine but your device implant is a bit lower. And yes I’ve also known that feeling about the battery! Best to just keep it topped up if you are sat watching some tv or similar 👍👍

[@DerekHart-g3t]

I find this fascinating from a purely theoretical perspective. I have a number of ailments but nothing like you or that would demand this type of intervention. Interestingly I have just picked up a book called The Resonance Effect by Carolyn McMakin. This is about frequency specific microcurrent and is about stimulating bodily functions that help to heal. I haven't started it yet but it sound like the technology is very similar to what the medics have implanted in you. The difference being this is administered through the skin. It was known about decades ago but was banned in the USA as I understand it because it got in the way of the drug companies sales. Happy birthday for last week.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you for the comment here, really insightful and much appreciated. Best wishes, Leo 😀👍

[@wendymunn1069]

I have a consult with a neurosurgeon to see if I am.a good candidate for this procedure. I have had crps in right foot after a car accident and surgery a little over 10 years!! Took 5 years to get consult appt. The wait in Canada is long. Thank you for sharing g your experience. ❤

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you for your kind feedback Wendy and the best of luck with your consultation 🙏👍❤️

[@wendymunn1069]

@Hand-i-Craft You are welcome and thank you!! :)

[@RuthAnnKing]

Thank you, 9/11/23 Trial Barrington Illinois USA 11/6/23 Implanted, Barrington Illinois 3rd day Elgin Illinois change of bandages. Thank you for sharing, with much appreciation kind Sir. Peace Be With You, Peace Be Your Journey. Very grateful for your truthfulness. Respectfully Submitted, In Hope, In Spirit RuthAnn

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thank you for your very kind message RuthAnn and best wishes to you moving forward. Leo 😀

[@michaelblackmore883]

Hi Leo. This was very brave of you. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and, as was very evident from careful observation, your feelings with us. I felt quite emotional myself several times while watching you struggling a bit to overcome your own feelings. It's great to hear that you have found the implant helpful and I hope that with a bit more refined tuning and maybe software upgrades this wil improve a bit more. Very well done! Mike

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Mike for this message, it really does mean a lot coming from yourself with your experience. I really appreciate it. Best wishes pal 😀😀👍👍

[@michaelblackmore883]

@@Hand-i-Craft You are very welcome Leo. Listening to you makes me ashamed of fussing my trivial aches and pains - just a bit rusty after all!

[@stephencave187]

Thanks for sharing your story. I took the snippet 'living with, not battling' and put it in my coping mechanism. 👍🏻 All the very best of luck with the rest of your journey ❤. P.S If you ever lose your remote, Pam will be sitting on it on the settee 😂. On another note, just listening to 'pool v Leicester on the radio...giving 'em a goal start again. Btw, I'm in Leicester with a house full of Foxes fans but got my shirt on loud and proud. 💪🏻 Take care Leo YNWA ❤

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Stephen for the comments and observations pal. In regards to the footie, it would be boring if we didn’t give teams a goal start 😂😂😂

[@barry.w.christie]

Hi Leo, another fantastic video which will be helpful to so many people on so many levels. I've had severe pain in my life (crushed hand, cellulitis etc) but it's only ever been for a week or month at most, I just cannot imagine the effect it'd have on my life if it was constant. It's great to hear you are getting some relief from your new implant, I can understand how that'd make a huge difference to your life, albeit at the expense of some discomfort ... I had a pacemaker fitted nearly two years ago and it still annoys me sometimes, especially if I try to lie face down to sleep, but at the end of the day it's a small price to pay 👍

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks for the message Barry and yes the implant has helped to relieve some of the worst aspects or chronic pain which is very welcome 👍👍

[@colin101981]

Thank you very much Leo - you shared with us very generously. I'm still waiting for the trial phase - I'm hopeful but realistic. I've wanted to know how you getting on since watching your first video. Look forward to hearing again how you're doing.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Colin, good luck with the trial when it happens and let me know how you get on pal 😀👍

[@wjb2]

thanks for updating us. A trouble shared is a trouble halved, or something like that 😊. on the Emergency services card , i changed my Iphone and apple watch face to an alert logo, Also have stickers on my Crash Helmet. plus i’ve family in the ambulance service and they are showed how to check Iphones for any Medical information on the build in health app. Take care you steely eyed missile man ❤

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks for the message Bill and a great idea pal. I don’t wear a watch but I’ll definitely do that my the screen on my iPhone, superb idea 😀😀👍👍

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Leo, A very honest open heart explaining your experience ,and looking at you as an outsider I'm thinking the upmost respect for you. I can't imagine what you are going through and this is how I feel bad, my son has life problems and is only 21 and had the day he was brought out in to this world. He has got spina bifida and hydrocephalus basically water on the brain and like your self he does have sleep less nights more so at the moment and does disrupt his day and just feeling tired. He is waiting for appointment at the Walton in Liverpool which is an amazing hospital before it was Alder hay Hospital in Liverpool another amazing hospital and not to far away for us being from Wrexham. at the moment he is having trouble with his spinal cord he suffering with a chiari malformation . It means that his spinal cord is tugging or pulling the back of the brain with sharp pain. I do feel useless and I wish ans I would swap places with him and I would don't ask me twice. Just keep thinking positive mate ,look after your self Take care mate❤👍👍

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Shaun, thank you for your positive words and also sharing your family experiences. Stay strong pal and my best wishes to you and your family ❤️

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

@@Hand-i-Craft Keep positive be strong and go and make something😀👍

[@KarenFittes]

I'm getting my stimulator in next couple of months but worried about the pain post-op. Do they give you medication for this? I am looking forward to my journey and you are certainly helping with my journey. Thank you

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Hello Karen, thank you for your very kind message and I hope the SCS gives you the pain relief you’re looking for. I have to be honest and say yes the post operative pain is pretty bad but you’ll be given something like liquid morphine to help ease the pain which will start to subside after about a week👍👍

[@jiminsko9165]

What spinal cord stimulator was used?

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Mine is made by Nevro 👍

[@garrypalmer5014]

Get a medical alert bracelet, sos talisman, as that is on you all the time, you wallet may not be on you, take care and stay safe and well.

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Thanks Garry, great idea and will definitely be doing that. Cheers for the heads up 👍👍