>----- Original Message -----
From: "Michelle" <mooshell6@hotmail.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS"
<adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 1:42 PM
Subject: Can any Advise Re: Spinal Cord Stimulator for Pelvic/Abdominal
Pain?
> My pain clinic doc wants to do a trial of a spinal cord stimulator in an
> effort to treat my chronic pelvic/abdominal pain.
> He first suggested in a discussion with my husband and myself close to 1
> year ago. He said that although it is frequently used for pain in the
> back & extremeties, it is more uncommon and an "off-label" use when used
> for pelvic/abdominal pain. He said that there were only three doctors
> that he would trust to do this- one in CA, one in TX and the third in TN
> (I still have the paper that he wrote them down on). When we asked him
> why he couldn't do it, his reply was something like, "I could do it -
> but you wouldn't want me to!" We were to pick one of the three docs and
> let him know & he would contact that doc & set up an appointment.
> Well, I guess he forgot he said that because when I called to let him
> know who we selected, he said, "Oh, you don't have to do that - I'll do
> the surgery". Of course the alarm bells were clanging and the red flags
> were waving when he said that. When I politely pointed out that he had
> just told us not to trust him to do the surgery (not in those words of
> course) he just blew me off and insisted that I proceed & schedule the
> surgery with him.
> Thats when I decided to go another route and sought out the PA Docs for
> lysis of adhesions. Unfortunately, that surgery only provided temporary
> relief and now that the pain is back he is really pressuring me to allow
> him to proceed with this implant.
>
> Quite frankly, I am afraid. I am afraid that having something like this
> implanted into my body will only create more adhesions and more
> problems. I'm not so sure I want this at all, but if I did decide to do
> it, I would be afraid to allow him to perform the procedure.
>
> I was wondering if anyone here has undergone this procedure and could
> share their experience - good or bad. Any opinions, comments or support
> would also be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks for listening.
>
> --
> Michelle
>