On the Mayo site it talks about a woman who reduced her pain by 50% by using a neurotransmitter for pain control. Does anyone have experience using this sort of treatment?
Not sure if it is the same thing, but I have a nerve stimulator implanted for pain control. It works incredibly well! Feel free to ask me any questions you might have.
Christine
i am not sure if they are the same thing. i would gladly receive info from you on your implant. why did you have done, where is it on your body, what was surgery like and i suspect there will be more questions once the fog lifts.
I had my PNS implanted after MVD failed to relieve the burning boring pain of TN2 . ( the surgery did relieve the shocks) . The battery is just under the skin on my chest , just below my collar bone. The leads go from the battery, up my neck; on is in front of my ear into my cheek, and the other is behind my ear, going into my scalp and temple. Each lead has four contact points, and I have a remote control that adjusts the quantity and intensity of stimulation.
The surgery is generally a two step process. There is a trial surgery, during which the wires are implanted under the skin, and that is connected to an external battery. If the trial is successful at pain control, you will have a procedure to implant the permanent device. Both procedures are out patient, the incisions are very small. There is some discomfort after surgery, mostly in the chest where the battery is implanted. Chest and neck muscles need to be babied for about six to eight weeks, but otherwise the recovery is not bad at all.
Ask as many questions as want. I am happy to share any information I can.
Christine - I just got approved for my trial last week! My surgery is in two weeks. I cannot wait. I have been fighting to get an approval for 18 months. Just wondering where your pain is/was? I know the stimulator works great for migraines and other chronic headaches, but I would like to hear how effective it is for other areas of facial pain. My pain is in the V1 region, and I have constant pain in my forehead, nose and cheekbones. I am praying that the stimulator hits all of those areas. Wish me luck!
Great news about your approval! The stim works very well at controlling my pain. I have all three branches of the nerve involved, so my pain is in my scalp, forehead, eye, cheek, nose,and both upper and lower teeth. There are two leads attached to the battery; one is I front of my ear going into my cheek, and the other is behind my ear, going into my scalp and temple. Each lead has four contact points, and the concentration of stimulation to each point is adjusted using the wireless controller.
The rep from the company that makes the controller ( mine is St. Judes medical) will set up programs on your stim to address different areas, so be sure to be very clear with them when you meet. As time goes on, you may have to meet with the rep to add or adjust your programs. I have done this two times since getting my implant two years ago.
I think the placement of the leads, and the programs that are set up contribute greatly to the success of the stim. Be sure to very clear with your surgeon, and the rep, as to where your pain is.
Best of luck to you! Please let me know how everything goes.
Christine