spinal stimulation, for chronic pain and balance

OK, I promised you from day one that I’d keep you apprised of what’s going on with my health  and, to that end I speak to you today.  I missed yesterday’s post because I was at the Doctors consultation for my immediate game plan.  If you haven’t been following my blog I have a little disease called Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (C.I.D.P.)  It means the myelin sheath protecting nerves is deteriorating, causing the nerve endings in my feet to slowly die a painful death.  Right now my feet are in so much pain, and balance so of course, that I can’t walk a block without assistance of some kind.  And the act of walking itself is extremely painful.  I have recently undergone three non-invasive spinal surgeries, basically, injections directly into the spine  to reduce swelling and increase the flow of spinal fluid.  Well, turns out, the sheath is deteriorating faster than anticipated and the recommendation on the table is this.  The picture above is what they are suggesting be surgically attached to my spine to slow the deterioration of the myelin sheath but mainly to reduce pain, thereby increasing, quality of Life.  And so my friends such is the state of affairs that is my life.  I’m sure there will be plenty more to come on this subject, for now, I am considering the point, actually, I realize that this is something must be done, it’s just that I need a little time to get used to the idea, is all.   Thanks to you all for all the emails and warm wishes over at Cosmofunnel…… I look froward to you ALL………….

                                  Quality of Life is a big thing,  right now I have to spend, at least, 6 hours in my bed, with my legs elevated for relief from pain and to promote blood flow to my feet, each day. Lately, the pain has been so bad that I spend at least 10 hours a day with my feet elevated, just for comfort.  Pain really is the mind killer.  (but I’ve already gone into all of that)  What really sucks is that I don’t get to outside much….so when I do, the first hour or so seems very surreal.  It’s strange.  Anyway,  take a good look at the picture above, that is a spinal cord stimulator, and my doctors and surgeon are suggesting I have that thing attached to my spine, look at the picture again, that little box, lower left, gets sewn under the skin at the top of my right butt cheek,  it’s the twelve year battery.  In the pic you can see they are attaching wires to my spine and then will be sending little bursts of electrical stimulation to various locations, for twelve years.  Now, I don’t know about you guys, but I was not thrilled at this news.  In fact, I told them I needed to think about it.  It’s such a bizarre and invasive thing, it’s hard to get your head around it.  I mean LOOK at that contraption…..it’s visually intimidating.  So now you have an idea of where I’m at with this “condition” of mine.  Our hope is to be able to cut pain in half,  and afford me the freedom to move around under my own power.  This part of  “Quality OF Life” may just be worth the risk of having them install this thing in me.  My life would be so much better if I could go to the grocery store on my own.  Be good for my self esteem as well.   Look at myself, talking me into it.  Do you know how much this operation will cost?  Do you wanna know?  Of course you do,  because the next time you see me playing my guitar on some small stage somewhere, you’ll be in on the secret.  You know the secret……..Tony’s a Cyborg!!…..the total cost for this procedure is $20,000.00…that’s a lot of cash…….Unfortunately, my insurance happens to pay for this procedure so I can’t wiggle out of this……regardless of everything,  right now I need to sleep…….I do my best thinking just before dreaming…..it’s very meditative…..reflection at it’s finest really.  That place where you float.  the place where you learn to control your dreams literally.  Any way that’s for a different post.  Today we toast to friends and successes, I think there’s gonna be plenty to go around.  I am Dartanion2 and that’s the way I see it………….cheers………t  xx