"What a life changer!"

Some years ago I fell from a ladder and broke my back in two places. After six months of physio in Axminster pool I seemed to have recovered but I still had pain when I sat for long periods. I am a keen cyclist and unfortunately following a bad fall my back pain returned, along with excruciating pain down through my right buttock, thigh and all the way down to my ankle.

I was prescribed more physio but it didn’t help. I was referred to a Spinal Consultant who explained that one of my vertebrae had broken and twisted trapping my spinal cord. After several tests he proposed surgery to straighten my spine with the installation of a bolted metal plate to hold it together. Unfortunately, Covid came along and my operation was delayed for about 18 months of serious pain. I then had the call to go in for surgery but after a pre-op scan the surgeon explained that it was no longer possible to perform the operation from the back, they would have to cut open my abdomen and repair the spine from the front! 

I was not keen on having a six hour operation with 6 months recovery and no guarantee of success, so the Consultant referred me to the Pain Management Consultant. She suggested a Spinal Cord Stimulator. This involved cutting a pocket in my back just above the kidney area and inserting a rechargeable stimulator about 3 inches diameter. This would be connected through a tube to electrodes inserted in my spine. 

Using a remote control I could vary the amount of pain relief depending on need. A few weeks later I was called in for the op which was carried out just using local anaesthetic.

The operation only took a couple of hours and afterwards I was able to walk out of the hospital unaided same afternoon.

Wow! What a life changer! I could sit down long enough to eat a meal, watch television and ride my bike with little discomfort and even get a good night’s sleep. 

I now have regular reviews and they can install new programs using Wi-Fi and although I can feel the stimulator under my skin it doesn’t cause any discomfort. All I have to do is strap on a recharger about once each month and I can change programs and intensity at will using the remote control.

Well done NHS, absolutely brilliant!