After I had my stimulator about a year, Medtronic began publishing Living Well, a newsletter about the company’s implanted stimulation devices and drug delivery systems. According to the newsletter’s nerve stimulation FAQs, these activities might be harmful: using an electric blanket, skiing, sledding, golfing, amusement park rides. These are in addition to the limitations I’ve already mentioned.
If I had seen all these restrictions listed out before my surgery, I’m not sure I would have gotten the stimulator. I certainly don’t regret getting it, but I’m resentful of and angry about how much it limits my movement. Much, much more than I ever imagined I would be. Part of feeling better is wanting to do all the activities I couldn’t do before. It’s the loss that I’ve mourned the most over the last year and it’s a fresh wound every time I think about it.
It may seem silly to some, but I am just crushed that I won’t be able to ride another roller coaster 🙁 And down here, in FL, they advertise every single new coaster like crazy. I’ve had to change the channel, in tears.
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What a bummer that you live in one of the rollercoaster capitals of the country. What would Walt Disney think of inflicting so much harm?
K
Hi there
I’ve only been reading your blog for the last few months, and I’m afraid I don’t know what kind of implant you have–could you explain? Is it a neurostimulator? I’m wondering if it’s possible to have it removed in the future if you choose to. Also wondering if it helps significantly.
Katy
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I’ll work on a post with links to all the posts I’ve made on it, but here’s a place to start:
http://www.thedailyheadache.com/2005/07/in_a_large_nuts.html
You can also follow this Google link: http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Awww.thedailyheadache.com+%22nerve+stimulator%22&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official to find all my posts on it. Some of the links are to topic categories, which won’t help much, but many are to the posts themselves.
The truth is that I waffle on how helpful it is. Sometimes I think it helps a ton, other times it seems to help just a bit. The longer I have it, the more resentful I become. I know it does help, but can’t pinpoint how much. I spent the fall before I got it in bed. I haven’t been disabled that much since I’ve had it.
It is possible to have it removed. Sometimes they stop working, sometimes there are mechanical difficulties.
It’s all a gamble.
K