Leg Numbness

[chasingbliss]

Hi folks - I am seeing my doc on Thurs morning but am getting so anxious so I thought I'd try to get some advice. A couple weeks ago, my right leg started feeling tingly and numb, just once in a while then it was more often and now it is constant. Sometimes I feel it in my left leg and my right arm too. It's pretty painful and making it impossible for me to sleep now.

I have 2 implants - one on each side - which were done in March. I had to have a revision done in May b/c the left implant never fully seated so it had to be placed deeper in the pocket. That implant is still sore but not too bad. I am currently in physical therapy and doing acupuncture so i have to turn the implants off before my sessions. Last Wed., I turned them both off before PT and left them off until Sat to see if it made a difference with my leg. It did get better but it didn't go away entirely. The implants are now back on and it's getting worse again.

Has anyone else had this experience? What happened? Did you have to have your Interstims removed? Was there any permanent damage? I am so scared now. These implants were working for me. I also have chronic severe IC pain which I am struggling to control. If I lose these implants and have to go back to where I was before I had them - it's going to be really really difficult.

Sorry to ramble on. It was a rough day pain wise and I just needed to vent. Hope everyone's holiday weekend was a good one! Any advice/info is much appreciated as I try to patiently wait for my uro appt on Thurs!

[chasingbliss]

Thought I'd post a follow-up in case anyone else runs into this issue. I met with my doctor and my medtronic rep and it was determined that my lead was pressing on my sciatic nerve, which is causing the numbness. I need to have it moved from the S3 to the S4 vertebrae. My revision is scheduled for August 18th.

I have added Neurontin to my cache of meds, which is helping a little bit with the leg pain at night. Also, the acupuncture I am currently doing is really effective b/c my acupuncturist can place needles right on my sciatic meridian which eliminates the numbness immediately. If only I could do that to myself!

[ICNDonna]

I'm glad you found out what is going on. I hope the surgery goes well.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[CCB]

I'm wondering what type of Medtronic pacemaker they put into you, are the two the same? Do you have a correct name and model number?
We are wondering which device you have or, they put Syngerty EZ into my daughter instead of the Interstim and now this device is no good with pain at the site of implanation which shocks her.
Good luck with your new surgery.
Cici

[chasingbliss]

Interesting. I will definitely ask when I see my Medtronic rep. I'll let you know what I find out!

[barb 1]

I have not been on this site for a while as I saw a lot of things going on about people who complained about problems with the device and went to another site for help.

Out of curisoity I came back to see if there was any new news about the devices.

I will definately try out accupuncture.

I can barely walk. I use a walker all the time. I had to buy all kinds of aids for the bathroom and a pole at the side of the bed.

I had to give up my job, loose my good insurance benefits that I had for 20 years and no one would help.

I am waiting to hear back from Medtronic and the FDA.

I am going for a colonoscopy and gastroscopy on Tuesday but will be running right in to the guy that does accupuncture for some help.

I am so desperate for relief.

My problems started when they used diathermy on my wrist and my device went haywire.

When they put the new device in they could not take the old wires out. They said I would need major surgery and the risk of extensive nerve damage was too high!

Accupuncture works for so many things. I am so glad I checked back.

It is moving to the left arm also.

Thanks for the good idea.

Barb 1