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Lois Mac Donald from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada had Motor Cortex Stimulation surgery in August and September 2003 for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, (RSD). Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is also called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, (CRPS). RSD/CRPS is similar to neuropathic pain in the sense that damage has occurred to nerves or soft tissues in various parts of the body causing SEVERE, ongoing PAIN. For more information, please see: http://www.rsds.org/index.html, The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Association.

Congratulations Lois on finishing your University education in Commerce this summer 2006. Opuslinks.com wishes you continued success with your pain relief. Lois would love to chat with anyone regarding motor cortex stimulation. Lois can be reached at: macdlois@msn.com

This story was edited slightly by Bridget Kelly. 07/14/06

Hello there,

My name is Lois Mac Donald and I live in Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada . I have a Motor Cortex Implant, made by Medtronic. The Neurosurgeon that performed this procedure is Dr. Robert Brownstone, a truly amazing man.

I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in my right hand, arm and neck, after an injury to the palm of my hand in Dec 1997. The intense pain and swelling was devastating to deal with, which was exasperated by the fact that I was an extremely busy Hairstylist, running my own business. I was late getting a diagnosis (18 months), which reduced the chances of muting my sympathetic nerve pain (fright or flight reaction on overdrive).

I was diagnosed by Neurologist Dr. Alan Purdy, who quickly sent me to Dr. Ian Beaupre @ the Dixon Ctr Pain Clinic in Halifax , Nova Scotia . He is an anesthesiologist specializing in Pain. He began giving me nerve blocks in right side of neck, and this relaxed the nerve for about 2 -3wks until it reached full blast again, but was only allowed a max every three months. We did that for 1 ½ years then moved to the top of my spine to see if we could get better results with epidural. I do not know what the cocktail of drugs were in the needle. He did tell me but I don’t remember drug names. The results were similar, with short lasting relief. That was not a good long term solution given the short term gain. The blocks occurred between 1999-2001, then the epidurals from approx 2001-2003(July).

The medications I was on besides treatments were:

Neurontin 400mg(4) day, 1999- present GREAT

Celebrex 200mg , ( 1 or 2 if needed) 1998- present

Codeine Contin 200 mg (4 every 8 hrs) 1999- 2001

switched to Methadone

Methadone 1mg/ml AQ ( 30 ml twice day) 2001-2003 stopped Nov

2003

Nov Desipramine 50mg 2000-2001

Upon realizing no difference between treatments, Dr Beaupre and I started talking about a motor cortex implant. The surgery was done in two separate surgeries by Dr Robert Brownstone – neurosurgeon. The first surgery was performed, 1 August 2003 with an implanted lead in my Motor Cortex on the left side of my head. I had a grand mal seizure on the operating table during our search for the perfect location, and again the next day after a short trial with the stimulation. 4-5 weeks later in September 2003, the battery/pacemaker was implanted below the left collarbone and the lead wires were installed on the left and out by the top of the ear and down my neck into the battery. I was only in the hospital for 36 hrs. I felt like I was beaten with a baseball bat. I have remote like Jason, (other personal story). I hold the remote over my battery to turn it up or down, within the parameters set/given by the neurosurgeon, Dr. Robert Brownstone. I don’t have exact voltage, but it is never turned off, and goes off every 45 mins for 10 mins-cycling.

MCS was successful in allowing me to go off of narcotics, reducing my pain by up to 60% during first half of day, then go back to 50%, or occasionally 40% in the later part of the day.

I have kept myself extremely distracted from pain through entering University in 2002 to study Commerce at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax , Nova Scotia . I am finishing up this summer 2006, and I am extremely lucky to have been able to receive this device to allow me the clarity to be able think clearly and retrain so I can once again become productive for my own sanity, ha ha. I find distraction is the best natural weapon we have against pain and I am looking for my next one now.

Pain is still very difficult to deal with sometimes, but not blinding like it used to be.

Thanks for listening

Lois Mac Donald

macdlois@msn.com

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Opuslinks.com: A Resource Group on Emerging Electromedicine and S-PACE: A Patient Perspective to Understanding Medical Stimulation Technology.