After a three-year multi-state pursuit of surgery to control chronic pain, in October 2016 I had a spinal stimulator surgically implanted in my back. The stimulator helps control pain by sending an electric impulse up my spine. The electricity blocks the brain's ability to receive signals that tell it, "You are in pain." The stimulator is a vibrator which gets its power from electricity. The power comes from a rechargeable battery.
Previously, power for medical devices were limited to batteries that could not be recharged. Consequently, surgeons had to replace batteries. The advantage of a rechargeable battery is that it requires less surgery in the long-term. The disadvantage is that considerable maintenance is required. My spinal surgery requires that I charge the battery for three hours a month. My initial focus is on describing the process of recharging by describing the equipment and how I use it.
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I have two surgically-implanted Medtronic devices.
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Equipment
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My back.
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2. Medtronic Kit
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Yesterday, I charged my battery and posted the process on Facebook
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a.1:21 P.M
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b) 1:27 PM
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c) 1:33 PM
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d) 1:41 P.M.
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e) 1:50 P.M.
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f) 2:12 P.M.
One of two screens
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Two of two screens
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g) 2:45 P. M.
One of two screens
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Two of two screens
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h) 3:13 P.M.
One of two screens
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Two of two screens
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NOTES
- This is a question for my surgeon. Physicians are the ultimate source.
2. Video history of Medtronic.
https://www.youtube.com/watchv=zTuyvJm0P74&feature=player_embedded
3. Under this band aide is the spinal stimulator. Image courtesy of Medtronic, the manufacturer.
4. The formal term for my spinal stimulator is “neurostimulator.”
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