Not content with just one medical appointment in a day, I had another appointment afterwards. I first went to my appointment with the Bladder and Bowel service last Tuesday. Then, I went to the hospital to see Lincey and Sam. We met to review the programming of the device. My main feedback was that it was having a really positive effect. The second program seemed to be giving almost as much relief, but without the issue of being so sensitive as to how I lay at night. I was still quite sensitive to over-stimulation though. Sam tried a few different settings without much improvement. He then suggested he tried a DTM programme (differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation). This isn’t typically used for my situation, but he thought it worth trying. I think in simple terms it is a cross between the burst mode I had last time, with the device running for a while and then switching off, and it constantly providing stimulation. When I bend my neck down it feels like the device is pulsing the stimulation.
The last programme had the great benefit of only needing to charge the device about once per week, but the over-stimulation was still rather intrusive. A week on and the over-stimulation only really occurs when I bend my neck down quite a bit. The relief it provides is, I think, about the same. The constant running does mean I have to charge up every 48-60 hours though. I have the other two programs on the device if I want to revert to either. For now though, this seems to be working well.