| Robin: Fibromyalgia and back pain, failed cervical spine surgery (post trial) |
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Robin is looking forward to her permanent implant procedure after a successful trial for occipital neuromodulation. She was a bit leary, but happy there was a new option to help her lessen her dependence on narcotics.
"House chores, taking care of my child, playing ball with my child, now I can do this." Dr. Greenspan: What kind of pain do you have and how many years have you had it? Robin: Llower back pain and hip pain, and I had an operation on my neck in 1999 and I started having pain then. Dr. Greenspan: What kind of operation did you have? Robin: A herniated disc was removed. Two years later, I had a fusion done on C-5 and C-6. Dr. Greenspan: Have you seen a number of different doctors over the years? Robin: Definitely - yes. Dr. Greenspan: What kinds of things have you tried? Robin: I've tried the injections, tried medicines orally, physical therapy for quite a while, and nothing seemed to work. Dr. Greenspan: When I first talked to you about occipital neuromodulation, were you skeptical? Robin: I was. I was kind of leary, but I was kind of happy there was something else coming into view because I'm always looking for anything else that the doctors can do to help relieve that pain, especially if I can back down on the narcotics. Dr. Greenspan: What was your life like before the trial. What kinds of problems were you having? Robin: I couldn't do housework, dishes, sweeping... I'd do a little bit and then have to sit down and rest awhile. Trying to sleep at night was getting real unbearable. Dr. Greenspan: During the trial, how much pain relief did you get? Robin: I'd say about 70%. I was up and walking around doing things I need to do. I still have to rest because I have other pain. It's like a new person [smiles]. I was able to get up and do stuff! Dr. Greenspan: Is it the most effective thing you've ever experienced? Robin: Definitely. Dr. Greenspan: Did you ever have a time during the trial when the batteries ran out to the device? What happened? Robin: I did. I could feel some pain coming back on, discomfort, not bad ... I switched the battery... and it was fine. Dr. Greenspan: So the reason you knew the battery was running out was because the pain was starting to return? Robin: Yes. Dr. Greenspan: What advice would you give somebody who's thinking twice about going forward? Robin: I'd say, "Go for it. It's definitely worth it." It's worth checking out. If it doesn't work, there's nothing lost, and it doesn't hurt. There's nothing to having it put in and nothing to wearing it... You don't even realize the wires are there. Dr. Greenspan: So you're looking forward to the implant, then? Robin: I am definitely looking forward to the permanent implant. Most excitedly! Dr. Greenspan: So you see a whole new future opening up for yourself? Robin: Definitely. Being able to walk, and move, and do things that I couldn't do before. I'm going to have pain in other areas, and that's expected. But the lower back pain, hip pain, which is what really kept me from doing house chores, taking care of my child, playing ball with my child, now I can do this. Dr. Greenspan: Congratulations.
This procedure is performed by Dr. Joshua Greenspan at our Somersworth facility. For more information, read Promising new treatment: Occipital Neuromodulation. |
