| Mary: Post Stroke Pain (post trial) |
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Fifteen years of pain and failed treatments would make a skeptic out of anyone. After her successful one-month trial, Mary describes her experience on the eve of her implant surgery. She does not go along with the suggestion that it's a placebo response. She enjoyed a renewed relationship with her children, as well as renewed energy during the short, month-long trial, and looked forward to the implant.
"It is the best thing I have done in my entire life." Dr. Greenspan: Mary had her trial of occipital neuromodulation, and tomorrow she is scheduled for her implant. My first question is, how long have you been having pain? Mary: About 15 years. Dr. Greenspan: And where do you have pain? Mary: From the occipital nerve around [over the head] to my left eye. Also neck pain, down my back, down my right arm, [down right leg], and into my ankle. Dr. Greenspan: What started the pain? Mary: We have no idea. After I delivered my son. Dr. Greenspan: How many doctors have you been to? Mary: I'd say 10 or more. Neurologists, pain clinics, regular physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, aqua therapy. It's run the gamut. Dr. Greenspan: What was your reaction when I first suggested this procedure to you? Mary: I was skeptical. [Other treatments] would work for awhile and then stop. But the trial never stopped. It was the greatest thing in the world. Dr. Greenspan: How did the trial procedure itself go? A lot of people are curious about that. Mary: Unbelievable. It was [like] night and day. Everyone noticed. "Your eyes... look so open now. You look so much more energetic" Dr. Greenspan: What percent pain relief did you get during the trial? Mary: 90%. Dr. Greenspan: Maintaining the electrodes in place, was that a hardship for you? Mary: No, not at all. Dr. Greenspan: What would you tell someone who is skeptical, sitting on the fence, and not sure whether to move forward or not? Mary: "Go for it. It is the best thing I have ever done in my entire life." Dr. Greenspan: A lot of people with chronic pain will say that their personality was changed because of the pain. The person they were supposed to be was kind of being smothered by the pain. Mary: Definitely. My daughter and I used to go places, have fun, go to the beach. When I was in pain I couldn't do anything. There were weeks when I couldn't get out of bed. When I had the trial, we did everything again - movies, shopping. Our relationship came back. She didn't know before [the procedure] which mother was going to wake up. When I was on the trial, she knew which Mom was going to wake up. Our relationship, and my son's relationship, came back. Dr. Greenspan: That's very sweet. Dr. Greenspan: What will you say to someone who says maybe this is all a placebo response. This is all in your head and you wanted it so desperately to work. Mary: No, I wanted so many things to work before and they just haven't. I came in very skeptical. But I walked out very, very pleased with everything I had. It's not in my mind because so many people noticed it at the same time.
This procedure is performed by Dr. Joshua Greenspan at our Somersworth facility. For more information, read Promising new treatment: Occipital Neuromodulation. |
