How Vince Got His Life Back With Spinal Cord Stimulation
“For many years I was getting by, but never truly able to live.”
The words of Vince, a patient at Twin Cities Pain Clinic, regarding the pain he had been experiencing for over a decade. In 2004, Vince underwent a microdiscectomy in his low back. A microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive procedure to provide relief from pain caused by a herniated lumbar disc. He was still experiencing pain after his microdiscectomy to the point that he could not walk far, climb stairs, or do many activities with his kids.
It wasn’t until 2018 that the pain had reached its worst. Vince had also fallen recently, which contributed to his pain. Eventually, his pain became so severe that he started missing work. He was experiencing pain on the left side of his body in his low back, sciatica, and down his leg. On a bad day, he would describe his pain as an eight out of 10, with 10 being the worst. Pain medication helped slightly, usually bringing pain down to six out of 10. But it was still limiting Vince from doing even simple day-to-day tasks.
Vince was stuck in a whirlwind of different treatments for about six months. He was visiting his doctor every two weeks and trying epidural injections. But he still found no significant pain relief. It was important to Vince that he get relief without the heavy side effects of medication or the intense recovery of surgery. He longed to get back to the life he enjoyed without debilitating pain. After a long overdue conversation with his doctor, he was referred to Twin Cities Pain Clinic.
Vince Chooses Spinal Cord Stimulation
On November 27th, shortly after becoming a patient at Twin Cities Pain Clinic, Vince began the spinal cord stimulation trial. On the first day of the trial, his pain decreased significantly. He was experiencing slight pressure from the implant process, but the pressure was nothing compared to the relief he received. After two or three days the pressure went away, and his pain reduced even further until it almost disappeared entirely.
Vince now chooses to take the stairs, something he couldn’t do before the trial. He is now able to walk up five flights of stairs at a time and walk a mile with no pain. For a man once limited to his bed for days on end, to being able to climb a few flights of stairs, Vince knew the spinal cord stimulator was right for him.
“One of the wonderful things about spinal cord stimulation, is that you can try the device first!” Vince said. Besides pain relief, that was a big factor in Vince’s decision to go ahead with the trial. A spinal cord stimulation trial typically lasts three to seven days. During this time you can determine whether the implant is right for you. “I wish I would have known about this option years ago,” said Vince. “I am so thankful my doctor referred me to Twin Cities Pain Clinic.” Since the trial, Vince’s quality of life has immensely improved. He can’t wait to go through with the permanent implant of the spinal cord stimulator and be active with his family again!
Spinal Cord Stimulation at Twin Cities Pain Clinic
Twin Cities Pain Clinic is one of the premier providers of spinal cord stimulation therapy in the Midwest. Our highly specialized pain physicians perform hundreds of SCS procedures each year and stay up to speed on the latest advancements in spinal cord stimulation technology.
