Gretchen's Story
Pain Ambassador; Neurostimulation Therapy
In 1997, Gretchen was busy keeping up with her young children, caring for her injured husband, and walking and jogging to stay fit when she had time. Then, while working in the emergency room of a local hospital, she slipped and fell. She herniated three discs in her lower lumbar spine.
Gretchen experienced low back pain that radiated down into her legs. It was uncomfortable, but nothing like the pain she experienced beginning in 1999 when the discs ruptured.
Coping with chronic pain
"The back and leg pain I endured was a deep-down ache. Nothing could relieve it except lying in the fetal position and rocking," Gretchen recalls.
Gretchen eventually began dragging her right leg and walking in a crouched position. She tried medications for the pain, but they did not help. Laminectomy and discectomy surgeries in 2000 removed so much of her vertebrae that she had difficulty standing to support her spine.
"My life ceased," Gretchen says. "I became inactive and irritable."
Discovering neurostimulation therapy
In 2002, Gretchen was referred to a pain management specialist who told her that neurostimulation therapy from Medtronic may help manage her pain. Before going forward with it, Gretchen underwent a screening test to determine if neurostimulation could manage her pain.
"That was the best day of my life. When they turned on the neurostimulation, it was the first moment without pain in my legs in years. I was elated!" she recalls.
Seven days later, Gretchen began using neurostimulation therapy to treat her pain full-time. While Gretchen did not have any complications, there are risks associated with the procedure. The most frequently reported problems following the neurostimulator implant surgery include infection, lead movement, pain at the implant site, loss of therapy effect, and therapy that did not meet the patient's expectations. For a complete list of adverse events that have been associated with the therapy, please refer to the important safety information.
Living a full life with neurostimulation therapy
Today, Gretchen works full time at the hospital as a patient-staff liaison, offering understanding and advocacy to patients.
"Neurostimulation has given me my life back. I can dance with my husband and go to my kids' sporting events. I am back to being a productive citizen, wife, and mother," Gretchen says.
This story reflects one person's experience. Please bear in mind that the experiences are specific to this particular person. Not everyone will receive the same results as the patient in this story. Talk with your doctor about your treatment options.