Crystal
For nearly a decade, Crystal lived with chronic pain in her legs and back caused, in part, by nerve damage. Surgeries and other therapies helped to a point, but she had to learn to live with the remaining pain. Then, one day, her stepson accidentally kicked her ankle as he fell down the stairs. This caused additional nerve damage and suddenly, she couldn’t walk, navigate stairs, or even wear shoes without excruciating pain.
Wary of opioids, Crystal tried to get by with treatments such as over-the-counter pain medicine, rest, and cortisone injections. Still, she could not walk or go to work. She became confined to her home and began to question whether she wanted to go on living in such pain.
Finally, Crystal’s husband suggested that she make an appointment with Pascal Scemama de Gialluly, MD, of UMass Memorial Health. Dr. Scemama told her about StimRouter, and Crystal agreed to try it. Almost immediately after she began using the device, she felt relief from her pain.
Now, Crystal loves the freedom of being able to leave the house, go up and down stairs easily, and enjoy favorite activities. If she’s going to have an active day, such as going for a bike ride, she just turns on her StimRouter and she’s on her way!
Maria
For years, Maria battled a rare pain disorder that affected her knees. Over the years, she endured multiple knee replacement surgeries and lost weight to try easing the pain. Those efforts improved her mobility but only intensified her pain. An accomplished trumpet player, she had to stop performing with a competitive Drum and Bugle Corp and fell into a deep depression.
The debilitating knee pain made working and accomplishing daily tasks nearly impossible. She hated to rely on pain medications, and other treatment options made very little difference. Her family noticed a change, too; she was quieter than normal because she was simply learning to live with the pain.
After so much time searching for answers, Maria finally received a diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome. As she considered different treatment options, Maria’s physician recommended StimRouter. She decided it was worth a try. So, Maria had the minimally invasive procedure to implant the StimRouter lead—and within moments of turning on the device, she felt relief like she hadn’t experienced in decades.
With a second chance at life, Maria has set her sights on a bucket list of experiences, beginning with performing in a national competition with her beloved Drum and Bugle Corp. Thanks to her physician, her StimRouter, and her own determination, Maria has the rhythm back in her life.
Read the Eagle Tribune News Story (The article reflects the patient’s personal experiences with her treatment. However, surgical results, treatment methods and outcomes may vary from person to person.)
Jennifer
For Jennifer, the solution to one problem created an even more complex problem. Surgery to remove a bunion left her in a years-long battle with debilitating foot pain. Jennifer tried to find relief through additional surgical procedures and medication. Nothing worked, however, and she struggled to continue waitressing at a military base—a job she enjoyed deeply.
Because of the pain, Jennifer’s relationships with her family and friends deteriorated, she had trouble sleeping, and she cut back on favorite activities such as landscaping, bicycling, and walking her dog. And due to her husband’s work-related travel, Jennifer sometimes had to rely on help from others when he was away.
Despite these challenges, Jennifer refused to give up. Her determination paid off during an appointment with Alexander M. Spiess, MD, a peripheral nerve injury specialist at Pittsburgh Hand and Nerve. Dr. Spiess recommended that Jennifer try StimRouter. It made all the difference in her life.
Since receiving the device, Jennifer has a renewed sense of hope. Her relationships are on the mend, she is able to enjoy her waitressing work again, and she is thrilled to be back to gardening, walking, and living a nearly pain-free life.
Susan
For more than 15 years, Susan struggled with crippling pain caused by lupus and a degenerative spinal disk disease. Although multiple surgeries eased her back pain, she continued to suffer from neuropathy pain in her legs.
At times, Susan’s pain was so unbearable that she felt as if only her family kept her going. She had to rely on her husband for everyday tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and driving. She lost motivation to leave her home, even to receive dialysis for kidney failure—and without dialysis, Susan would be ineligible for a new kidney. Her only hope was to find a way to manage her pain.
Finally, Susan met Jay Kumar, MD, D.ABA, Chief Medical Officer at Spine & Pain Specialists of the Carolinas, who told her about StimRouter. Willing to try anything, Susan underwent a test to see if the device would be a good option for her. The results were encouraging, and she received a StimRouter for each leg.
Since then, Susan’s quality of life has skyrocketed! She has experienced dramatic reduction in her pain and can now sit through her dialysis appointments. For the first time in years, Susan can enjoy her favorite activities: shopping, traveling, going to the beach, driving, and attending family gatherings.
Diane
Diane had lived with chronic pain for 23 years, since suffering a severe ankle fracture at work. At first, she expected to make a full recovery after a procedure to repair the sprain—but 30 surgeries and countless medications later, Diane decided to have her leg amputated. It seemed her only hope for stopping the pain and reclaiming her life.
Unfortunately, even amputation did not resolve the issue. In fact, Diane’s pain after the surgery was so severe that she could not use a prosthetic leg. She became confined to her bed, feeling devastated and depressed.
Help arrived in the form of Kyle Eberlin, MD, at Massachusetts General Hospital, who recommended that Diane try StimRouter. The device gave Diane immediate improvement in her pain and a glimpse of a future not controlled by pain. She went from struggling to walk at all to walking for hours a day.
Diane is now able to live life on her own terms, especially spending time with her family and being a grandmother. Having rediscovered her enthusiasm for adventure, she enjoys jumping on the family’s trampoline, riding her Razor® scooter, and chaperoning her grandchildren on trips to the zoo.
Michelle
During a family vacation in 2018, Michelle broke her ankle after jumping off a dock. The injury left her suffering for years with chronic pain. Multiple surgeries didn’t provide lasting relief; the pain only worsened and, ultimately, Michelle was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Michelle could not walk or bear to have anything touch her leg. Unable to enjoy time with family and friends, she experienced debilitating depression and anxiety. The pain became so extreme that she even traveled overseas in an unsuccessful search for effective treatment.
Losing hope, Michelle began to consider having her leg amputated. Then, pain medicine physician Mansoor Aman, MD, of Aurora Health Center, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, suggested one last possible solution.
With nothing to lose—and an amputation appointment scheduled—Michelle tried StimRouter. It proved to be the lifeline she had been searching for.
After the minimally invasive surgery to implant the StimRouter lead, Michelle regained control of her life. Today, she can go to the grocery store, cook dinner for her husband, play with her grandchildren, and walk her dogs. Her depression and anxiety have eased, as well.
Kailey
Kailey was 13 years old when she began to feel pain in her shins. Told that it was probably due to growing pains or sports-related injuries, she tried a variety of treatments―physiotherapy, massage therapy, medications, and more―with limited relief.
As the pain worsened, Kailey had to stop participating in volleyball and track, her favorite sports. Later, when she went to university, she couldn’t walk from one class to another without extreme pain. Kailey hid her dilemma from most of her friends, even making excuses to not hang out with them.
After suffering for years, Kailey finally found a doctor who told her about StimRouter. She had already endured so many unsuccessful treatments, that she did not get her hopes up. Fortunately, StimRouter provided a different result: from the moment the device was turned on, Kailey felt relief from the pain.
Within a few days, Kailey was able to walk her dog pain-free. She has gone on to return to more normal activities, such as enjoying good times with friends and family members. Thanks to StimRouter, Kailey can again live without pain, fear, or limits.
Listen to more of Kailey’s story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1bZyRCmU_M
Shirley
“I had chronic pain in my legs for nine months. My pain was a 10 out of 10 before the implant and after I got StimRouter, my pain was gone. I have no pain now.
“When I first learned about StimRouter, I was getting injections that lasted about four days and the pain would come back. My doctor told me about StimRouter and I was ready to try it, because the pain in my legs was so bad.
“I was a little scared before the procedure, but everyone was so nice and the implant procedure was fine. They showed me how to use it and we talked about how the system works and it was easy to operate the system after that. It really is easy and it’s been wonderful for me. I turn the StimRouter on for three hours at a time, twice per day, and the pain relief lasts the entire day. When I take it off, the pain relief still lasts. It’s working well for me.
“It’s working so wonderfully on my right leg — I’m going to ask the doctor for another one on my left leg. Before the StimRouter, my leg was so bad and it was difficult to walk, but after the StimRouter I walked about two miles with my daughter and she said, Mama, I’m so glad this works for you and now I’m going to need to work hard to keep up with you.”
Lenore
Lenore had bad knee pain before and after two knee replacements. “When I moved or had to get up and down, you could hear me groaning and see me dragging my leg when I tried to walk. I would say my pain level was an 8 to 9 out of 10. I had a total of three surgeries in four years. The first was a knee replacement accompanied by nerve blocks and nerve ablation. I was prescribed prescription opioids, but they stopped prescribing them to me after a while and I didn’t want to sit around crying. I had to do something. I never had better than 70% range of motion … it was hell.”
Lenore considered a third knee replacement, but backed out because there was nothing wrong with the existing knee implant. After four years and multiple surgeries, she still didn’t have the ability to lead an active life.
After her StimRouter programming session, Lenore got up and walked immediately. She reported, “It was like a miracle. I got back into physical therapy and my life is so much better now.”
Today, Lenore enjoys being pain-free and consistently uses the StimRouter during daily activities. In addition, her walking ability has improved while the device is on.
“When it’s off, I can’t walk right. I have to drag my leg again.”
During a recent vacation in Spain, Lenore and her husband walked 4.3 miles. “It was amazing! Before the StimRouter, I had to put all my travel on hold. I couldn’t go with the tour group, because I couldn’t keep up with my leg dragging and my cane. I couldn’t even join a neighborhood walking group. Now I can walk without a cane and am back to traveling.”
She notes, “I recommend StimRouter to everybody … are you kidding me? It saved my life. I didn’t want to get up anymore. It’s a horrible, horrible thing being an invalid. Now, I have a life again. ”
Anna
Anna has been involved in sports her entire life — even transforming her passion into a career as Associate Athletic Director at Indiana University Northwest. But the chronic pain from peripheral neuropathy and ankle nerve compression was getting in the way of many of her responsibilities and relationships with the students.
Following her StimRouter PNS implant, she’s been able to increase her activity level and involvement with students.
