Ron
As a New York-based hairstylist with an international clientele, Ron was a busy and active professional. He was very happy with his career and life—until 2013, when he began struggling with severe back pain. Standing for hours at a time was difficult, and air travel was debilitating.
Ron tried prescription medications, injections, and physical therapy, but none provided sufficient pain relief. At one point, he was taking seven doses of pain medications just to get through the day, and the side effects of those medications affected his ability to be on point and personable with his clients and colleagues.
The pain affected Ron’s home life, as well. It forced him to stop some of his favorite activities, such as walking and running. At times, Ron’s wife had to pick him up from the floor after he had a crippling back spasm, and his children had to help him walk.
One day, his doctor suggested that Ron try StimRouter. Ron was hesitant, but soon after receiving the device, knew he had found the solution he needed to feel normal again. Using StimRouter also has let him cut back on the medication he needs to manage his pain.
Now, Ron can walk about a half-mile and help with tasks around the house. He says StimRouter is a great addition to his care plan, as it helps him regain independence and gives him hope for a pain-free future.
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.
Jeff
After 32 years driving tractor trailers, Jeff was standing at the back of his truck one day when a 300-pound skid fell on him. In time, his four broken ribs healed without complications. However, his hands later began to feel numb and he was diagnosed with a crushed nerve in his shoulder. While attempting to rehabilitate his hand to reduce the numbness, Jeff experienced chronic pain that traveled down from his shoulder – something he had never felt before his injury. Surgery seemed to resolve that issue, but additional shoulder problems occurred and required more surgeries. Finally, one of Jeff’s hands went completely numb, but the pain remained.
Unable to grip or lift, Jeff had trouble doing his job and living the life he wanted: fishing, playing ball with his grandson, or helping out around the house.
After years of struggling, Jeff met Elias B. Rizk, MD, a peripheral nerve surgeon with Penn State Health. After assessing the situation, Dr. Rizk concluded that one of Jeff’s nerves wasn’t “firing” correctly and suggested StimRouter. As a test, Dr. Rizk stimulated the affected nerve for an hour—and Jeff felt his hand coming back to life. He quickly scheduled the minimally invasive procedure to implant the StimRouter lead, which proved to be quick and easy; Jeff’s implant appointment was at 7 AM, and by 8:30 AM he was enjoying breakfast at a nearby diner.
Since receiving the device, Jeff has experienced a dramatic reduction in his pain and numbness, and the only medication he takes is a low-dose aspirin, as needed. He can again do everyday activities, such as fishing and playing ball with his grandson. Jeff plans to use StimRouter as long as he needs it, since it has made a night-and-day difference in his life.
“The StimRouter makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. It has given me all kinds of hand strength that I had previously lost. Muskie fishing and throwing a ball with my grandson are things that I was fearful of having to give up. I think StimRouter should be applauded, it has allowed me to do both.” — Jeff, StimRouter user
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.
Mike
Mike had always been an outgoing person, traveling around the country for his job and spending time with his family and friends. All of that changed in 2014, when Mike fell from an elevated platform at work. The resulting injuries left him with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in his left arm.
Suddenly, Mike was unable to do his job, enjoy time with loved ones, or get a good night’s sleep. For six years, he suffered with CRPS symptoms that no medication, therapy, or other treatment could relieve effectively. Mike couldn’t even hold his grandchild in his arms without experiencing pain. He felt useless, almost as if he had no reason to live.
Facing the possibility of amputation, Mike renewed his search for other options—and found StimRouter. He started using the system in 2020 and could not be happier with the results. He is finally pain-free, no longer takes pain medication, and shares his story in hopes of raising awareness about StimRouter.
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
