Lucina
“After my stroke, my shoulder pain became so bad that the physical therapist couldn’t even touch my shoulder without me screaming in pain. I couldn’t move my arm, it hurt so much. That made for a very short rehab session with my therapist. I knew I had to do something, because not moving was not an option and I refused to live my life in constant pain.
“My doctor, an expert physician in treating chronic pain, presented me with a number of options and I chose the Bioness StimRouter because it was minimally invasive and addressed my pain at the source.
“Two weeks after the StimRouter procedure, the small surgical incisions were healed. I was given the External Pulse Generator that sticks to the skin over my implant, to deliver the necessary energy to the small lead that stimulates the nerve to reduce my shoulder pain. It was amazing. When the doctor turned it on, the pain went away and now all I feel is a slight tingling from my shoulder.
“Now, I can move my arm, lift it, and do exercises with the help of my therapist and the pain is totally gone. With the small patient controller, I call it my remote control, that I wear around my neck, I can turn the StimRouter up or down to control my pain. I use it every day.
“If I were able to talk to other people with post-stroke shoulder pain, I would say, “Go for it. At least try it. You’ve got nothing to lose.”
Kaye
“I had been suffering from chronic pain for over a year and a half. I couldn’t sit. I couldn’t walk. My pain was normally a 7 out of 10, peaking at a 9/10 three times a day and I had to lay down. Even then, my pain only went down to a 5/10.
“One doctor recommended cortisone injections and I didn’t want to do that because of my feelings about the risks. I stuck with physical therapy and it was painful, but it at least allowed me to function. After the StimRouter implant, I did continue physical therapy for other pain, but I didn’t need therapy anymore for the specific location the StimRouter was treating. I also didn’t need as much pain medication.
“Before the StimRouter, I was having a hard time sitting and walking. After the implant, there was an 80% to 90% increase in my mobility.
“Now, I don’t need to wear the StimRouter every day. I use it for six hours every other day to control my pain. I was surprised as to how well the StimRouter worked. It was a life-saver. When you’re an active person like I am and all of a sudden your body doesn’t work and you’re in constant pain, it’s very tough. Now, I don’t have pain anymore.
“Chronic pain does work against your psyche, to the point of depression, with not being able to move and being in constant pain. I’m so mobile now and constantly busy.”
Arielle
Arielle first began experiencing chronic pain in her leg about 10 years ago. After being diagnosed with neuralgia, she tried numerous options. While some of these treatments were initially effective, the relief didn’t last.
Because Arielle is a nurse, she didn’t want to use pain medications, for fear they would impact her work. To overcome the pain, she would apply ice whenever she could — as frequently as every 15 minutes.
After the implant of the StimRouter system, Arielle experienced immediate relief. And with continued use of StimRouter, she’s able to be on her feet for 12-hours shifts as a nurse.
Chris
“I had an accident at work 7 years ago and ended up having a knife hit me in the outer lower left leg, cutting through my nerves and muscles. They glued the skin together, but didn’t recognize the nerve damage right away, so it ended up becoming permanent before they found it.
“I could barely walk because I was in so much pain from the nerve and muscle not healing correctly. I tried all types of pain medications, nerve blocks and spinal nerve blocks, but nothing seemed to give me good pain relief.
“I then tried having a spinal cord stimulation system implanted, which helped relieve some of my pain at first. However, the implanted battery itself is sitting on a muscle and I’m thin, so it hits my back muscles and sticks out. I started feeling the stimulation vibrating in my hipbone and it was very uncomfortable.
“One day my doctor told me about StimRouter. I received my StimRouter implant earlier this year in January and ever since then, I’ve felt such a relief in my pain that now I can walk comfortably again.
“StimRouter is really easy to use, a little sleeker, and much smaller. It’s also easier to go out places wearing the StimRouter, plus I can wear it whenever I want.
“I’m excited to start doing fun activities that I couldn’t do before or that spinal cord stimulation systems warn you against. When my wife and I start a family, I’m happy to know I’ll be able to be more active with them. One thing I was always worried about was not being able to hold my kids because of the pain, but now I won’t have to worry. I can be the friend, husband and dad that I want to be without limitations.”
Dr. Rottenberg
A private practice physician, Dr. Rottenberg became injured during a skiing accident, resulting in nerve damage. She tried many different types of treatment options, including surgeries and medications, but nothing helped and her quality of life was deteriorating. It was a long journey, but when she received the StimRouter, she finally found a treatment that worked for her.
To hear more about Dr. Rottenberg’s story, listen to the conversation she had with two other StimRouter patients.
Felicia
A retired police officer, Felicia was injured on the job during a motorcycle pursuit that ended in her breaking her wrist and suffering nerve damage. For months, she tried different therapies, but nothing worked until she tried the StimRouter and now she’s never looked back on her decision.
To hear more about Felicia’s story, listen to the conversation she had with two other StimRouter patients.
Linda
Linda was experiencing pain in her foot that traveled to her heel and visited a podiatrist who diagnosed her with complex regional pain syndrome. She tried physical therapy and consulted with two pain specialists. But it wasn’t until she began treatment with StimRouter that she found relief. With the help of StimRouter, she was able to dance the mother-son dance at her son’s wedding without thinking about the pain.
To hear more about Linda’s story, listen to the conversation she had with two other StimRouter patients.
