Kim B*

Kim considered herself a “professional volunteer” in her retirement. Whether she was giving her time at the nursing home or church, playing golf, swimming, oil painting, or gardening, Kim was “constantly doing something.” But things changed for her in January 2003 when she felt an unusual pain in her back while playing golf. A former hospital administrator and nurse, Kim self-medicated at first until she realized what she felt was more than a minor pain. (Though she knew it wasn’t possible, she says “When I walked, it felt like things would fall apart.”)

After awhile, Kim found her mobility extremely limited to the extent she could no longer do her usual tasks and activities. She found driving her car uncomfortable and relied instead on a wheeled chair or four-wheel walker during outings. To make matters worse, she could sleep for no more than a few hours at a time at night. After several back surgeries, the pain she felt moved from her back to her lower buttocks and leg. Out of options, reluctant to have another surgery, and frustrated with taking pain medications, Kim talked with her family doctor who mentioned the possibility of using neurostimulation to treat her pain. After hearing this description, she was immediately interested and told her doctor she was ready to have the surgery “tomorrow.”

Today, Kim says she experiences “about 98 percent relief 98 percent of the time” and that ibuprofen relieves her pain when she does experience it. She’s now back to her busy schedule and doing things she couldn’t do for the last three years. Most importantly, she says, “My garden’s never looked better!”

Kim wants people who suffer from chronic pain to know there is an alternative treatment available. “You don’t have to live with chronic pain. SCS is a better option than taking drugs. It’s worth a chance.”

If you are considering spinal cord stimulation and would like to correspond with Kim, email her at KimB@sjmneuro.com.