Well everyone is different. I had pain for so long that I was used to it. I was told I have IBS. I would always try to watch what I eat, usually didn't go out and eat, stuff like that. I couldn't take the pain one night and decided to go to er just for some pain meds and they wouldn't give without ct scan and they said my arteries were narrowed I need to see vascular surgeon. I was so naïve to MALS. Never heard of it, didn't know anything about it. Surgeon said had to get surgery right away both SMA and celiac were occluded. Didn't really know MALS because usually only the celiac artery. Mine was so bad the diaphragm pushed on both arteries and made a mess. I did work up until the surgery, but I think I have had it all my life and was getting worse. Some people do work, it just depends. I also have chronic mesenteric stenosis, another words they keep narrowing. I had big open surgery in 2014 and wow, it was way more than I ever expected. Then 2015 had stents put in each artery. Should of had a bypass but I was physically to weak. Then Oct. 2016 I had a balloon in celiac artery and just had another scan and celiac is narrowing again. So for me I think it is a life long thing. Some people get it done and then they are fine. Key is to see if there is compression and nerve involvement!!

The relief band is for nausea. Nothing really helped me for pain. I would think the most he can get his mind off of this and any type of normalcy would help him, but again everyone is different.
Sorry I don't know if this is any help. It may be helpful for him to join one of the support groups online.

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