Saying goodbye to chronic pain, thanks to nerve stimulation

Mar 5, 2019 | William D. Mauck, M.D. | @williamdma | Comments (22)

Ron Schlict and Wife

Originally posted via Sharing Mayo Clinic on March 4, 2019

Ron Schlicht thought the chronic pain he'd been living with in his right leg was never going to go away. That began to change, however, after Ron came to Mayo Clinic and met the care team in the Pain Clinic.

Ron Schlicht lived with the effects of meralgia paresthetica for years. "Depending on the day, it would give me different sensations," he says of the chronic pain in his right thigh. "Most of the time, it was very painful if something would rub against my thigh. I do a lot of air travel for work, so I was always brushing up against other people. It was just very uncomfortable."

The condition wasn't a problem just for Ron, but for those close to him, too. "When you're in chronic pain, you brace yourself for it at the start of each day," he says. "That unknowingly makes your body and mind tense. My friends and family were telling me I was becoming edgy and quiet, and that I'd get irritated easily. I was always so focused on trying to ignore the pain and live with the fact that there was nothing I could do."

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user_chf56161a | @user_chf56161a | Mar 20, 2019

I’m new to this group. I suffer from failed back surgery. My legs hurt so bad, nerve pain is severe . I do brace myself for the minute by minute day. I’m scheduled for the temporary pain stimulator in April. I’m out of options but more pain pills and Lyrica which makes me terribly dizzy.

pfbacon | @pfbacon | Mar 20, 2019

A temporary pain stimulator? I haven't heard of it ... can it kill the pain of neuropathy ? Peggy

Stephen | @wsh66 | Mar 20, 2019

In reply to @pfbacon "A temporary pain stimulator? I haven't heard of it ... can it kill the pain of..." + (show)

It isa test which is preformed prior to a more permanent implant to make sure the patient is receptive to that particular therapy. It works on nerves which come off your spine to block those signals. I take Lyrica and amitriptyline for neuropathy with good results. I have a pain pump for other pain issues.

pfbacon | @pfbacon | Mar 20, 2019

Thank you! I see my neurologist in a week, I will ask if it might help me. Peggy

Stephen | @wsh66 | Mar 20, 2019

pfbacon, ask your neurologist about the pain pump while you are there, seriously.

betterway | @betterway | Jun 16, 2022

Neuro spinal stimulator, or whatever you want to call it sounds very interesting. I have been in pain at some level since an SI joint injury for going on 2 years. I am not happy with my new normal at limitations from the pain. Somedays I am right down miserable. It has been looking like there is nothing that could be done. Tried just about everything. This is interesting and hopefully good news.

mlmchem1 | @mlmchem1 | Jun 16, 2022

In reply to @betterway "Neuro spinal stimulator, or whatever you want to call it sounds very interesting. I have been..." + (show)

I have had a spinal stimulator for 2 years and it has helped my lower back pain a lot. Unfortunately my back now has other issues and hurts in my my mid and upon back. But I highly recommend the stimulator for you since your back hurts from an accident. Do your research first. The surgery to implant the device is no big deal and the battery does not bother me at all.