Life After Chronic Pain
Jennifer Spencer is a friendly, happy woman who speaks energetically and enthusiastically about her weight-loss efforts, SCUBA diving, and her family. A consistent Facebook poster, Spencer encourages others and gives well-earned advice.
This vibrant, outgoing woman was not always as she is today. Just four years ago, she was in debilitating, life-altering pain.
“My pain was always at an eight out of ten. I was constantly in pain, there was no release. The only time I had any pain relief at all is if I was medicated and in bed,” Spencer explains. “I couldn’t live my life. Walking up and down the stairs was nearly impossible; once I was upstairs, that was it for the day. I stayed there.”
In 2006, Spencer began trying different methodologies to find any relief from the chronic neck and back pain that she was suffering from. “I tried injections, massage and acupuncture. While it helped, I still was in a lot of pain. Last year was an especially tough year,” Spencer explains. “My neck and back pain were at an all time high.”
Spencer began seeing the interventional pain physicians at Arizona Pain Specialists, who specialize in interdisciplinary medicine, and began finally seeing some alleviation to her chronic, daily pain. Since pain is difficult to treat, a patient is sometimes required to undergo multiple procedures to fully eradicate the pain generators.
“I had radio frequency ablation and it worked,” Spencer says. “But I did have other procedures that I would say have helped with my pain. I have had epidural steroid injections plus the rounds of radio frequency ablation.”
Radio frequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure that interrupts the sensation of pain that would be sent to the brain. By use of this interruption, many patients who experience constant pain find that they are pain-free shortly after the procedure. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis at Arizona Pain Specialists in the onsite state-of-the-art procedure center.
Epidural steroid injections are also used for chronic back and neck pain. Often, when it is determined that a patient is a candidate for an epidural steroid injection, they all have one common factor, and that is what is called radicular pain. Radicular pain is that which can be described as pain associated with an irritated nerve root. When radicular pain travels down the spine and irritates nerves in the low back, it is referred to as lumbar radiculopathy, which causes pain that will often travel down the leg. When it is the nerve roots in the neck that are irritated, this causes a condition known as cervical radiculopathy, causing pain to travel down an arm. Epidural steroid injections can also be used to treat painful compression of the nerves in the neck and back.
While minimally invasive treatments have been extremely effective for Spencer, that doesn’t trivialize other alternative therapies. “Acupuncture is great,” Spencer says. “I’d recommend acupuncture to other people with chronic pain. It does help, I was amazed by it.”
Not only is Spencer now able to go about her daily life, she has been able to begin and maintain a weight-loss program. “Because I am able to exercise with no pain, I have lost 47 pounds since January,” Spencer says. “I am not only able to use a treadmill, but I have been able to hike in the areas around my house. My favorite activity is exercising in the pool – and all of this is possible because I am no longer in excruciating pain.”
Because of her pain relief, Spencer has also been able to begin a new, exciting hobby. “My son and my husband became SCUBA certified and I was actually able to become certified myself. I love SCUBA diving, and am really excited about our upcoming SCUBA diving trips.”
“Coming to a pain physician has changed my life,” Spencer continues. “I would tell anyone else in chronic pain to know that there are doctors out there who can help you and to seek them out.”
