Patient Profile
DAVID B., RETIRED ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL
"I have always enjoyed the outdoors, especially primitive backpacking, hiking, camping, fishing, golf, and snow and water skiing.” For David B., a 57-year-old retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, being active is more than just a hobby; it’s a way of life. “I worked in construction growing up and enjoy doing projects around our house on five acres at Lake Anna, Virginia.”
In 2009, David had surgery to address numbness in his legs and pain in his lower back and hips. Initially the surgery solved the problem, but several months later, he began to re-experience lower back pain. “My quality of life went quickly downhill. I was no longer able to do the things I enjoy and I had to depend on others for the bare essentials, like helping me to get dressed or pouring milk on my cereal.”
Over the next several months David endured numerous hospital stays to get his back pain under control. “A few of the treatments provided relief for a few months but ultimately did not last. Increases in my medications provided some relief, too, but I slept all the time and had terrible mood swings that affected those around me, especially my family. In the end, I was unable to continue working, and depression became a real threat!”
Determined to find answers, David pursued additional consultations with medical experts in the military and civilian sectors. “I was finally diagnosed with Post-Laminectomy Syndrome, more commonly known as ‘Failed Back Syndrome,’ which is when someone who’s had back surgery still has pain afterwards.” Due to overwhelming wartime needs of active duty soldiers with the Army’s Pain Management Clinic, David received authorization to seek help from the experts at Capitol Spine & Pain Centers. After careful review of his history, it was determined that he was a viable candidate for a Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) trial.
“Dr. Wisor and his staff spent several hours going over my case with my wife and me, and answered all our questions concerning the SCS trial: How the technology worked? How would I know if I further injured my back? How the procedure would be done?”
After digesting the information he gathered, and consulting with his family, David agreed to move forward with the trial. “My trial SCS was implanted in mid-July for four days, and I began to feel relief IMMEDIATELY! For the first time in months I was able to dress myself, sleep more than two hours without heavy meds, pour my own milk, and walk up to one mile outside.”
As a result of the successful four-day trial, David ultimately received a permanent SCS. “I continue to follow up with Dr. Wisor and his staff. My pain level has beengreatly reduced along with the medications that I take — now down to one. I’ve regained a quality of life I thought was gone forever. After over one year I have been able to go to church, hold my young grandson, go shopping with my wife, go out to eat, and even go to a movie. I am also starting to work in the yard and am getting stronger every day. I am back to work fulltime. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Wisor and the staff at Capitol Spine & Pain Centers for all their support and care. They have given me my life back."