My life with chronic pain began in August of 1997 when I was rear-ended ended by a drunk driver. He hit me so hard that his car ended up under my vehicle. Upon impact, several bones in my back cracked and I received a concussion. Since that day, my life has never been the same. 

Before the accident I worked 7 days a week in real estate and as a Model in New York and D.C. – I was a very active person. After the accident I became very mad because I lost quality of life and had no hope of getting it back. The pain was so great I could not even get out of bed.  Suddenly, I could no longer do the things I loved to do. I used to bike in the “Make a Wish” Triathlon but could not anymore. My relationship with my husband became a struggle.  In fact, everything became a struggle because I couldn’t even walk. I woke up and went to bed with the pain. 

At this point, I had been to several doctors with little success. They all prescribed meds for the pain but did not know how to help me. I was stuck in a vicious cycle of going nowhere.  Finally, I happened upon the center for Pain Management. I had never heard of “Pain Management” but thought it couldn’t hurt to try. A doctor at the center referred me to my Pain Specialist. 

Before working with my Pain Specialist I could not do much for myself. The pain was so great that my husband had to dress me. At this point, I was on medication to a scary extreme and basically moved from bed to sofa everyday. Nothing worked. Every form of therapy seemed to cause more problems. I felt like I was turning into a vegetable.

Thanks to my Pain Specialist, Dr. Day, I am taking control of my life again. He believed my pain. Anything new that came out, he tried with me. We would talk thoroughly about the options and then decide whether or not to do it. In December of 2005 we trialed a Precision Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) and it actually worked. Now with the device and pain meds my pain is tolerable. 

At this point, I am just so tired of being mad. It is time to smile again. Now that I have found a Pain Management Solution, my new Race Against Pain is to start a family. 

For those of you suffering from chronic pain, please do not sit there and think there are no options. Listen and talk to other people and compare what they have been through. Find out what options are out there and try them. Depression is the worst part about the chronic pain.  I was where you are at. I was on that sofa giving up on life. Now I am able to tell you that there is hope.