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Gary's Story
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Name: Gary Gerbrandt
Age:
73
# of years in pain:
42 yrs, 3 months
Cause of Condition: Diving Accident
Diagnosis: Fractured thoracic vertebrae/RSD/sympathetic nerve damaged
Pain level before finding pain management solution: 9
Pain level after finding pain management solution: 2
# of doctors visited before finding pain specialist: 6
Gary’s Race Against Pain before Pain Management: I was one depressed individual.
Gary’s Race Against Pain Now: I am truly blessed.
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I have a series of fractures in the thoracic spine from T-6 up through T-1, and my cervical vertebrae are also involved with pain. I have had RFA's 4 different times in the intercostal joints and the facet nerves, several epidurals, and three different uses of an infusion pump dripping bupivicaine down my sympathetic nerve. Prior to all of this, I had one cortizone shot into the spine at T-6, several attempts at physical therapy, and several acupunctures. There have been chiropractic treatments and herbal treatments. I even had a failed trial 7 years ago with a different company than Boston Scientific.
All of the above started in 1968 as a result of a dive into 2 1/2 feet of water. I was doing a flip dive from the side of the pool in an attempt to splash someone. I never lost consciousness. As the day proceeded, the pain became increasingly worse. I went to the hospital to get checked out and discovered there was a broken back. I was admitted. Sometime that evening, I went into spinal shock and ended up in intensive care for 10 days. I did not have any paralysis.
Today, 40 years later, I have the non-paddle SCS from Boston Scientific. I do experience pain, but I am pain drug free since August 25, 2008. I love being able to manage the pain in contrast to being managed by the pain. I am truly a blessed man, and my desire is to be of help to others.
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