Christie Duvall and the life-changing pain relief of a spinal cord stimulator

Christie Duvall and the life-changing pain relief of a spinal cord stimulator

For 20 years, Christie Duvall had been struggling with chronic pain. At 50 years old, she knew she had a lot of life to live and didn’t want to spend it in pain—nor dependent on opiate pain medications. That’s how Christie became a patient at Central Kentucky Pain & Spine at Georgetown Community Hospital.

“I have had multiple surgeries on my knee, back and shoulder and was addicted to the pain medications prescribed to me,” said Christie. “I asked for alternative ways to alleviate the chronic pain in my back and Dr. Muniswamy told me about the spinal cord stimulator. Dr. Muniswamy said he could not cure me but he could give me a better way of life. I was skeptical at first, but I decided to give it a try, and I am so glad I did!”

A spinal cord stimulator is an implanted device that sends low levels of electricity directly into the spinal cord to relieve pain. It is most often used after other nonsurgical pain treatment options have failed to provide sufficient relief. This is a two-step process beginning with a trial followed by the implantation. Thin wires and a small battery pack are placed surgically by a physician trained in interventional pain using ultrasound guidance.

“Before I walked into the Central Kentucky Pain &

 Spine office, I was ready to give up. Dr. Muniswamy listened to me and was 100% honest with me about the procedure,” said Christie. “It feels like family when you walk in, and they go above and beyond.  From the receptionist all the way back, they are the best group of people and doctors I have ever dealt with.”

Dr. Muniswamy stated that “the first step was to place a trial of the device using ultrasound. Christie was a good candidate for the spinal cord stimulator since she had been unsuccessful with pain management via medications. She was walking on her own and saw a significant decrease of pain within the week of implanting the stimulator. The next step was to remove the trial and surgically place the device. Christie has had positive results from the spinal cord stimulator and is now able to do things that were impossible before.”

Thanks to the expertise and care of the pain management specialists at Central Kentucky Pain & Spine, Christie says “I now have my life back. The spinal cord stimulator has significantly reduced my pain levels, allowing me to enjoy activities I once thought were impossible. From simple tasks like walking without discomfort to playing with my grandkids, every day is brighter and more manageable.”

Christie states, “Finding relief from chronic pain has been life-changing for me,” said Christie. “I am forever grateful to the compassionate staff who guided me through this journey and helped me regain control over my life. If you are struggling with chronic pain, I urge you to explore the possibilities offered by Central Kentucky Pain & Spine. They truly understand the impact of pain and are dedicated to providing effective solutions that bring hope and relief.”

If you are experiencing chronic pain, and would like a consultation, contact Central Kentucky Pain & Spine by calling 502.868.1100 or visit our website for more information www.georgetowncommunityhospital.com/interventional-pain-management.