Neurostimulation Therapypatient stories

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Rejoinyour life.

Imagine the Possibilities of Life with Less PainFor Jaclyn it’s going to college to study nursing. For Gary it’s driving and doing household chores again. and for Gretchen it’s feeling well enough to work full time as a patient advocate at the local hospital.

they all have a brighter outlook on life thanks to Medtronic neurostimulation therapy.

take Jaclyn, for example. she suffered unbearable pain for a year due to complex regional pain syndrome that developed after she broke an ankle in a cheerleading accident. oral medications and physical therapy did not provide adequate relief. today, Jaclyn reports 90 percent pain coverage with neurostimulation therapy.

Likewise, neurostimulation therapy helped Gary and Gretchen break the cycle of injury, chronic pain, inactivity, and disability. “When they turned on the neurostimulation, it was the first moment without pain in my legs in years. i was elated,” Gretchen recalls. Gary says, “to this point, neurostimulation has been an excellent alternative to back surgery, and it has eliminated my fear of drug dependency.”

Medtronic neurostimulation therapy has helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide live more satisfying and meaningful lives. It could also help you.

not everyone responds in the same way, and your experience may vary. But Medtronic neurostimulation therapy offers the possibility of living everyday life with less pain.

Jaclyn’s StoryWhile cheerleading in 2000, Jaclyn landed awkwardly and broke her ankle. the ankle healed, but chronic pain in the ankle and lower leg remained, limiting her ability to walk, interact with others, and sleep.

Jaclyn’s primary care physician tried a variety of treatments for the pain. Unfortunately, oral medications did not significantly reduce the pain and made her nauseous. physical therapy provided only temporary relief.

“the pain escalated to an unbearable level,” says Jaclyn. “My leg swelled, ached, and felt like it was on fire. Both my ankle and leg were sensitive to touch. Water, heat, cold—even a breeze—caused pain.”

Learning About Neurostimulationafter a year with the pain, Jaclyn’s primary care physician referred her to a pain management physician. she was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (Crps). Her physician thought the pain might respond to neurostimulation therapy from Medtronic. neurostimulation helps relieve pain and restore comfort by stimulating the area near the spine with mild electrical impulses that interrupt pain signals to the brain.

to see if neurostimulation could help control Jaclyn’s pain, she underwent a screening test.

“During the screening test, i felt a comforting and soothing tingling sensation in place of the pain,” Jaclyn recalls. “this confirmed for my doctor that i was a candidate for the therapy.”

in november 2002, Jaclyn had a neurostimulator implanted. While she did not have any complications, there are risks associated with the procedure. the most frequently reported problems following the spinal cord stimulator implant surgery include infection, lead movement, pain at the implant site, loss of therapy effect, and therapy that did not meet the patient’s expectations. For a complete list of adverse events that have been associated with the therapy, please refer to the brief summary at the end of this booklet.

Living a Full Lifeat the time she was referred to the pain management physician, Jaclyn had lost weight, was not eating, and was experiencing sleep depravation. today, she’s back to living a full life. Looking back, she wonders if she might have avoided those symptoms had she been referred to the pain management physician and had the benefit of the neurostimulation sooner.

since receiving neurostimulation therapy, Jaclyn reports 90% pain coverage.

“Currently, i’m in my junior year of college and i’m studying to be a nurse,” she says. “i am able to sleep, hike, bike, and walk my dog. i couldn’t live a normal life without my neurostimulation system.”

Jaclynneurostimulation recipient

Rejoinyour life.

“I couldn’t live a normal life without my neurostimulation system.”

–Jaclyn

Gary’s StoryWhile working as a painter in 2005, Gary was lifting two 5-gallon buckets of paint when he heard a pop. that evening, he had pain that started in the lower left area of his back and shot upward to the right side of his spine.

an Mri showed that the pain he was experiencing resulted from two bulging discs in his lower lumbar spine. it also revealed that Gary had scoliosis and a bulged disc in the middle of his spine.

While his pain originated in his lower back, it eventually radiated to his legs and caused numbness in his feet. “the pain brought me to my knees,” Gary recalls. “i was unable to work and couldn’t go anywhere without thinking i would have an episode, so i stayed home.”

physical therapy did not provide relief, and oral pain medication offered only marginal comfort. He became concerned he was addicted to the medication, and its side effects were problematic.

Rejoinyour life.

“I am grateful for neurostimulation—it has helped me bring the pain level down.”

–Gary

Garyneurostimulation recipient

Learning About Neurostimulation Gary’s pain physician was knowledgeable about Medtronic pain therapies and thought neurostimulation might provide relief. neurostimulation uses a small device that is surgically placed under the skin to send mild electrical impulses to an area near the spine to interrupt pain signals from reaching the brain.

Gary underwent a screening test to determine if he was a candidate for neurostimulation. “When the device was turned on, i had instant relief—no pain for the first time in 21 months,” Gary says. He went on to have the device surgically implanted in January 2007.

While Gary did not have any complications, there are risks associated with the procedure. the most frequently reported problems following the spinal cord stimulator implant surgery include infection, lead movement, pain at the implant site, loss of therapy effect, and therapy that did not meet the patient’s expectations. For a complete list of adverse events that have been associated with the therapy, please refer to the brief summary at the end of this booklet.

An Enhanced Lifephysically and mentally, Gary has improved. He is not as short-tempered with his family, his thinking is clearer, and he can drive again. He is considering returning to work.

“i’m able to do things i couldn’t do when i had the pain,” Gary explains. “simple things, like walking, sweeping the floor, and doing the dishes. these tasks sound so easy, but for someone in chronic pain they are very hard.” Gary compares the stimulation sensation to a massage on his back and says that it keeps his discomfort to under a 5 on the pain scale.

“to this point, neurostimulation has been an excellent alternative to back surgery, and it has eliminated my fear of drug dependency. i am grateful for neurostimulation—it has helped me bring the pain level down,” Gary says.

Gretchen’s Storyin 1997, Gretchen was busy keeping up with her young children, caring for her husband who had been injured, and walking and jogging to stay fit, when she had time. then, while working in the emergency room of a local hospital, she slipped and fell, herniating three discs in her lower lumbar spine.

she experienced low back pain that radiated down into her legs. it was uncomfortable, but nothing like the pain she experienced beginning in 1999 when the discs ruptured.

“the back and leg pain i endured was a deep-down ache. nothing could touch it. the only thing i could do to find comfort was to lie in the fetal position and rock,” Gretchen recalls.

Gretchen eventually began dragging her right leg and walking in a crouched position. she tried medications for the pain, but they did not help. Laminectomy and discectomy surgeries in 2000 removed so much of her vertebrae that she had difficulty standing to support her spine.

“My life ceased,” Gretchen says. “i became inactive and irritable.”

Learning About Neurostimulation in 2002, Gretchen was referred to a pain management specialist who told her about Medtronic pain therapies and how neurostimulation may help manage her pain. neurostimulation uses a small device placed under the skin to send mild electrical impulses to an area near the spine to interrupt pain signals to the brain.

Before having neurostimulation surgically implanted, Gretchen underwent a screening test to determine if neurostimulation could manage her pain.

“that was the best day of my life. When they turned on the neurostimulation, it was the first moment without pain in my legs in years. i was elated!” she recalls.

Rejoinyour life.

seven days later she had the neurostimulator implanted. When her battery needed replacement in January 2006, she had the device replaced with a rechargeable one. While she did not have any complications, there are risks associated with the procedure. the most frequently reported problems following the spinal cord stimulator implant surgery include infection, lead movement, pain at the implant site, loss of therapy effect, and therapy that did not meet the patient’s expectations. For a complete list of adverse events that have been associated with the therapy, please refer to the brief summary at the end of this booklet. Her physician had informed her of possible interference with security at airports, but she did not expect interference from other sources. so she was surprised and unprepared for unexpected stimulation surges and uncomfortable vibrations when she first rode a mall escalator.

Living Everyday Life with Less Paintoday, Gretchen is working full time at the hospital as a patient staff liaison, offering understanding and advocacy for patients.

“neurostimulation has given me my life back. i can dance with my husband and go to my kids’ sporting events. i am back to being a productive citizen, wife, and mother,” Gretchen says.

Gretchenneurostimulation recipient

“The back and leg pain I endured was a deep-down ache. Nothing could touch it.”

–Gretchen Rejoinyour life.

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NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEMS FOR PAIN THERAPY

Brief Summary: Product Technical Manuals and Programming Guides must be reviewed prior to use for detailed disclosure.

Indication for Use - Chronic, intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs-including unilateral or bilateral pain. Contraindications: Diathermy. Warnings: Defibrillation, diathermy, electrocautery, Mri, rF ablation, & therapeutic ultrasound can result in unexpected changes in stimulation, serious patient injury or death. rupture/piercing of neurostimulator can result in severe burns. electrical pulses from the neurostimulator may result in an inappropriate response of the cardiac device. Precautions: the safety and effectiveness of this therapy has not been established for: pediatric use, pregnancy, unborn fetus, or delivery. Follow programming guidelines & precautions in product manuals. avoid activities that stress the implanted neurostimulation system. eMi, postural changes, & other activities may cause shocking/jolting. Adverse Events: Undesirable change in stimulation; hematoma, epidural hemorrhage, paralysis, seroma, CsF leakage, infection, erosion, allergic response, hardware malfunction or migration, pain at implant site, loss of pain relief, chest wall stimulation, & surgical risks.

For full prescribing information, please call Medtronic at 1-800-328-0810 and/or consult Medtronic’s website at www.medtronic.com. Rx Only. november, 2007.

www.medtronic.com

United States of AmericaMedtronic neuromodulation 710 Medtronic parkway Minneapolis, Mn 55432-5604 Usa tel. 763-505-5000 Fax 763-505-1000 toll-free 1-800-328-0810