SPRINT PNS; Shoulder Pain
A couple of years ago, Tom began experiencing shoulder pain that was limiting his full and vibrant life. The retired nurse, former Buddhist monk and aspiring horror-story writer suddenly couldn’t do yoga or simple daily activities to care for himself, such as combing his hair.
“If I tried to lift my arm, it felt like my shoulder was going to snap,” says Tom. “I couldn’t even throw balls for my dogs.”
It also limited his ability to participate in group activities. “We had a cornhole game at my girlfriend’s birthday party and everyone was throwing overhand. Not me. I had to throw underhand; couldn’t handle throwing an ear of corn.”
Impact of Pain (Loss of Strength)
After many months of pain that limited him, Tom found himself primarily using his left hand, which caused him to lose strength in his right arm. He struggled to lift heavy items and had to use his other hand underneath his arm to assist, which hurt his wrist. He tired easily.
“Everything was a struggle. I couldn’t put on a jacket by myself; my girlfriend had to lift it over my shoulder so I could get it on. And when I drove, I couldn’t even put my arm on top of the wheel.”
Finally, in frustration, he visited a pain specialist who administered a series of cortisone shots, but Tom says the pain relief would only last a week or two. He refused to take strong pain medications due to concerns about his health and potential for addiction, so he stuck to a regimen of ibuprofen.
He also tried physical therapy but didn’t feel it helped so he stopped going to his appointments.
Writing is on the wall
One day, while Tom was visiting his pain specialist, Dr. Andrew Sim, for another injection, he noticed a poster on the wall for the SPRINT System and was intrigued. “I asked the doctor if they used SPRINT for shoulders, and he said, ‘yes, we do,’” recalls Tom. “I said I wanted to try it and so we did!”
“From a functional perspective, Tom’s range of motion was fine, so I knew surgery wasn’t the answer,” says Dr. Sim. “The only thing impairing him was pain, so SPRINT PNS was an ideal option.” He adds, “In my experience, the great thing about SPRINT is that it’s a minimally-invasive procedure; the risk is very low, and for most patients, as long as we can identify the affected nerve, they do well with it.”
About two weeks after inquiring about SPRINT PNS, Tom received the system. He says he felt immediate relief as soon as the stimulation was turned on. “They had it all set up to target the nerve where the pain was. It immediately felt great,” says Tom.
Today, Tom continues to feel complete pain relief in his shoulder which has helped him work on using his shoulder more, allowing him to build strength in his arm. He’s even doing yoga again. “I’d say the pain relief is 100 percent. Before, I barely had use of my shoulder due to the pain. Now, there is nothing I can’t do with my right arm. I have full use of it.”
He is so impressed with SPRINT that he’s telling everyone he knows about it. “No one should have to live with pain. If the subject comes up, I always tell people what I went through and I have nothing but high praise for SPRINT. I’m so glad I saw that poster!”
The SPRINT PNS System is indicated for up to 60 days for: (i) Symptomatic relief of chronic, intractable pain, post-surgical and post-traumatic acute pain; (ii) Symptomatic relief of post-traumatic pain; and (iii) Symptomatic relief of post-operative pain. The SPRINT PNS System is not intended to be placed in the region innervated by the cranial and facial nerves.
Each patient’s testimonial is the result of each patient’s unique situation resulting in varying responses, experiences, risks, and outcomes to the SPRINT PNS System. The patient experiences shared on this page are not medical advice and should not be substituted for the independent medical judgment of a trained healthcare professional. Discuss your options and use of the SPRINT PNS System with your medical provider. Physicians should use their best judgment when deciding when to use the SPRINT PNS System. For more information see the SPRINT PNS System IFU.
Most common side effects are skin irritation and erythema. Results may vary. Rx only.
