SPRINT PNS; Post-amputation Pain
In 2014, just a year after Andy and his wife purchased their dream property in the country, he had a life-altering accident. The side-by-side utility vehicle he was using to get around his five-acre property tipped over. As he was falling, Andy reached out his arm to protect himself, but the metal roof of the vehicle slammed down onto his bicep, crushing his muscle and pinning him to the ground.
Luckily for Andy, he fell near the road and a nurse who happened to be driving by saw him and called 911. He was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby trauma center. “The medical team tried to put me back together, but I came down with infections and complications,” recalls Andy. “I was stubborn about saving my arm from amputation, though, so I ended up in another hospital for reconstruction.”
Over four years, Andy endured 17 surgeries, but his arm and hand never really returned to anything resembling normal and his pain was excruciating, despite taking strong opioids. “After fusing my wrist, putting in two plates, an artificial elbow and 70-some screws, my surgeon told me in 2018 that he couldn’t do anything else for me. That the only option was amputation,” explained Andy. He wanted some time to think about it, and five months later, Andy underwent an amputation of his arm just below the elbow.
A different kind of pain
While the amputation took away some of his pain, Andy says phantom pain took over as his severed nerves continued to send painful signals to his brain. “I had a lot of shooting pain, as I was still sensing my fingers were there. It was frustrating and hurt like the dickens,” says Andy.
Andy’s pain specialist tried several things to reduce the pain, including plunging his arm into a tub of rice. This technique, which desensitizes the nerves due to the friction, temporarily helped, but the pain always returned. He also continued to take opioids for his pain and regularly received steroid shots to lessen the inflammation. None of these treatments, however, brought lasting relief.
Andy also had a procedure called Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR), where his surgeon fused some of his severed nerves together to — in effect — close the loop and stop the pain signals. Unfortunately, this procedure only partially worked for Andy.
Meanwhile, he was severely depressed. “My quality of life was just awful. I couldn’t sleep. I had suicidal thoughts and tendencies,” says Andy. “When I’m in pain, I slip into depression, and it just steamrolls from there. Everything feels dark.”
Trying something new
Since the original TMR procedure didn’t completely work, Andy’s physician recommended performing another one higher up in his shoulder where the nerves were intact. Andy rejected this idea because it meant that, for a year, he would not be able to use his myoelectric prosthetic hand, which employs his brain signals to open and close his prosthetic fingers.
Shortly after that, Andy began seeing a new pain specialist who immediately introduced him to the SPRINT® Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) System. Andy described, “Right away, I was interested, but concerned about how the electrical signals would impact the signals that control my prosthesis.”
Thankfully, after doing a bit of research and speaking further with his pain physician, Andy was relieved to learn that the treatment likely would not interfere with the use of his prosthesis. The real test, however, came during the minor procedure to place the SPRINT System. “The doctor implanted the leads and when I tried my arm it worked. I was able to operate my hand. Everyone in the OR, the doctors, the SPRINT rep, were cheering and took pictures,” recalls Andy.
Relief took some time
During treatment, Andy says he was still getting phantom pain, and he was not sure if the treatment was going to work for him. However, he maintained hope that it would work eventually.
“When the system was removed, for a couple of weeks I was still getting zingers and crushing pain,” says Andy. “But after a month, the pain started to subside, and those sensations have now completely gone away.”
Andy is happy to report he is completely off his opioids, sleeping better, and his depression has lifted. Kathy, his wife of 37 years, tells him she’s glad to have the old Andy back. And together, the two of them are looking forward to welcoming their first grandchild.
“I’m so glad I’m not going to be in pain and have my grandchild grow up thinking, ‘oh, granddaddy’s hurting today.’ I get to just enjoy being a grandfather,” says Andy.
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.
