SPRINT PNS; Shoulder pain
Ziad owns an auto repair shop, and his work requires a lot of heavy lifting and holding his arms overhead. Repeated motion like that is what Ziad thinks caused the labrum — the cartilage that supports the shoulder joint — in his left shoulder to tear a few years back. “I could barely work,” he says. “I couldn’t even do an oil change without excruciating pain. And any slight movement of my arm, like typing, caused intense pain. It’d bring tears to my eyes.”
Despite the discomfort, he continued to work, but it was difficult. He had to rely on his other arm for most things, including driving, which was almost impossible in the sometimes-challenging Ohio weather conditions.
He felt useless at home because he was unable to help with the daily chores. “I couldn’t cook dinner; I couldn’t grill or do the dishes. I was just a one-handed man. If it took two hands, I couldn’t do it. And forget about opening jars,” he says. During that time, he didn’t feel like socializing, so he missed outings with friends and was unable to attend many of his daughter’s soccer and basketball games.
No relief
Ziad was prescribed physical therapy, but it didn’t do much for his pain. He got massages, which helped a bit, but the relief didn’t last.
He also took pain medications, but they weren’t very effective. “I would sometimes take a Percocet just so I could fall asleep. I’d toss and turn, and the pain would wake me up. I was only sleeping five hours a night and in increments of two and a half hours each time,” he recalls.
Finally, Ziad had enough and decided to have surgery on his left shoulder. However, during a cardiac stress test in preparation for the surgery, he found out he needed a stent in one of his arteries before he could have the procedure.
Introducing a non-surgical option
With his surgery postponed, one of his doctors mentioned a 60-day treatment they could try called SPRINT® PNS. Ziad was intrigued. “I liked that it was less invasive than surgery. I’m a science guy. I have a degree in biology and went to medical school for about a year and a half, and I still read the medical journals,” he says. “I checked up on the SPRINT treatment and I’m like, ‘Let’s give it a shot,’ figuring that I could have surgery later if it didn’t work.”
Ziad had the SPRINT treatment on his left shoulder, and he felt relief right away. Within three weeks he was able to work without any pain at all. “It was wonderful,” he says.
About four months later, though, the pain in Ziad’s right shoulder began to intensify. Before he could get SPRINT treatment on that side, he was told he’d have to try physical therapy first. Ziad performed the exercises he was prescribed, but they didn’t bring him any relief.
Eventually, Ziad was able to begin the SPRINT treatment on his right shoulder and it took about five weeks to kick in. “I’ll take those five weeks over the pain I was feeling before,” says Ziad. “I went from an eight or nine on the pain scale before the SPRINT treatment to a one on that side most days. The only time I have pain is if I overdo it, and then a couple of days of ice, heat and stretching, and I’m back to a one. And the left side never really hurts.”
Now, three years after his first shoulder treatment, his life is much improved, and he doesn’t even think about the pain anymore. “Honestly, I almost got divorced because my wife says I was miserable when I was in pain. I was grumpy and irritable. I didn’t get pleasure out of anything,” he says. “Now, I’m back to my happy, jovial self.”
“SPRINT PNS gave me my life back,” says Ziad. “I am the biggest fan of SPRINT PNS!”
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.
