Patient – Lois M. Newman
Physician – Jenny L. F. Andrus, MD
I am 76, and was born in Washington, D.C., I was married to a retired doctor for 57 years, who practiced in Richmond, VA for 32 years. I have had lower back and leg pain off and on for 30 years.
Once, my husband and I went to Florida with some friends to play golf when it again struck me down. I had to be taken to AMTRAC by ambulance on a stretcher, passed through a window to a lower berth and then home by ambulance, but it would get better after a few days of rest. X-rays and scans didn’t show why I had it, and my neurologist said to stick with the bed rest program when necessary.
Last year, it hit again, but this time it didn’t respond to the usual regimen. I was referred to a “back pain specialist” by my internist, Dr. Mark Souther, and saw Dr. Jenny Andrus, who tried different medications by mouth and then 3 back injections, which didn’t help.
I was then told about a newer approach and was given a trial for a week with a temporary neurostimulator surgery to see if it worked. It did beautifully! The permanent implantation was then done and my life has been changed; now I have control over my pain without pills and am happy as a lark about it!
Sincerely,
Lois M. Newman