Summary
A 76-year-old woman from Wisconsin had been living with lower back pain since her late 30s. Enduring two spinal fusions six years prior that provided only about five months of relief before the pain returned, followed by a spinal cord stimulator inserted approximately four years ago that never provided meaningful relief despite multiple reprogramming attempts. Dr. Deukmedjian removed the failed stimulator and performed the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® on two lumbar discs one from each side in a single visit. A few days later, the chronic back pain she had lived with for decades was gone, she had taken only one hydrocodone that morning with no medication the night before, slept like a baby, and was already planning to cook, garden, and clean her own house again. While her devoted husband prepared to drive her home.
Transcript
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: I’m here with one of my patients who has traveled from Wisconsin. She came to Deuk Spine because she was having problems with her lower back. You want to tell us a little bit about your back problems?
Patient: Well, I’m 76 now and I’ve been having back pain since my late 30s. Six years ago I had two fusions in my lower back. I felt good for about five months after those fusions, and then I had the pain again. And it’s been quite debilitating. But today I feel wonderful.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Good for you. We didn’t put you on powerful painkillers either after your surgery, did we?
Patient: We gave you some Tylenol and Robaxin. I do have a hydrocodone prescription. I took one this morning but I did not take any last night. I slept like a baby.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Good for you. So the pain that you came to us with just a few days ago in your back is that pain still there?
Patient: No. Gone. It’s gone. Yeah, it’s gone. All I feel is the mild pain from the surgery. That’s all I feel. Mostly from taking your stimulator out, because that was the biggest incision we made back there.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Yeah. You can see in the video. You can see the laser in there repairing the two discs that we set up to repair. One from the right side, one from the left. We were able to get rid of the herniations and clean out the tears where your pain was coming from successfully. That’s why I think you’re feeling so much better. So what are your plans now that that pain is gone?
Patient: Well, I’m looking forward to doing some gardening, cooking good meals. I haven’t been able to cook very well at all because of the pain from standing. And maybe even clean my own house instead of having to hire somebody to do it.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Well, I notice you’re here with your husband and you guys drove and you’re driving back. So how did your chronic back pain affect your husband and his relationship with you? Tell us about that.
Patient: It has slowed down a lot of things that we could do. And he’s had to listen to me moan a lot. But he’s been so supportive.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: I could see that. I’m sure he’s going to be happy now that he’s getting his wife back and hopefully pain-free for the rest of your life.
Patient: I’m thankful.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: You’re welcome. One last thing. We took a spinal cord stimulator out because it wasn’t working for you. Tell me more about the spinal cord stimulator.
Patient: I think it was about maybe four years ago that it was inserted. And I never did get much relief from it at all. They reprogrammed it several times. I still couldn’t find a setting that helped. After a while I just didn’t even call them anymore to work on it. I just let it die.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: So it wasn’t working for you at all?
Patient: No.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: And that’s why we took it out. Anything you want to say to your friends and family before we wrap up?
Patient: I’m just looking forward to being able to do things without pain. Without anyone having to listen to me talk about it. It’s going to be wonderful.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Yeah. It is going to be wonderful. You deserve to have a great quality of life. Thank you. I want to thank you. All right. I’m so glad we found you.
Patient: I’m glad you found me too. Yes.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Have a safe trip back home.
Patient: Thank you. We will.
Deuk Laser Disc Repair® at Deuk Spine Institute
This patient underwent the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® at Deuk Spine Institute for chronic lower back pain that had persisted for decades. Surviving two prior spinal fusions that provided only five months of relief, and a spinal cord stimulator that was implanted four years earlier but never produced meaningful relief despite multiple reprogramming attempts. Dr. Deukmedjian removed the failed stimulator and performed the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® on two lumbar discs approaching each from opposite sides. Cleaning out the herniations and annular tears that had been causing her pain all along. Both procedures were completed in a single outpatient visit with no hospitalization, and the patient’s longstanding back pain was completely resolved within days. With only minimal post-surgical discomfort managed by Tylenol and a muscle relaxer. Unlike spinal cord stimulators that mask pain signals without treating the source, the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® permanently eliminates the disc pathology causing pain. Patients with failed fusions, failed stimulators, or longstanding back pain are encouraged to submit their MRI for a complimentary MRI review and virtual consultation with Dr. Deukmedjian at Deuk Spine Institute.