Vietnam Veteran Finds Relief After 55 Years of Back Pain

Summary

An 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran traveled from North Florida to Deuk Spine Institute seeking relief from 55 years of chronic back pain stemming from a helicopter incident and car accident during his service. After years of failed injections and therapy, he underwent outpatient Deuk Laser Disc Repair® and Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® to address his degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and facet joint arthritis at L4-5 and L5-S1. Within hours of his procedure—performed on his 81st birthday—his chronic pain was completely eliminated, allowing him to look forward to walking freely and returning to golf.

Transcript

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Good morning, I'm Dr. Ara Deukmedjian. I'm here with a patient who's traveled from North Florida to visit us for his back pain. You came to us yesterday with 55 years of chronic back pain. You still have that back pain today?

Patient: I do not have that back pain today. I'm a little sore, but no back pain like I've had for 55 years. I got it when, 55 years ago, when I was serving in Vietnam and had an helicopter incident and also a car accident over there. I have had chronic pain since that time and have had injections. None of that has helped, and I've gone through therapy and all sorts of things, but it wasn't until yesterday where you did some remarkable things to alleviate that pain that I've had for so long. I think the soreness is going to go away pretty soon.

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Yes, it is. So you had disc pain and you had facet joint pain, both. We did the Deuk laser disc repair for the disc pain. With the laser, we went in and we cleaned out those two discs. You could see the tears in there. That's where your pain was coming from, from the discs at L4-5, L5-S1. Then we did your facet joints because they were full of arthritis. You had degenerative disc disease and herniated discs along with facet joint arthritis, and we were able to treat all of those areas. Your pain is now gone.

Patient: Pain is now gone. Yesterday, the day of our procedure, your operation, it was my 81st birthday. So that's a really good birthday present.

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: How did it feel to have your first meal without that back pain that you've had for 55 years?

Patient: Pretty doggone good, I have to tell you that. It's not going to take too long to get used to that, is it?

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: It won't take long at all. Now your surgery was outpatient. It took us about two hours to do the surgery. How long were you here recovering for?

Patient: An hour, an hour and a half or so, but not very long. Left, I actually went home, had a little lunch back at the condo we rented, and a little nap, and then I was ready for my French restaurant.

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Very good. What's life going to be like now that you don't have that back pain anymore?

Patient: I think I'll be able to walk further than I ever have. I haven't been able to walk in the last few years very far. I've given up golf, and I know I can't really do that for about a year, but I may try that again too because I see new opportunities for me walking and being more free.

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: You can golf in three months. You can go back to your full game.

Patient: Three months, I'll take it up.

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: All right. Is there anything else you want to say to your fans out there?

Patient: If you haven't tried this Deuk Spine Institute Spinal Institute, you really ought to give it a chance. I have been fearful of an operation in my back. I really now find that this is the way to really treat the back problems. I've gone to various sports clinics. I really never had attention like this, but I have a friend that went through this just three months ago, and he is remarkably doing remarkably well, and that's what gave me the courage to call and say, I need to have a referral down there.

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Congratulations.

Patient: Thank you very much, doctor. Really appreciate it. Happy New Year to you and your wife.

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Happy New Year to you as well. Thank you.

The Better Way: Deuk Spine Institute

This patient received the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® procedure, a minimally invasive outpatient treatment for degenerative disc disease and herniated discs at the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels. Additionally, he underwent facet joint treatment to address severe arthritis in the facet joints. Both procedures were completed in approximately two hours, with minimal recovery time, allowing the patient to return home the same day and enjoy a meal at a restaurant that evening.