As a U.S. veteran who served in the Gulf War, Greg Fritz is no stranger to being in difficult situations. But shortly after leaving the Army, he faced a different kind of battle — chronic back pain. On his best days, Fritz could take his dogs on short walks or to their veterinarian appointments, and on his worst, he could only manage to lie in bed.
The physical and mental health impact of pain
For years, Fritz managed his pain with medication, reaching the highest doses possible. He even had a pain pump implanted to help alleviate his suffering, but nothing brought lasting relief.
As his pain worsened and the levels of medication rose, Fritz tried his best to maintain his once active lifestyle and engage with everyday life. But the persistent pain took a toll on his physical and mental health, leading to bouts of depression and a reluctance to engage in gatherings with friends, holidays or simple shopping trips. “I cut myself off from everything, I couldn’t move, and I couldn’t think clearly because of the pain,” he says. “I didn’t see any way out of this and it got pretty dark for a while.”
A new treatment option
Everything changed when Fritz’s physician recommended spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which helps manage chronic pain by using mild electrical impulses to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain. This new option offered a glimmer of hope, and Fritz decided to try it.
After the procedure was completed, he noticed an immediate difference. “For the first time in years, I was able to go from three hours to eight hours of sleep a night,” he says. “I just couldn’t believe it.”
SCS not only improved his sleep but also drastically reduced his pain levels and the amount of medication he once took. This newfound relief allowed him to become active and fully present in his life again. Fritz can now mow his own lawn, go on longer walks with his dogs and split and store the wood needed to help heat his two-story cabin that sits on one-and-a half acres of land in Alaska. He even discovered his love of riding horses with his wife, Sue. “I am out living my life,” he says. “I feel like I truly have my life back.”
Reclaiming body and mind wellbeing
Now that Fritz has his physical pain under control, he found that his mental health also improved. “I never thought I’d feel this way again, the stimulator gave me a clear mind and a functioning body,” he says. “I’m grateful every day for this technology.”
Learn more about chronic pain.
Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of spinal cord stimulation and if it is an option for you.