Patients from all walks of life share their experience
In their own words, Nura patients talk about what caused their chronic pain, how it affected their lives — and how they found relief.
In his early twenties, Darrius Hubbard was stricken with a severe, debilitating illness, leaving him in chronic pain — and wondering if he’d ever walk again.
“It’s comforting to know I have someone who is there for me when I need help.”
Diane has battled severe migraine headaches for half a century. There were many trips to the Emergency Room where she was given Fentanyl for the horrible pain when she experienced a flare up that lasted 5 days. She suffers from cervical and lumbar stenosis, the cause of the migraines.
During the winter months, in desperation, Diane turned to a pain clinic in another state, and their solution was to load her up with opioids, which she did not take. Instead she went to the Emergency Room.
Back in Minnesota, Diane’s neurologist recommended she see Nura’s, Dr. David Schultz, practicing at what was then known as MAPS.
“Dr. Schultz understood what I was going through, and scheduled me immediately for a cervical epidural as well as physical therapy.
The results were dramatic….I was pain free.”
“Dr. Schultz took away the debilitating pain, and knowing I am his patient, he will always be there for me when I need him. What a blessing!”
Diane W.
“I felt like I had been alone — until now.”
By any standard, Gwen Pleschourt has had a difficult time of it.
On top of a degenerative disease that was destroying her spinal disks, she suffered a terrible car accident in 2005 that left her with a dislocated hip, concussion, and a traumatic brain injury which contributed to ongoing migraines.
“I’ve had three surgeries where they fused disks in my back. Every one left me in more pain. I’ve had a neck fusion, too. That caused nerve damage.”
Despite heavy doses of pain medication, Gwen’s life closed in on her.
“I stopped going on vacations in 2009, because I couldn’t sit for more than 45 minutes. Family functions were cut short. I had chronic pain 24 hours a day.” She also had to give up her job inspecting houses because the pain was too great.
Gwen’s life began to change in the fall of 2019 when someone suggested she might benefit from an implantable drug pump.
“I talked to my doctor and he recommended Nura. And as soon as I got there, I knew it was different.
“Sometimes, when a doctor comes in to the room, I can almost tell they’ve taken a quick look at my extensive medical chart and have already made their mind up that they can’t help me, before they’ve even met me.
“That was, until I walked through the doors at Nura. At Nura, I met with the whole team and they listened to me. They asked questions and came up with a plan. And Dr. Schultz really went to bat for me. It was the first place that didn’t feel like a dead end. I felt like I had been alone — until now.”
Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Gwen had a trial implant (leads from the device are placed, but the device itself is not implanted). Three weeks later, she had her pump implanted.
“I still have some pain, and I still get migraines, but I’ve cut my medication in half, and I don’t have all the side effects. My relationship with my husband — who’s been there for me all along — is so much better. And Christmas with my family didn’t have to end early for the first time in many years.”
As a result of her experience, Gwen Pleschourt is motivated to sharing her experience with others who may be in pain.
“I’m no longer scared; I’m hopeful and excited. And I want to tell anyone who might be in a similar situation: don’t give up hope!”
Gwen P.
