Jim Houseman, 78, had realized to stay with bodily ache. He had endured hip substitute, ruptured discs and different surgical procedures all through his life. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“I’ve had 10 kidney stones eliminated, many pores and skin most cancers operations and eye surgical procedures,” Houseman stated. “I’ve constructed up a excessive tolerance for ache, however my again and hip ache was an excessive amount of.” (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Within the spring of 2021, Houseman related with Ryan Felix, DO, MPT, a specialist in physiatry and ache administration, at Spectrum Well being Blodgett Hospital. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Dr. Felix decided Houseman suffered from lumbar side arthropathy—a painful, arthritic situation of the side joint. The situation causes ache even when the affected person is stationary. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“Dr. Felix was an awesome listener,” Houseman stated. “He put me proper relaxed. Once I first went to the backbone and ache clinic, I needed to wait only some minutes earlier than getting in to see him.” (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Dr. Felix started therapy with diagnostic blocks, injections that efficiently introduced aid within the affected space. Houseman was then scheduled for a radiofrequency ablation. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
The outpatient process is carried out by a three-person group utilizing X-ray steering. “Sufferers usually tolerate this process properly and go dwelling the identical day,” Dr. Felix stated. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Houseman had all the time been used to an lively way of life, interacting with folks. “I’m nonetheless very lively in my church and was a pastor for 35 years, and I taught in public faculty for six.” (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Houseman cherishes the power to maneuver once more. “The ache now could be tolerable,” he stated. “I can’t simply sit, that’s not me. To have the ability to sleep and stroll and transfer once more … that’s actually massive.” (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Houseman knew he wanted ache aid to remain lively in retirement. “Now I’m a choir director at a nursing dwelling,” he stated. “I can take part and play the horn with the choir once more.” (Chris Clark | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Jim Houseman had suffered from again and hip ache for thus lengthy, it appeared ache would all the time be an unavoidable a part of life.
The Grand Rapids resident can rely some 20 surgical procedures over his lifetime.
“I’ve had a proper hip substitute completed,” Houseman, 78, stated. “I’ve had 10 kidney stones eliminated. Many pores and skin most cancers operations. And eye surgical procedures. I’ve constructed up a excessive tolerance for ache, however my again and hip ache was an excessive amount of.”
The ache lingered in his neck, again and hip. And his neck movement remained restricted.
“I’ve had two ruptured discs in my neck and two in my again,” he stated. “That was about 25 years in the past, however the ache has solely gotten worse.”
On many events, it led him to hunt care at an emergency division.
In spring 2021, he went a distinct route. He contacted his main doctor and bought a referral to the Spectrum Health Spine & Pain Management Center.
That related him with Ryan Felix, DO, MPT, in osteopathic medication at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital. Previous to specializing in physiatry and ache administration, Dr. Felix labored as a bodily therapist.
Dr. Felix decided Houseman suffered from lumbar side arthropathy—a painful, arthritic situation of the side joints.
“That may trigger lots of ache throughout any type of weight-bearing exercise and stationary positions,” Dr. Felix stated.
Lumbar facet arthropathy is a sort of osteoarthritis that may trigger decrease again ache, particularly within the lumbar backbone. It could have an effect on anybody, however often happens in folks age 65 or older.
There may be an elevated danger for folks with a excessive physique mass index, poor core energy and unhealthy posture, and additionally it is a quite common reason behind neck ache, referred to as cervical side arthropathy.
“Dr. Felix was an awesome listener,” Houseman stated. “He put me proper relaxed. Once I first went to the backbone and ache clinic, I needed to wait only some minutes earlier than getting in to see him.”
Discovering aid
After speaking to Houseman concerning the ache, Dr. Felix ordered an MRI to get a greater take a look at the issue.
He then started therapy with a diagnostic block, a collection of injections that numb the nerves within the affected space.
“We carried out two profitable diagnostic blocks,” Dr. Felix stated. “If the affected person will get vital ache aid on the day of the blocks, then the affected person will probably be scheduled for a radiofrequency ablation.
“The ablation will supply them anyplace from six months to greater than a yr of ache aid within the majority of instances,” Dr. Felix stated.
For some sufferers, a single ablation of the side joint nerves is sufficient to cease the ache for greater than a yr. For others, the ache will recede for six months, with the process repeated once more at six months if wanted.
These sufferers might must return for repeat ablations if the preliminary ablation doesn’t supply them long-term enchancment in ache and mobility.
That’s what occurred with Houseman.
“These first injections helped, however then the aid pale,” Houseman stated. “I used to be in a position to stroll with a cane or walker.”
With ablation, he discovered aid.
“We then cauterized the side joint nerves that have been sending the ache sign to Jim’s mind, with a process referred to as RFA, or lumbar radiofrequency ablation,” Dr. Felix stated.
The outpatient process requires native anesthetic. It’s carried out by a three-person group utilizing X-ray steering.
“Sufferers usually tolerate this process properly and go dwelling the identical day,” Dr. Felix stated.
For Houseman, it made all of the distinction.
Dr. Felix and the group on the Spectrum Health Spine & Pain Management Center present all kinds of complete therapy choices for power ache.
“It’s not a cookie-cutter method, as a result of everybody’s ache is totally different,” Dr. Felix stated. “We consider the person.”
Out and about
Houseman is now cherishing the power to maneuver about.
“The ache now could be tolerable,” he stated. “I can’t simply sit, that’s not me. To have the ability to sleep and stroll and transfer once more … that’s actually massive. However when the ache returns, I do know I can return to Dr. Felix for an additional therapy.”
Houseman had all the time been used to an lively way of life, interacting with folks. He has a bachelor’s in schooling, a grasp’s in counseling and one other grasp’s in spiritual schooling.
“I like serving folks,” he stated. “I’m nonetheless very lively in my church and was a pastor for 35 years, and I taught in public faculty for six. Now I’m a choir director at a nursing dwelling. Certainly one of my hobbies is candy-making. I make sweet after which cross it out to folks in church and on the nursing dwelling.”
To remain lively in retirement, he knew it could be crucial to deal with the ache.
“I can take part and play the horn with the choir once more,” he stated.
