Testimonials : Our Patients Talk
The first testimonial is from another pain physician. Dr. Christopher Gharibo is the Clinical Director of Pain Medicine at NYU School of Medicine. He is the author of many articles and chapters in his field and has appeared on ABC World News and CBS Nightly News with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Dr. Gharibo has visited over 100 pain clinics around the country. After spending a day with the physicians of Interventional Pain Specialists in 2008, he said he was pleasantly to surprised to find it one of the top practices he had visited. He has given us permission to put his statement on our website.
A 57-year-old male wrote the following: "I have been a patient of Dr. Kendall Hansen since 2008. I initially was injured on the job in 2006 with a subsequent surgery to my low back in 2006. The surgery only helped for about 3 months when my pain returned. Since that time I had to change my life and greatly limit what I could do. Through the treatments done by Dr. Hansen I have now had 80-90% reduction in pain. I have my life back! I was able to go on vacation to Tennessee this year and walk as much as I wanted. I could not do that 2 years ago. I have stopped taking pain pills. I would recommend Interventional Pain Specialists to anyone who wants their life back and to stop depending on medication to get them through the day." J.T.
"In 2001 after I had my first child I started having really bad back pain and my migraine headaches got a lot worse. I went to my family doctor for the pain after putting up with it for about 6 months. They had me try physical therapy and a couple medications. This didn´t work so I was then referred to Interventional Pain Specialists. I was so relieved after my appointment. I was finally treated like a person and not just a patient. Everyone was so nice and understanding, I could tell that they really cared and understood. The treatments worked better than I expected and my pain was under control and my migraines are almost non existent. I could be a mom again! I was almost pain free for two years. I am returning again after two more children and look forward to being migraine free and playing with my kids. I would recommend them to family and friends, they helped me so much words could not describe the gratitude I feel. A. L.
On August 28, 2009, Dr. Klickovich received a letter that stated, "I just wanted to take a moment of my time to Thank You for helping me walk again. I thought I was done! Oh and My God I never knew there would ever be any help for my neuropathy! What a relief not to feel like my blood was boiling and that I was being tortured by pins, needles, shards of glass, etc., etc., etc. I bet your Mother is so proud of you. I am so lucky to have found you. With your help and the help of the rest of your team, you have sure given me hope when all I felt was despair. God Bless you Doctor." M.C.
Another patient writes Easter (2009), "Life for me has improved to the point I enjoy living again. If I could wish something for humanity I would wish that everyone with serious pain could meet you! I am dead serious! When I think of all you have done for me all I can say with all my heart and soul is "Thank You, Dr. Hansen" I never really knew, or should I say understand what you do in your procedures with me, but I will tell the world the joy, happiness and optimism I have when I leave. I thank you so much for all you have ever done to change my life so dramatically. God does such wonderful work through you. As you know, I have tried unsuccessfully for years to resolve my pain problems. By the time I reached you, I was beginning to have scary thoughts I would no longer be able to live alone due to my pain problems preventing me from doing more than the bare necessities. I praise God daily and virtually always remember you in my prayers at night." J.K.
"Dr. Hansen, since you performed Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation on the facet joints in my low back, I am now able to mow the grass."
B.T.
"When Dr. Hansen asked a 32-year-old female how she was doing after treatment of her leg pain, she stated, "my activities have significantly increased and I even recently joined my 9-year-old on the trampoline."
T.K.
"A 53-year-old gentleman that works for the Army Corps of Engineers had both arm pain and low back pain. "Dr. Rison has cured his low back pain after radiofrequency of his lumbar facets and sacroiliac joints. And Dr. Hansen has cured my left arm pain, numbness and tingling."
K.S.
"I lived with back pain for 15 years until I came to Interventional Pain Specialists. I've been just fine for almost 2 years but now am returning for a tune up."
MJE
"Dr. Rivera, it has always been a long term goal for me to complete a 5k walk. Thank you, because of you I just completed my 1st 5k race, this is a lifetime achievement for me."
L.L
W.H. is another patient of Dr. Rivera that came to him only able to get around using crutches. He now has a membership at SilverLake athletic club, works out twice a week and ambulates without difficulty.
Dr. H, your´re my favorite doctor!, after extensive hand surgery, I still had horrific pain. Thank you for getting rid of 80‰ of my pain, it has gone from a 9 to a 2."
R.W.
THE NEXT SEVERAL COMMENTS ARE FROM THE GROWING LIST OF PATIENTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN SIGNIFICANT RELIEF FROM A NEW MEDICATION WE ARE PUTTING INTO PAINFUL DISCS. Until this treatment, the only way to help disc pain has been one of 3 things:
- 1) Epidural steroids. However this only works long term about 20‰ of the time.
- 2) IDET A wire placed in the disc heats the disc, desensitizing the nerve supply. This works 60‰ of the time if the entire disc is lesioned but it costs thousands of dollars and insurance rarely covers it.
- 3) Lumbar fusion by a surgeon with metal plates, screws, cages or bone grafts. This is $50,000.00 or more , has a month or two recovery, sometimes you end up worse and afterwards there is more stress to the adjacent spine. Fusions are typically only done for one or two levels.
Our new treatment is covered by insurance and recovery is only days. Several hundred discs have been treated with no complications.
Disc pain of the lower back typically gets worse through the day, the more you sit, stand or bend. It drains your energy and by the end of the day you feel much older than you are.
COMMENTS FROM SOME PATIENTS THIS YEAR:
"Thanks, this is the best I have felt in 4 years" P.G.
"My back is 80‰ better, I have stopped all my pain pills!" J.T.
"Before the treatment I could only walk 2 blocks,... I just walked 40!, and my sex life is better, Thanks" R. A.
"I am cured, I have no pain!, even sitting, standing and late in the day" S.F.
"Well over 50‰ relief, and I have been able to stop my Lortab pills." G.S.
"The next day instead of filling my opiate pain pill prescription, I threw it away". A.B.
"I have not had to use my crutches since the treatment". B.C.
"This is amazing, I feel free again ..my hobby is gardening, this is the first time in 2 years I have been able to do it... with 6 bad discs all only 30‰ of their original height I was told by other doctors there is no hope and I would have to live with the pain" K.B.
"All my back pain is gone, from an 8 to 0! A.M.
"I have some challenging health problem, severe diabetes and have had open heart surgery. My back pain was ruining the quality of my life and was sucking the life out of me, thank you for destroying this pain, I feel great and better able to fight my other health issues. B.B.
"I don't need to return to any pain doctors now, I have NO pain and stopped my Darvocet. J.N.
"My 2 bad discs are now pain free 100‰, I´ve cut my Oxycontin dose in half and will likely be off it altogether soon" C.E.
"Vitually no back pain now, Dr. Hansen your're next hair cut is on me" C.M.
"I am able to work without pain as a horse trainer, my Percocet left on the shelf! D.B
"I am cured! NO pain, stopped my Opana pain pills." J. U.
"My back pain and my left leg pain are gone." J.O.
"I feel great, I was even able to help my mom get up after she had fallen" S.S.
I have !00‰ pain relief after this treatment, I am cured!, I am off all pills: opiates, Neurontin, and Lyrica AND I AM ACTIVE NOW AND LOST 26# with my personal trainer the first month!! J.S.
"I was injured many years ago at work and my life was never the same, after having 5 of my discs treated, it is the first time in 9 years that I am pain free, I am walking and spending more quality time with my grand kids. Dr. Hansen, I am very happy".
L.O.
"After the last procedure my back pain is well over 50% better. I want to cut my Oxycontin from 30mg to 20mg. It is amazing, in just one day my back is strong again, it used to keep going-out! I can lie in bed without pain. I can stand in comfort at the kitchen and bathroom sink. And I can now go outside, walk down the driveway and get my mail!"
DS
"Total 100‰ relief, 3 months and counting"
B.B.