Patient & Family Testimonials
My wife Corrine Summerville, was featured in an article about a painful and disabling condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD).
Once developed RSD spreads through the Sympathetic Nervous System and over time causes a host of physical problems which lead to drug dependence, and despair.
After trying numerous methods to find relief the only choice for us involved an “out of country” procedure to put my wife into a voluntary coma for 10 days. She would then receive a continuous dosage of “Ketamine”, an anesthetic which is risky itself. This procedure would require significant expense not covered by “in country” medical insurance, for what was described by our doctors as a “50/50 shot.”
Patients who undergo the procedure run the additional risks of ancillary infection (such as pneumonia) and may only get a brief respite from the ravages of the condition.
RSD can return often manifesting itself in ways more painful than before! Can you imagine going through all of this only to incur additional cost and to no avail?
And so …the reason for my writing to the Progress. A friend perusing the Internet found a Web site about a clinic in Texas which has been using a different approach, not only for those with RSD, but for a number of conditions relating to the central nervous system (for instance diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, fibromyalgia and more). Visit www.paindefeat.com.
We were intrigued by the video testimonials which showed improvements for patients with these conditions. After speaking with reference patients, we were convinced to give this a try. We were pleased that treatments were covered by our insurance. There was a device which we would take home with us for daily treatment and this was the only cost (other than travel/ accommodations).
Although it was a significant amount, we determined it was reasonable, should this help Corrine to regain even “some” of her quality of life!
This is where the miracles began. I contacted a local charitable organization in our area. I’m sure that you know them as “Vero Amici” (good friends in Italian, which couldn’t be a more appropriate name.) Within a week they were at our door helping us to make up the difference for the trip and device. A “true” Godsend. I can’t thank them enough.
After one month with Dr. Rhodes, Corrine’s pain is significantly “under control” and she is almost completely off of the heavy medications that were also having a negative effect.
There’s more… Corrine’s mother who went with her on the trip to Texas suffers with diabetes. She also got treatment and came home with one of these units. Her blood sugar now dips under 100 for the first time in 10 years and the neuropathy in her feet is getting better with much less pain. Her doctors are amazed.
As a result of someone Corrine’s mom knows, there has been a significant donation back to Vero Amici which can now be used to help others. I wanted tell you our story as I hope it may help someone else.
