PAIN RELIEF: Marion Hill knows more than he cares to about chronic pain. For years, he has dealt with pain in his lower back and hip. At times, it was so painful that he could barely get out of bed; some days he made it to his favorite place on the couch.

"I had lost all quality of life," said Marion. He gave up fishing and even sold his boat.

Marion's pain was caused by the bottom three vertebras in his back which were crushed creating nerve pain radiating into his hip. Bone spurs also formed around these nerves creating additional neurological pain.

"I really didn't know the pain was starting in my back. It felt as if it was in my hip," he said. "It was a constant, sometimes debilitating pain."

One physician he consulted suggested a series of two surgeries. He was warned the recovery from these surgeries would be excruciating. He decided against that treatment option, and just tolerated the pain.

In 2006, his daughter, Heidi Hill, who works at The Neurological Resource Center, heard one of Kadlec's new physicians, neurosurgeon Matthew Fewel, MD, speak on neurological pain. "The longer he spoke, the more I knew that what he was talking about applied to my father," she said. "I knew I had to get him in to see Dr. Fewel right away."

After appropriate testing and diagnosis, Dr. Fewel performed a surgery on Marion which gave the nerves in his back room again. The only sign of the surgery is a small scar on his back. "He wears a halo as far as I am concerned," said Marion. "I felt immediate relief. And it continues to get better every day. I still have my bad days, but my life has changed considerably for the better. He gave my pain a fresh look and gave me a new chance at life."

Marion's struggle with pain is not uncommon. In fact, the top three reasons for people to receive outpatient care in the Kadlec system are back pain related to a herniated disk, general back pain, and chronic pain.

According to Timothy Baldwin, MD, a pain specialist at Kadlec's Pain Management Clinic (part of the growing Kadlec Neuroscience Center), low back pain can generally be broken down into three categories: mechanical pain (frequently attributed to an acute traumatic event or from arthritis), neurological pain (pain related to the nerves such as a herniated disk which then puts pressure on the nerve roots) and muscle strain.

"Each of these is different and it is important to determine the cause of the pain. Sometimes it can be a combination of these," said Dr. Baldwin. "A sudden onset of horrific pain can mean one thing, whereas if the pain comes on more slowly, it generally means something else. How it presents, how long it lasts and where the pain goes are all important to know."

The good news for patients like Marion is that the potential for help is available. "There are several treatment options to help patients with their pain. We can't cure all of them, but we work hard to make their life better so they can lead a more normal life," said Dr. Baldwin.

The general philosophy of the Pain Management Clinic is determining how to treat chronic pain by minimizing, or if at all possible, eliminating the use of narcotics. Pain treatment may include both interventional and non-interventional methods. Examples of interventional methods include injections, implanted pumps or stimulators. Non-interventional methods include oral medications, physical therapy and lifestyle changes.

"One of the biggest improvements is that there are some new medicines that are not narcotic that can be used to treat some of the pain," said Dr. Baldwin. "Whatever method we use, we try to help our patients function as well as possible with the fewest side effects."

The new clinic treats patients of all ages, from children through the elderly. "I have several patients in their 90s," he said. If Dr. Baldwin suspects surgery might be the appropriate treatment, he has almost immediate access to Dr. Fewel and longtime area neurosurgeon, Anjan Sen, MD, who are also part of the Neuroscience Center. Two additional physicians are joining the center in February--Mel Wahl, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who focuses on spine treatment and Tim O'Grady, a neurosurgeon, who specializes in cranial surgery.

And, as the center grows, additional resources will become available under one roof eventually including neurology, orthopedic surgery, physiatry, psychology and/or psychiatry and rehabilitation. Plans also call for the inclusion of The Neurological Resource Center in the facility.

"Unfortunately, the need for pain management is growing, partly because we are living longer and are active longer. We need to help people understand that there are things that can be done for the pain. Working together as a team at the Neuroscience Center, we may not be able to totally eliminate the pain, but we can make it bearable," said Dr. Baldwin.

The smile on Marion Hill's face can attest to that.

For more information about Kadlec Neuroscience Center, email or call (509) 942-3080. You'll have the opportunity to meet Dr. Baldwin at TNRC's Open House on January 29.

Article ©2008 Mary Lynn Merriman