In the realm of chronic pain management, the journey of Edward Mowery stands out as a beacon of hope. Mowery, a 55-year-old resident of New Mexico, endured years of excruciating pain, likening his experience to being trapped in a hot frying pan. This debilitating pain led him to quit his job, abandon his passion for sports, and even leave his beloved death metal band just as it was gaining momentum.
Mowery's story is not unique; an estimated 50 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain, defined as pain lasting more than three months. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 8.5% of these individuals experience chronic pain that significantly interferes with their daily lives. Mowery reflects on his journey, noting, “At one point, I didn’t have any feeling in my arms or hands or anything.” This profound discomfort ultimately led him to a life where he could no longer play the guitar, an activity he cherished.
After years of suffering, Mowery's situation began to change when doctors introduced a groundbreaking approach to pain management. Dr. Prasad Shirvalkar, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco, highlighted the limitations of current pain management practices, which often rely on a trial-and-error approach to medication. “Trying to be your own guinea pig, that’s essentially what we’re doing right now in pain medicine,” he stated.
The quest for more effective pain management techniques is crucial, especially considering that chronic pain rewires the brain, impacting mood, motivation, attention, and memory. Dr. Shirvalkar and his team embarked on a mission to explore deep brain stimulation, a technique typically used for patients with Parkinson's disease, to alleviate chronic pain.
Mowery’s journey to diagnosis was fraught with frustration. After undergoing a routine knee replacement in 2009, he began experiencing severe pain in his right foot, which doctors were unable to explain. For eight long years, he searched for answers, often encountering skepticism from medical professionals. “That’s the one thing, when they put me on all these meds, I wasn’t addicted to all the meds, I was addicted to getting rid of the pain,” he explained.
It wasn't until 2017 that Mowery was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a neurological condition that can develop after an injury or surgery and causes disproportionate pain. This diagnosis was a turning point, allowing him to finally understand the source of his suffering.
Dr. Shirvalkar’s research, supported by a $7.56 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, focused on using deep brain stimulation to treat chronic pain. The concept involved implanting electrodes in the brain to disrupt the signals that perpetuate pain. This innovative approach aimed to identify and suppress the pain signals before they could be felt in the body.
The process of determining the appropriate locations in the brain for stimulation was complex and required Mowery to undergo three surgeries. Mowery hesitated but ultimately decided to participate in the clinical trial after enduring relentless pain.
During the trial, Mowery spent ten days in the hospital while doctors mapped his brain to identify pain circuits. The breakthrough moment came when, after stimulation of specific brain areas, Mowery exclaimed, “Wow, my pain just washed off of me.” This profound relief was further validated by the results of the trial, which demonstrated a significant reduction in pain for those receiving stimulation compared to a placebo group.
Today, Mowery has resumed many of his daily activities, including playing the guitar. Although he still experiences pain occasionally, it is infrequent and manageable. “I feel like I owe him my life,” Mowery said, expressing gratitude for Dr. Shirvalkar’s pioneering work in pain management.
Mowery's experience serves as a powerful testament to the potential of innovative medical research in transforming chronic pain management. His journey culminated in a testimony before Congress, advocating for continued support of initiatives like the NIH BRAIN Initiative, which seeks to advance research in pain treatment.
As chronic pain affects millions, the need for effective and non-invasive treatments has never been more critical. With ongoing research, there is hope that future advancements will offer relief to those suffering from chronic pain, paving the way for a better quality of life.
