How a Spinal Cord Stimulator Helped a Dayton Nurse Reclaim Her Life After Chronic Back Pain

When Your Pain Never Clocks Out—We Help You Take the Night Shift Off

For one devoted nurse in Dayton, chronic back pain didn’t end when her shift did.

Even two years after spinal fusion surgery, she still couldn’t stand through a full 12-hour shift. Her garden sat untouched. Even story time with her grandkids became unbearable.

Doctors told her there were no more options.

Then she found Vertrae®—and everything changed.

A New Option: Spinal Cord Stimulation at Vertrae®

When medications, injections, and even revision surgeries failed, our team introduced her to a different path: neuromodulation with a spinal cord stimulator (SCS).

This minimally invasive outpatient procedure uses gentle electrical pulses to interrupt pain signals in the spine—essentially turning down the volume so patients can get back to living, not just surviving.

Step 1: The Trial – Your “Test Drive” to Relief

Before any permanent implant, Vertrae® offers a temporary trial—so patients know exactly what to expect.

In a simple same-day procedure, we placed temporary leads and connected them to an external stimulator. She wore it home and returned to daily life:

  • Walking hospital halls
  • Covering her full shift
  • Kneeling in the garden again

The result? An 80% drop in pain—and a renewed sense of hope.

Step 2: Fast-Recovery Implant – Back on Track in Weeks, Not Months

With a successful trial, she moved forward with a permanent spinal cord stimulator. Here’s what her outpatient experience looked like:

  • Procedure time: Less than an hour
  • Recovery: No hospital stay—she walked out the same day
  • Results: Minimal soreness, fast mobilization

In the first few days, she was already moving with more ease. Over the next couple of weeks, her strength and stamina steadily returned—and with it, her confidence.

Within weeks, she was back at work—standing tall through her shifts and supporting her patients with the energy she thought she’d lost for good.

Back to Life: Reclaiming Her Passions

Today, she’s back on the floor—caring for patients with confidence. She’s back in her garden, pruning roses and planting new blooms. She’s back to evening story time with her grandkids. Pain no longer writes her schedule.

“I thought my career—and my life—were over. Vertrae® got me Back on Track.”

Why Neuromodulation Matters for Fast-Recovery Spine Surgery

Spinal cord stimulation offers a modern solution for patients who’ve tried everything else. Here’s why it works:

  • Immediate Results – Many patients feel relief the first day of their trial
  • Reduced Medications – Often decreases or eliminates opioid use
  • Customizable Relief – Adjustable to meet your evolving needs
  • Safe and Reversible – Can be turned off or removed at any time

For patients like this Dayton nurse, neuromodulation was the game-changer. And at Vertrae®, we make it happen with a team that listens, a plan that fits your life, and a process that gets you Back on Track—fast.

Ready to Flip the Switch on Your Pain?

Vertrae building

Don’t let pain punch your clock—get Back on Track with Vertrae’s fast recovery spine surgery and advanced neuromodulation solutions.

Dr. Kamal Woods
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kamal Woods

Dr. Kamal Woods, MD, MBA, FAANS is a board-certified neurosurgeon and the founder of Vertrae® in Miamisburg, Ohio, with over 15 years of experience. He specializes in treating degenerative spine conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and sciatica, through a full spectrum of care from conservative therapies and injections to robotic assisted, minimally invasive spine surgery. Known for his motion-preserving approach (MotionFirst), and patient-first philosophy, Dr. Woods is dedicated to helping patients across Dayton and Southwest Ohio find lasting relief from chronic neck or back pain and return to confident movement.
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