Mike's Story

“I am very pleased with the results. I would do it again. I have no pain in my neck anymore. I want to hold my granddaughter because I know I won’t drop her.”

Veteran finds relief from neck pain

Mike, of Freeport, comes from a family of dedicated military veterans. “I have five siblings who serve and I continue to serve for my dad who did 28 years active military and was a Vietnam vet.”

Mike had 20 years in serving the military when he was deployed to the war in Iraq. During his time there, a roadside bomb left Mike with third degree burns on 30 percent of his body. Mike has had 58 different surgeries since 2005 — 10 to rebuild his face, three skin graph surgeries, as well as different hand surgeries. As a result of his injuries, Mike also suffers severe neck pain.

“The neck pain didn’t affect me until my grandchild was born two years ago. My arm went numb and I almost dropped her. I tried different things, such as physical therapy, and they would work for a short time, but nothing was permanent.”

He saw Medical Director of the CentraCare Neurosciences Pain Center, Mike Massey, DO, who developed a comprehensive care plan that included a series of treatments to eliminate the ability of Mike’s nerves to send pain signals. This helped his pain for several months.

“It went great,” said Mike. “I am very pleased with the results. I would do it again.”

Pain doesn’t control his life now. “I have no pain in my neck anymore. I want to hold my granddaughter because I know I won’t drop her,” said Mike. Less pain also has made his hobbies more enjoyable. “I’m an avid hunter and fisherman. I hunt anything — bear, deer, turkey, wart hog, impala, elk. I’ve traveled South Africa, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Michigan. My goal is to hunt in every state.”