2020 Peachtree Rd, NW
Atlanta, GA 30309 Phone: 404-355-1144 Fax: 404-355-6980 |
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Testimonials Kenneth S.I had experienced some pain from the side effects of prostate cancer treatment, but was hit particularly hard in March of 2006. The pain was so bad, I had trouble walking. Sitting was even worse. Doctors found no indication of the pain's cause. I had a bona fide case of "I don't know". I ended up at the Shepherd Pain Institute, where I was quickly amazed by Dr. Blackwell's approach. He listened and paid attention to what I said, instead of trying to tell me what I had. Dr. Blackwell said, "I don't have the answer, but let's try a few things. Dr. Blackwell determined my pain had been caused by the side effects from external beam radiation used to treat my prostate cancer. A series of different interventional procedures and medications eventually brought relief. I also received physical therapy and medical massage to help me stand up straight and sit for long periods of time. After several months of treatment, I threw away my cane and was weaned off of my pain medication. Soon I was climbing ladders and cleaning my gutters. I credit the Shepherd Pain Institute in getting me back in the game. If this were ever to happen again, I'll be at Dr. Blackwell's office the next day! Kenneth S., President, Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition 
Betty D.Since walking down 28 floors during a fire drill in 1997, I had been dealing with chronic hip pain. Through all of the ensuing years, I have been experiencing constant, aggravating pain in both hips. Over the course of time, I have seen my personal physician, been referred to Rheumatology specialists and even an Orthopedic specialist all of whom prescribed different medications which always concluded with GI upsets, causing me to stop taking them. This resulted in a decrease of my exercise activities which in turn added extra pounds to my mature body and interfered with my sleep. In 2007 a friend told me about Dr. Blackwell and Dr. Shaw at the Shepherd Pain Institute. While I had always thought that you needed to be a Shepherd spinal cord patient to be seen at SPI, I found that not to be the case. I then called and made my own appointment and was seen in the clinic, first to get an exact diagnosis, then scheduled for injections in my hips. NO MORE PAIN!!! I was also placed on a stomach friendly anti-inflammatory to help with my arthritis. I am now sleeping like a baby and am actively back on my exercise program and will soon drop those extra pounds. Betty D. 
Queen N.My story starts in 1991. I was working at a hospital in New York when I started falling down frequently and experiencing a lot of pain. As a result, I ended up having 3 surgeries; a cervical laminectomy and 2 cervical fusions with bone grafts. Then in 1999, I moved to Alabama and experienced 3 more surgeries; bilateral rotator cuff repairs, lumbar laminectomy and another cervical fusion. In 2003 I was falling down a lot again and I had paralysis in my legs and could not walk anymore. I was in a wheel chair. It was time to call in some help. My sister in California researched the web to find me a neurologist and a neurosurgeon. This search leads me to Crawford Long in Atlanta. The neurologist could not see anything wrong on my MRI. Then I was sent to the neurosurgeon for a myelogram. Well, I never left the hospital that day. The neurosurgeon wanted to do surgery that day…..could I handle an 8th surgery? I went forward with the surgery, only later did I know that he was concerned that I had cancer of the spine. But finally I had an answer, it was not cancer, it was spinal stenosis. Finally I had a diagnosis! The osteoarthritis had caused a puncture to my spinal cord. This time was much of a blur to me, but I totally remember being sent to the Shepherd Center with Angela being the kind face that admitted me the Shepherd Center following the surgery at Crawford Long. I was told that “if” I could walk again it would probably take 2 years to find out. With the help of Daniel Smith, she got me up on the ramp one day and I started walking that day. I walked all over the hospital…..I wanted to go everywhere and see everyone. This all happened in less than 1 year! As happy as I was about walking, I was still having a lot of chronic pain. My chronic pain started in 1991 while in New York and has never let up. One day I observed a fellow patient in an extremely good mood and I asked what changed his outlook. He said he had been seen in the Shepherd Pain Institute and was now pain free. Dr. Lin sent me to Shepherd Pain Institute to see Dr. Blackwell. My journey at SPI, resulted in a 90% decrease in my chronic pain. In May 2007, I had an Advanced Bionic spinal stimulator implanted. The stimulator sends electrical impulses to block the normal pain impulses. I wish I could convey to you what this decrease in pain means to me. I sleep through the night now……the first time in many, many years. I don’t take pain medication anymore! People tell me my face has changed….no longer is pain written all over my face! I’ve gone back to wearing my stylish clothes. I even get manicures and pedicures again. I go wherever I want to go. In less than a year I had volunteered 1,500 hours at the Shepherd Center. Dr. Blackwell at the Shepherd Pain Institute has given me the quality of my life back! Queen N. | |