Barry and Lynn Cressman
A grant to purchase a hightech medical apparatus has given relief to a local man whose mobility has been limited. The Northwest Hospital Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization that supports UPMC Northwest, provided a $22,900 grant to buy a Boston Scientific Cosman G-4 Radiofrequency Generator. It is used as a tool for radio frequency ablation (RFA) procedures.
Barry Cressman, of Titusville, suffering from chronic back and knee pain, was steered to the new technology used by Dr. Kyle Shilk at UPMC Northwest. He asked the physician to perform radiofrequency ablation on his right knee. The procedure completely relieved the pain, allowing Cressman to resume a normal, busy, pain-free life, including a much anticipated return to the golf course. “He can now enjoy playing with his grandchildren, navigating steps and stairs, and planning trips for both business and pleasure with his life no longer restricted by chronic back and knee pain,” said Theresa Edder, executive director of the foundation.
Edder said the procedure uses an electrical current produced by a radio wave to heat a small area of nerve tissue. That decreases pain signals from a specific location. It helps patients with chronic lower back and neck pain, and pain related to the degeneration of joints from arthritis. The pain relief can last from six to 12 months or, for some patients, years.
“More than 70% of patients treated with it experience pain relief, an important measure for UPMC Northwest, which last year recorded a 136 percent increase in patients seeking pain relief,” said the foundation director. “Most important, it can be used for chronic pain that does not respond to other treatments, such as medication and routine physical therapy.”
The new technology has allowed Shilk to enhance his integrative pain management model, which includes specialties such as advanced physical therapy, chiropractic and acupuncture treatments, dietary regimens and psychological counseling. “Pain is not just about nerves or receptors — pain is emotional, physical, mental and social, all at once,” he said. “I want to take a ‘whole person’ approach to patients, and team approach with physicians in the community.”
Cressman wants others who are seeking pain relief to inquire about the new treatment. “I am so grateful that UPMC Northwest now has this equipment. It has made all the difference for me. As of now, I have had no reoccurrence.” said Cressman. “I want to share my experience to help others that might need pain relief, as well as let the Foundation know their money was well invested.
