Doctor’s Desk When Pain Steals Sleep
When nerve pain robbed a spinal injury survivor of sleep, a new treatment brought relief and renewed hope. Dr Sreekanth Reddy, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon, Apollo Hospitals, shares the case that stayed with him
Ahigh-speed crash left Rohan with a spinal cord injury and relentless nerve pain. Burning and electric shocks made even a bedsheet unbearable. Sleep became elusive, physiotherapy difficult and daily tasks exhausting, hampering his recovery.
When pain persisted
“Despite trying several medications, including gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine and opioids, Rohan’s pain persisted. Spinal cord injuries can have consequences that last for years, with neuropathic pain becoming a major barrier to rehabilitation and independence. We needed another approach.”
A new approach to pain
For Rohan, he considered spinal cord stimulation (SCS), an advanced neuromodulation technique used in carefully selected patients with chronic pain that has not responded to conventional treatment. “Spinal cord stimulation is an advanced treatment option for carefully selected patients with chronic pain that has not responded to conventional treatment. In Rohan’s case, we began with a trial, placing electrodes around the T9–T10 region to deliver controlled electrical impulses and modulate pain pathways. Within hours, he reported more than 70 pc pain relief.”
Sleep was the victory
The numbers were encouraging. But what mattered most was something far more human: he could sleep. “When pain dominates every waking hour, a restful night is no small victory. Following permanent implantation, Rohan’s burning pain reduced significantly over three months, and his dependence on medication decreased. Better pain control helped him participate more effectively in physiotherapy and work towards greater independence. His injury remained, but pain was no longer dictating every part of his day.”
The lesson beyond pain
“Spinal cord stimulation is not a cure for paralysis, but in carefully selected patients, it can help manage persistent neuropathic pain. Rohan’s journey reinforced a lesson I carry into my practice: sometimes, the biggest barrier to recovery is the pain that prevents a patient from moving forward. And sometimes, helping someone sleep through the night is the first step towards helping them reclaim their life.”
Highlight: Sometimes, the biggest barrier to recovery is the pain that prevents a patient from moving forward.