Words of Hope
Healing Hands patient Wade bravely shares his powerful story of overcoming chronic pain and reclaiming his life thanks to Dr. Aguila.
“I lived in pain for half my life. It started with neck and shoulder pain in high school. I couldn’t take a full breath for the last three and a half years. I had severe leg pain for eight years. The symptoms just kept getting worse. I hated my life. I couldn’t be the father and husband I wanted to be. Our friends and family stopped asking us to do things because we canceled so many times.I hated going to bed because I couldn’t sleep. I hated getting out of bed because I knew how much it was going to hurt.
I was completely drained. I didn’t know how much more or how long I was going to be able to live my life this way. I just kept thinking my wife and kids deserve better. But there was nothing I could do. The pain was overwhelming.
It was very frustrating getting help. Test after test, surgery after surgery offered me no relief. I’ve been to the world’s best hospitals and seen the world’s best doctors. I’ve had hernia surgeries, two heart caths, discograms, burning of nerves in the spine and exploratory scopes just to name a few. I spent more than a month at one of the best hospitals in the world but did not get any relief.
The crushing blow came from the last doctor I saw before Dr. Aguila. He walked into the room and the first thing he said to me was, “There is nothing wrong with you. You need to see a psychiatrist.” Then he walked out the door. That defeated me. I really thought there was no hope. Luckily my family physician talked me into seeing one last doctor, Dr. Aguila.
Dr. Aguila gave me hope. Five minutes into my first appointment, Dr. Aguila said he was 90% sure of what was wrong with me! Since then he has operated on me six times. Each time he operates on three to five areas. For some reason, my body produces an excess of nerves. Instead of having one nerve running through a spot I have three or four. Each time I come out of surgery I’m better off than when I went in.
My wife says it best, “Dr. Aguila gave me and the kids our Wade back.”
My advice is don’t listen to other doctors when they say there is nothing wrong with you. They are just saying that because they don’t know. You are in pain for a reason. Listen to your body and don’t stop looking for help like I almost did.
My life is so much better now. I can play sports and goof off with kids, and go out with the wife. I look forward to my days now.
My family and I cannot thank Dr. Aguila enough! He is my doctor but when I see him it’s like going to see a good friend who really cares about you.”