Chantel Mees finally got relief from her pain.

Chantel was 20 weeks pregnant when her left leg went numb. Her baby was sitting on a nerve, causing numbness and a tingling pain that wouldn’t quit.    

Chantel’s obstetrician expected the pain to go away once the baby was born.  

It didn’t. 

“I was 6 weeks postpartum and I still was having numbness in my leg,” Chantel says.  

She tried many approaches to relieve the compressed nerve. She worked with her primary care provider, a physical therapist, a chiropractor. “I went to multiple providers and therapies, and nothing was helping my symptoms,” Chantel says.  

Then she consulted pain specialist Dean Anderson, APRN, CRNA.  

“Dean was very empathetic and willing to take the time to listen to my concerns, which had not been my experience with previous providers,” Chantel says.   

Dean recommended a steroid injection to relieve the compressed nerve and reduce the inflammation so the nerve could heal.  

But Chantel’s insurance carrier denied the procedure. “They said it didn’t impact my daily life,” Chantel recalls. “Dean took the time to consult with a physician at the insurance company, and got it approved. He went above and beyond.” 

It had been a year since the pain started. Within a week after the steroid injection, the pain was completely gone.  

“Now I can have my baby sit on my lap without my leg feel uncomfortable,” Chantel says.   

“I was told it might be a forever thing,” Chantel says. “It was nice to have reassurance from Dean that there was something that would help.”  

Chantel’s advice for others with chronic pain: “If something’s not helping, keep trying.  

“Dean’s pain management care has positively impacted my life. I hope it continues to positively impact other patients too.”   

LINKS: Pain Management, Dean Anderson