I wanted to write my story here, but it is super long so you will get the abbreviated version! I have had LPHS for almost 20 years. I have been to hell and back. I lost my friends and some of my family, my fiancee, and my career. If it weren’t for my parents, I probably wouldn’t be here today. I want everyone to know that there is hope, and I am proof of that.

When I was diagnosed, the treatment for LPHS was auto transplantation. With a 10% success rate, I said no thank you. I was then shuffled from pain clinic to pain clinic, because the docs said they couldn’t help me, most just looked at me like I was a drug seeker. My nephrologist was in Ohio, but I live elsewhere in the Midwest. I have taken every narcotic that you can take, not to mention all the other medications that doctors prescribed off-label. I also had many procedures (ultrasounds, CT scans, IVP’s, cystoscopies and a kidney biopsy that positively identified the LPHS). Then there was the numerous experimental procedures.

I was at my last hope of having a pain pump implanted, when my nephrologist suggested I see their pain doctor for a procedure called Pulsed Radiofrequency Ablation (PRFA). I went for the consult, and the doctor said I was a candidate for the PRFA, but not to get my hopes up. I was the sixth person with LPHS to have this done, and the results of the other five were not good. And of course being experimental, my insurance company did not pay for the PRFA. I didn’t care, I needed it done. Made a payment plan with the hospital, and had it done. My doctor said that it would be a success if it lasted 3 months and I could get off of 75% of my medications.

The PRFA lasted for 9 and a half months and I got off of 95% of my meds! I was thrilled! The good news is that the PRFA can be repeated. The bad news, is that you don’t know if it will work again. I had it repeated, and it has lasted 7 and a half years. Yes, I said YEARS! I am completely pain free in my kidney. I’m one that passes a lot of blood clots. I do have pain when the clot is moving down the ureter into the bladder and then out of my body. This is why I have to stay on a maintenance dose of morphine, to help when I pass the clots. But the dose is so small compared to what I used to take before I had the PRFA.

My life has completely changed. I now have a husband and a child. I wanted to share my story to let you know that there are options out there. When I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago, there was not many options for treatment.

I am not saying that the PRFA will work for you, but it is an option. All I know is whatever you do, do NOT give up. Keep searching, keep trying and keep your head up. Find what works for you.