Tony Goudeau’s retirement didn’t begin quite how he imagined. While he had hoped for a balance of activity and relaxation, ongoing back pain shortly began to make both seem impossible. It was a trip to Lake Tahoe around April or May of 2022 when the pain first began. Having suffered a broken back several years prior in a boating accident, Tony assumed the injury had come back to haunt him. It would take a bit more investigation from a couple of dedicated orthopedic specialists before he’d truly understand the underlying cause and discover a viable solution.

Finding an Orthopedic Pain Specialist

Already a patient of the Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge, Tony took his newfound back concerns to his existing orthopedic physician, Dr. Gerard Murtagh. Although he had already been treating Tony for back issues, Dr. Murtagh recognized that this new complaint required some deeper digging. He ordered an MRI and discovered that Tony was now suffering from degenerative disc disease, a condition that leads to the gradual breakdown of the spongy discs that provide cushion between vertebrae and allow for pain-free movement. In order to help Tony tackle this latest diagnosis head-on, Dr. Murtagh referred him to a colleague he was certain could help - Dr. Christopher Belleau. 

Upon examination of Tony and a review of his diagnosis and history, Dr. Belleau recommended a nerve burn. This procedure is minimially invasive but offers significant pain relief by destroying nerve fibers which transmit pain signals to the brain. However, in order to have his much-needed nerve burn, insurance would require that he first undergo two nerve blocks, a process through which Dr. Belleau carefully guided him.

“Dr. Belleau knew exactly what was wrong from day one, but I appreciate that he still took his time,” says Tony. “He made sure he saw me two or three times before he even did the nerve block or burn. He really made sure it was the right choice for me.”

Nerve Burn for Back Pain

Tony received his required nerve blocks about two weeks apart. Each time, he experienced relief for a couple of days, a positive sign that indicated a nerve burn would deliver long-term pain relief. A couple of weeks later, Tony finally received the nerve burn. Over a month later, he is still enjoying life pain-free.

“My pain went to absolutely nothing,” exclaims Tony. “Before this, I couldn’t sleep at night. Lifting anything, getting in and out of a vehicle, it was all a problem. I mean pretty much everything was a problem until I had this procedure done.”

While Tony understands that his results aren’t permanent and that he will likely require another nerve burn in the future, he is thrilled to have found a solution to his nagging, daily problem and is immensely grateful to Dr. Belleau.

“Dr. Belleau definitely knows what he’s doing,” assures Tony. “He has the experience, and he’s good at what he does. He’s a great doctor, and I’ll definitely go back to him.”